Волшебство страны Оз
6. Ozma's Birthday Presents
Itsbodywasasmallloganditslegswerelimbsoftreesstuckinthebody.Itseyeswereknots,itsmouthwassawedintheendoftheloganditsearsweretwochips.Asmallbranchhadbeenleftattherearendofthelogtoserveasatail.
Ozmaherself,duringoneofherearlyadventures,hadbroughtthiswoodenhorsetolife,andsoshewasmuchattachedtothequeeranimalandhadshodthebottomsofitswoodenlegswithplatesofgoldsotheywouldnotwearout.TheSawhorsewasaswiftandwillingtraveler,andthoughitcouldtalkifneedarose,itseldomsaidanythingunlessspokento.WhentheSawhorsewasharnessedtotheRedWagontherewerenoreinstoguidehimbecauseallthatwasneededwastotellhimwheretogo.
DorothynowtoldhimtogotoGlinda’sCastleandtheSawhorsecarriedhertherewithmarvelousspeed.
"Glinda,"saidDorothy,whenshehadbeengreetedbytheSorceress,whowastallandstately,withhandsomeanddignifiedfeaturesanddressedinasplendidandbecominggown,"whatareyougoingtogiveOzmaforabirthdaypresent?"
TheSorceresssmiledandanswered:
"ComeintomypatioandIwillshowyou."
Sotheyenteredaplacethatwassurroundedbythewingsofthegreatcastlebuthadnoroof,andwasfilledwithflowersandfountainsandexquisitestatuaryandmanysetteesandchairsofpolishedmarbleorfiligreegold.Herethereweregatheredfiftybeautifulyounggirls,Glinda’shandmaids,whohadbeenselectedfromallpartsoftheLandofOzonaccountoftheirwitandbeautyandsweetdispositions.ItwasagreathonortobemadeoneofGlinda’shandmaidens.