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amazing tales of where she had been and the unusual people she had
met. Her uncle and aunt listened to her stories eagerly and in spite of
their doubts began to feel that the little girl had gained a lot of experience
and wisdom that were unaccountable in this age, when fairies are
supposed no longer to exist.
Most of Dorothy's stories were about the Land of Oz, with its beautiful
Emerald City and a lovely girl Ruler named Ozma, who was the most
faithful friend of the little Kansas girl. When Dorothy told about the
riches of this fairy country Uncle Henry would sigh, for he knew that a
single one of the great emeralds that were so common there would pay all
his debts and leave his farm free. But Dorothy never brought any jewels
home with her, so their poverty became greater every year.
When the banker told Uncle Henry that he must pay the money in thirty
days or leave the farm, the poor man was in despair, as he knew he
could not possibly get the money. So he told his wife, Aunt Em, of his
trouble, and she first cried a little and then said that they must be brave
and do the best they could, and go away somewhere and try to earn an
honest living. But they were getting old and feeble and she feared that
they could not take care of Dorothy as well as they had formerly done.
Probably the little girl would also be obliged to go to work.
They did not tell their niece the sad news for several days, not wishing to
make her unhappy; but one morning the little girl found Aunt Em softly
crying while Uncle Henry tried to comfort her. Then Dorothy asked them
to tell her what was the matter.
"
We must give up the farm, my dear," replied her uncle sadly, "and
wander away into the world to work for our living."
The girl listened quite seriously, for she had not known before how
desperately poor they were.
"
We don't mind for ourselves," said her aunt, stroking the little girl's head
tenderly; "but we love you as if you were our own child, and we are heart-
broken to think that you must also endure poverty, and work for a living
before you have grown big and strong."
"
"
What could I do to earn money?" asked Dorothy.
You might do housework for some one, dear, you are so handy; or
perhaps you could be a nurse-maid to little children. I'm sure I don't
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