Волшебник страны Оз
The Guardian of the Gate
Herfriendsweresorry,butcoulddonothingtohelpher; soDorothywenttoherownroomandlaydownonthebedandcriedherselftosleep.
ThenextmorningthesoldierwiththegreenwhiskerscametotheScarecrowandsaid:
"Comewithme,forOzhassentforyou."
SotheScarecrowfollowedhimandwasadmittedintothegreatThroneRoom,wherehesaw,sittingintheemeraldthrone,amostlovelyLady. Shewasdressedingreensilkgauzeandworeuponherflowinggreenlocksacrownofjewels. Growingfromhershoulderswerewings,gorgeousincolorandsolightthattheyflutterediftheslightestbreathofairreachedthem.
WhentheScarecrowhadbowed,asprettilyashisstrawstuffingwouldlethim,beforethisbeautifulcreature,shelookeduponhimsweetly,andsaid:
"IamOz,theGreatandTerrible.Whoareyou,andwhydoyouseekme?"
NowtheScarecrow,whohadexpectedtoseethegreatHeadDorothyhadtoldhimof,wasmuchastonished; butheansweredherbravely.
"IamonlyaScarecrow,stuffedwithstraw. ThereforeIhavenobrains,andIcometoyouprayingthatyouwillputbrainsinmyheadinsteadofstraw,sothatImaybecomeasmuchamanasanyotherinyourdominions."
"WhyshouldIdothisforyou?"askedtheLady.
"Becauseyouarewiseandpowerful,andnooneelsecanhelpme,"answeredtheScarecrow.
