Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз

           Butyouwillsee,whenyoubegintoreadthestory,thatTotowasinKansaswhileDorothywasinCalifornia,andsoshehadtostartonheradventurewithouthim.InthisbookDorothyhadtotakeherkittenwithherinsteadofherdog;butinthenextOzbook,ifIampermittedtowriteone,IintendtotellagooddealaboutToto’sfurtherhistory.

           PrincessOzma,whomIloveasmuchasmyreadersdo,isagainintroducedinthisstory,andsoareseveralofouroldfriendsofOz.YouwillalsobecomeacquaintedwithJimtheCab-Horse,theNineTinyPiglets,andEureka,theKitten.Iamsorrythekittenwasnotaswellbehavedassheoughttohavebeen;butperhapsshewasn’tbroughtupproperly.Dorothyfoundher,yousee,andwhoherparentswerenobodyknows.

           Ibelieve,mydears,thatIamtheproudeststory-tellerthateverlived.ManyatimetearsofprideandjoyhavestoodinmyeyeswhileIreadthetender,loving,appealinglettersthatcametomeinalmosteverymailfrommylittlereaders.Tohavepleasedyou,tohaveinterestedyou,tohavewonyourfriendship,andperhapsyourlove,throughmystories,istomymindasgreatanachievementastobecomePresidentoftheUnitedStates.Indeed,Iwouldmuchratherbeyourstory-teller,undertheseconditions,thantobethePresident.Soyouhavehelpedmetofulfillmylife’sambition,andIammoregratefultoyou,mydears,thanIcanexpressinwords.

           Itrytoanswereveryletterofmyyoungcorrespondents;yetsometimestherearesomanylettersthatalittletimemustpassbeforeyougetyouranswer