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"
Your hen has very bad manners, Dorothy," said Aunt Em, looking
somewhat disdainfully at Billina. "It seems too bad she ever learned how
to talk."
There might have been another unpleasant quarrel between Aunt Em
and Billina had not the men returned just then with their pails filled with
clear, sparkling water. The Wizard told Dorothy that she was a good
cook and he believed their supper was ready.
So Uncle Henry lifted the kettle from the fire and poured its contents into
a big platter which the Wizard held for him. The platter was fairly
heaped with a fine stew, smoking hot, with many kinds of vegetables and
dumplings and a rich, delicious gravy.
The Wizard triumphantly placed the platter upon the table in the dining
tent and then they all sat down in camp chairs to the feast.
There were several other dishes on the table, all carefully covered, and
when the time came to remove these covers they found bread and butter,
cakes, cheese, pickles and fruits--including some of the luscious
strawberries of Oz.
No one ventured to ask a question as to how these things came there.
They contented themselves by eating heartily the good things provided,
and Toto and Billina had their full share, you may be sure. After the
meal was over, Aunt Em whispered to Dorothy:
"
That may have been magic food, my dear, and for that reason perhaps it
won't be very nourishing; but I'm willing to say it tasted as good as
anything I ever et." Then she added, in a louder voice: "Who's going to do
the dishes?"
"
No one, madam," answered the Wizard. "The dishes have 'done'
themselves."
"
La sakes!" ejaculated the good lady, holding up her hands in
amazement. For, sure enough, when she looked at the dishes they had a
moment before left upon the table, she found them all washed and dried
and piled up into neat stacks.
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