Путешествие в Страну Оз

           Hehadinventedamachinetoblowhugesoap-bubbles,asbigasballoons,andthismachinewashiddenundertheplatformsothatonlytherimofthebigclaypipetoproducethebubblesshowedabovetheflooring.Thetankofsoapsuds,andtheair-pumpstoinflatethebubbles,wereoutofsightbeneath,sothatwhenthebubblesbegantogrowupontheflooroftheplatformitreallyseemedlikemagictothepeopleofOz,whoknewnothingabouteventhecommonsoap-bubblesthatourchildrenblowwithapennyclaypipeandabasinofsoap-and-water.

           TheWizardhadinventedanotherthing.Usually,soap-bubblesarefrailandbursteasily,lastingonlyafewmomentsastheyfloatintheair;buttheWizardaddedasortofgluetohissoapsuds,whichmadehisbubblestough;and,asthegluedriedrapidlywhenexposedtotheair,theWizard’sbubbleswerestrongenoughtofloatforhourswithoutbreaking.

           Hebeganbyblowing—bymeansofhismachineryandair-pumps—severallargebubbleswhichheallowedtofloatupwardintothesky,wherethesunshinefelluponthemandgavethemiridescenthuesthatweremostbeautiful.Thisarousedmuchwonderanddelightbecauseitwasanewamusementtoeveryonepresent—exceptperhapsDorothyandButton-Bright,andeventheyhadneverseensuchbig,strongbubblesbefore.

           TheWizardthenblewabunchofsmallbubblesandafterwardblewabigbubblearoundthemsotheywereleftinthecenterofit;thenheallowedthewholemassofprettyglobestofloatintotheairanddisappearinthefardistantsky.

           "Thatisreallyfine!"declaredSantaClaus,wholovedtoysandprettythings.