Путешествие в Страну Оз

           SoasIbreathetolive,youknow,

           IsqueezeoutmusicasIgo;

           I’mverysorrythisisso—

           Forgivemypiping,pray!

           "Poorman,"saidPolychrome;"hecan’thelpit.Whatagreatmisfortuneitis!"

           "Yes,"repliedtheshaggyman;"weareonlyobligedtohearthismusicashorttime,untilweleavehimandgoaway;butthepoorfellowmustlistentohimselfaslongashelives,andthatisenoughtodrivehimcrazy.Don’tyouthinkso?"

           "Don’tknow,"saidButton-Bright.Totosaid,"Bow-wow!"andtheotherslaughed.

           "Perhapsthat’swhyhelivesallalone,"suggestedDorothy.

           "Yes;ifhehadneighbors,theymightdohimaninjury,"respondedtheshaggyman.

           Allthiswhilethelittlefatmusickerwasbreathingthenotes:

           Tiddle-tiddle-iddle,oom,pom-pom,

           andtheyhadtospeakloudinordertohearthemselves.Theshaggymansaid:

           "Whoareyou,sir?"

           Thereplycameintheshapeofthissing-song:

           I’mAllegrodaCapo,averyfamousman;

           Justfindanother,highorlow,tomatchmeifyoucan.

           Somepeopletry,butcan’t,toplay

           Andhavetopracticeeveryday;

           ButI’vebeenmusicalalways,sincefirstmylifebegan.

           "Why,Ib’lievehe’sproudofit,"exclaimedDorothy;"andseemstomeI’veheardworsemusicthanhemakes."

           "Where?"askedButton-Bright.

           "I’veforgotten,justnow.ButMr.DaCapoiscertainlyastrangeperson—isn’the?—andp’r’apshe’stheonlyoneofhiskindinalltheworld.