Озма з країни Оз

           Still,foracountrygirl,thatwasnotmuchofafeat,andassoonasshewassafeashoreDorothydrewoffherwetshoesandstockingsandspreadthemuponthesun-warmedbeachtodry.

           ThenshesatdownandwatchedBillina,whowaspick-peckingawaywithhersharpbillinthesandandgravel,whichshescratchedupandturnedoverwithherstrongclaws.

           "Whatareyoudoing?"askedDorothy.

           "Gettingmybreakfast,ofcourse,"murmuredthehen,busilypeckingaway.

           "Whatdoyoufind?"inquiredthegirl,curiously.

           "Oh,somefatredants,andsomesand-bugs,andonceinawhileatinycrab.Theyareverysweetandnice,Iassureyou."

           "Howdreadful!"exclaimedDorothy,inashockedvoice.

           "Whatisdreadful?"askedthehen,liftingherheadtogazewithonebrighteyeathercompanion.

           "Why,eatinglivethings,andhorridbugs,andcrawlyants.Yououghttobe’SHAMEDofyourself!"

           "Goodnessme!"returnedthehen,inapuzzledtone;"howqueeryouare,Dorothy!Livethingsaremuchfresherandmorewholesomethandeadones,andyouhumanseatallsortsofdeadcreatures."

           "Wedon’t!"saidDorothy.

           "Youdo,indeed,"answeredBillina."Youeatlambsandsheepandcowsandpigsandevenchickens."

           "Butwecook’em,"saidDorothy,triumphantly.

           "Whatdifferencedoesthatmake?"

           "Agooddeal,"saidthegirl,inagravertone."Ican’tjust’splainthediff’rence,butit’sthere.And,anyhow,wenevereatsuchdreadfulthingsasBUGS."

           "Butyoueatthechickensthateatthebugs,"retortedtheyellowhen,withanoddcackle."Soyouarejustasbadaswechickensare."

           ThismadeDorothythoughtful.