Подорож до Країни Оз
1. The Way to Butterfield
Thelittlegirlhadencounteredsomequeeradventuressinceshecametoliveatthefarm;butthiswasthequeerestofthemall.Togetlostinfifteenminutes,soneartoherhomeandintheunromanticStateofKansas,wasanexperiencethatfairlybewilderedher.
"Willyourfolksworry?"askedtheshaggyman,hiseyestwinklinginapleasantway.
"Is’poseso,"answeredDorothywithasigh."UncleHenrysaysthere’sALWAYSsomethinghappeningtome;butI’vealwayscomehomesafeatthelast.Soperhapshe’lltakecomfortandthinkI’llcomehomesafethistime."
"I’msureyouwill,"saidtheshaggyman,smilinglynoddingather."Goodlittlegirlsnevercometoanyharm,youknow.Formypart,I’mgood,too;sonothingeverhurtsme."
Dorothylookedathimcuriously.Hisclotheswereshaggy,hisbootswereshaggyandfullofholes,andhishairandwhiskerswereshaggy.Buthissmilewassweetandhiseyeswerekind.
"Whydidn’tyouwanttogotoButterfield?"sheasked.
"Becauseamanlivestherewhoowesmefifteencents,andifIwenttoButterfieldandhesawmehe’dwanttopaymethemoney.Idon’twantmoney,mydear."
"Whynot?"sheinquired.
"Money,"declaredtheshaggyman,"makespeopleproudandhaughty.Idon’twanttobeproudandhaughty.AllIwantistohavepeopleloveme;andaslongasIowntheLoveMagnet,everyoneImeetissuretolovemedearly."
"TheLoveMagnet!Why,what’sthat?"
"I’llshowyou,ifyouwon’ttellanyone,"heanswered,inalow,mysteriousvoice.
"Thereisn’tanyonetotell,’ceptToto,"saidthegirl.