Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
17. The Nine Tiny Piglets
Therewerenoprivatesinthearmybecauseallweresocourageousandskillfulthattheyhadbeenpromotedonebyoneuntiltherewerenoprivatesleft.Jimandthebuggyfollowed,theoldcab-horsebeingdrivenbyZebwhiletheWizardstoodupontheseatandbowedhisbaldheadrightandleftinanswertothecheersofthepeople,whocrowdedthickabouthim.
Takenaltogethertheprocessionwasagrandsuccess,andwhenithadreturnedtothepalacethecitizenscrowdedintothegreatThroneRoomtoseetheWizardperformhistricks.
Thefirstthingthelittlehumbugdidwastoproduceatinywhitepigletfromunderneathhishatandpretendtopullitapart,makingtwo.Thisactherepeateduntilalloftheninetinypigletswerevisible,andtheyweresogladtogetoutofhispocketthattheyranaroundinaverylivelymanner.Theprettylittlecreatureswouldhavebeenanoveltyanywhere,sothepeoplewereasamazedanddelightedattheirappearanceaseventheWizardcouldhavedesired.WhenhehadmadethemalldisappearagainOzmadeclaredshewassorrytheyweregone,forshewantedoneofthemtopetandplaywith.SotheWizardpretendedtotakeoneofthepigletsoutofthehairofthePrincess(whilereallyheslylytookitfromhisinsidepocket)andOzmasmiledjoyouslyasthecreaturenestledinherarms,andshepromisedtohaveanemeraldcollarmadeforitsfatneckandtokeepthelittlesquealeralwaysathandtoamuseher.
AfterwarditwasnoticedthattheWizardalwaysperformedhisfamoustrickwitheightpiglets,butitseemedtopleasethepeoplejustaswellasiftherehadbeennineofthem.
