www.freeclassicebooks.com

5. The Rainbow's Daughter

Toto, now allowed to run about as he pleased, was glad to be free again and

able to bark at the birds and chase the butterflies. The country around them

was charming, yet in the pretty fields of wild-flowers and groves of leafy trees

were no houses whatever, or sign of any inhabitants. Birds flew through the

air and cunning white rabbits darted amongst the tall grasses and green

bushes; Dorothy noticed even the ants toiling busily along the roadway,

bearing gigantic loads of clover seed; but of people there were none at all.

They walked briskly on for an hour or two, for even little Button-Bright was a

good walker and did not tire easily. At length as they turned a curve in the

road they beheld just before them a curious sight.

A little girl, radiant and beautiful, shapely as a fairy and exquisitely dressed,

was dancing gracefully in the middle of the lonely road, whirling slowly this

way and that, her dainty feet twinkling in sprightly fashion. She was clad in

flowing, fluffy robes of soft material that reminded Dorothy of woven cobwebs,

only it was colored in soft tintings of violet, rose, topaz, olive, azure, and white,

mingled together most harmoniously in stripes which melted one into the

other with soft blendings. Her hair was like spun gold and flowed around her

in a cloud, no strand being fastened or confined by either pin or ornament or

ribbon.

Filled with wonder and admiration our friends approached and stood watching

this fascinating dance. The girl was no taller than Dorothy, although more

slender; nor did she seem any older than our little heroine.

Suddenly she paused and abandoned the dance, as if for the first time

observing the presence of strangers. As she faced them, shy as a frightened

fawn, poised upon one foot as if to fly the next instant, Dorothy was

astonished to see tears flowing from her violet eyes and trickling down her

lovely rose-hued cheeks. That the dainty maiden should dance and weep at

the same time was indeed surprising; so Dorothy asked in a soft, sympathetic

voice:

Are you unhappy, little girl?"

Very!" was the reply; "I am lost."

Why, so are we," said Dorothy, smiling; "but we don't cry about it."

The Road to Oz