Смарагдове місто країни Оз
2. How Uncle Henry Got Into Trouble
AsforUncleHenry,hethoughthislittleniecemerelyadreamer,asherdeadmotherhadbeen,forhecouldnotquitebelieveallthecuriousstoriesDorothytoldthemoftheLandofOz,whichshehadseveraltimesvisited.Hedidnotthinkthatshetriedtodeceiveheruncleandaunt,butheimaginedthatshehaddreamedallofthoseastonishingadventures,andthatthedreamshadbeensorealtoherthatshehadcometobelievethemtrue.
Whatevertheexplanationmightbe,itwascertainthatDorothyhadbeenabsentfromherKansashomeforseverallongperiods,alwaysdisappearingunexpectedly,yetalwayscomingbacksafeandsound,withamazingtalesofwhereshehadbeenandtheunusualpeopleshehadmet.Heruncleandauntlistenedtoherstorieseagerlyandinspiteoftheirdoubtsbegantofeelthatthelittlegirlhadgainedalotofexperienceandwisdomthatwereunaccountableinthisage,whenfairiesaresupposednolongertoexist.
MostofDorothy’sstorieswereabouttheLandofOz,withitsbeautifulEmeraldCityandalovelygirlRulernamedOzma,whowasthemostfaithfulfriendofthelittleKansasgirl.WhenDorothytoldabouttherichesofthisfairycountryUncleHenrywouldsigh,forheknewthatasingleoneofthegreatemeraldsthatweresocommontherewouldpayallhisdebtsandleavehisfarmfree.ButDorothyneverbroughtanyjewelshomewithher,sotheirpovertybecamegreatereveryyear.
WhenthebankertoldUncleHenrythathemustpaythemoneyinthirtydaysorleavethefarm,thepoormanwasindespair,asheknewhecouldnotpossiblygetthemoney.
