9. How the Wogglebug Taught Athletics
ItdidnottakeDorothylongtoestablishherselfinhernewhome,forsheknewthepeopleandthemannersandcustomsoftheEmeraldCityjustaswellassheknewtheoldKansasfarm.
ButUncleHenryandAuntEmhadsometroubleingettingusedtothefineryandpompandceremonyofOzma’spalace,andfeltuneasybecausetheywereobligedtobe"dressedup"allthetime.Yeteveryonewasverycourteousandkindtothemandendeavoredtomakethemhappy.Ozma,especially,mademuchofDorothy’srelatives,forherlittlefriend’ssake,andshewellknewthattheawkwardnessandstrangenessoftheirnewmodeoflifewouldallwearoffintime.
Theoldpeoplewerechieflytroubledbythefactthattherewasnoworkforthemtodo.
"Ev’rydayislikeSunday,now,"declaredAuntEm,solemnly,"andIcan’tsayIlikeit.Ifthey’donlyletmedoupthedishesaftermeals,orevensweepan’dustmyownrooms,I’dbeadealhappier.Henrydon’tknowwhattodowithhimselfeither,andoncewhenhestoleoutan’fedthechickensBillinascoldedhimforletting’emeatbetweenmeals.Ineverknewbeforewhatahardshipitistoberichandhaveeverythingyouwant."
ThesecomplaintsbegantoworryDorothy;soshehadalongtalkwithOzmauponthesubject.
"IseeImustfindthemsomethingtodo,"saidthegirlishRulerofOz,seriously."Ihavebeenwatchingyouruncleandaunt,andIbelievetheywillbemorecontentedifoccupiedwithsomelighttasks.