Смарагдове місто країни Оз
14. How the Wizard Practiced Sorcery
TheWizardtoldDorothythatshewasagoodcookandhebelievedtheirsupperwasready.
SoUncleHenryliftedthekettlefromthefireandpoureditscontentsintoabigplatterwhichtheWizardheldforhim.Theplatterwasfairlyheapedwithafinestew,smokinghot,withmanykindsofvegetablesanddumplingsandarich,deliciousgravy.
TheWizardtriumphantlyplacedtheplatteruponthetableinthediningtentandthentheyallsatdownincampchairstothefeast.
Therewereseveralotherdishesonthetable,allcarefullycovered,andwhenthetimecametoremovethesecoverstheyfoundbreadandbutter,cakes,cheese,picklesandfruits--includingsomeofthelusciousstrawberriesofOz.
Nooneventuredtoaskaquestionastohowthesethingscamethere.Theycontentedthemselvesbyeatingheartilythegoodthingsprovided,andTotoandBillinahadtheirfullshare,youmaybesure.Afterthemealwasover,AuntEmwhisperedtoDorothy:
"Thatmayhavebeenmagicfood,mydear,andforthatreasonperhapsitwon’tbeverynourishing;butI’mwillingtosayittastedasgoodasanythingIeveret."Thensheadded,inaloudervoice:"Who’sgoingtodothedishes?"
"Noone,madam,"answeredtheWizard."Thedisheshave’done’themselves."
"Lasakes!"ejaculatedthegoodlady,holdingupherhandsinamazement.For,sureenough,whenshelookedatthedishestheyhadamomentbeforeleftuponthetable,shefoundthemallwashedanddriedandpiledupintoneatstacks.