Изумрудный город страны Оз
2. How Uncle Henry Got Into Trouble
Sohetoldhiswife,AuntEm,ofhistrouble,andshefirstcriedalittleandthensaidthattheymustbebraveanddothebesttheycould,andgoawaysomewhereandtrytoearnanhonestliving.ButtheyweregettingoldandfeebleandshefearedthattheycouldnottakecareofDorothyaswellastheyhadformerlydone.Probablythelittlegirlwouldalsobeobligedtogotowork.
Theydidnottelltheirniecethesadnewsforseveraldays,notwishingtomakeherunhappy;butonemorningthelittlegirlfoundAuntEmsoftlycryingwhileUncleHenrytriedtocomforther.ThenDorothyaskedthemtotellherwhatwasthematter.
"Wemustgiveupthefarm,mydear,"repliedherunclesadly,"andwanderawayintotheworldtoworkforourliving."
Thegirllistenedquiteseriously,forshehadnotknownbeforehowdesperatelypoortheywere.
"Wedon’tmindforourselves,"saidheraunt,strokingthelittlegirl’sheadtenderly;"butweloveyouasifyouwereourownchild,andweareheart-brokentothinkthatyoumustalsoendurepoverty,andworkforalivingbeforeyouhavegrownbigandstrong."
"WhatcouldIdotoearnmoney?"askedDorothy.
"Youmightdohouseworkforsomeone,dear,youaresohandy;orperhapsyoucouldbeanurse-maidtolittlechildren.I’msureIdon’tknowexactlywhatyouCANdotoearnmoney,butifyouruncleandIareabletosupportyouwewilldoitwillingly,andsendyoutoschool.Wefear,though,thatweshallhavemuchtroubleinearningalivingforourselves.Noonewantstoemployoldpeoplewhoarebrokendowninhealth,asweare."
Dorothysmiled.
