2. How Uncle Henry Got Into Trouble

           DorothyGalelivedonafarminKansas,withherAuntEmandherUncleHenry.Itwasnotabigfarm,noraverygoodone,becausesometimestheraindidnotcomewhenthecropsneededit,andtheneverythingwitheredanddriedup.OnceacyclonehadcarriedawayUncleHenry’shouse,sothathewasobligedtobuildanother;andashewasapoormanhehadtomortgagehisfarmtogetthemoneytopayforthenewhouse.Thenhishealthbecamebadandhewastoofeebletowork.ThedoctororderedhimtotakeaseavoyageandhewenttoAustraliaandtookDorothywithhim.Thatcostalotofmoney,too.

           UncleHenrygrewpoorereveryyear,andthecropsraisedonthefarmonlyboughtfoodforthefamily.Thereforethemortgagecouldnotbepaid.Atlastthebankerwhohadloanedhimthemoneysaidthatifhedidnotpayonacertainday,hisfarmwouldbetakenawayfromhim.

           ThisworriedUncleHenryagooddeal,forwithoutthefarmhewouldhavenowaytoearnaliving.Hewasagoodman,andworkedinthefieldashardashecould;andAuntEmdidallthehousework,withDorothy’shelp.Yettheydidnotseemtogetalong.

           Thislittlegirl,Dorothy,waslikedozensoflittlegirlsyouknow.Shewaslovingandusuallysweet-tempered,andhadaroundrosyfaceandearnesteyes.LifewasaseriousthingtoDorothy,andawonderfulthing,too,forshehadencounteredmorestrangeadventuresinhershortlifethanmanyothergirlsofherage.

           AuntEmoncesaidshethoughtthefairiesmusthavemarkedDorothyatherbirth,becauseshehadwanderedintostrangeplacesandhadalwaysbeenprotectedbysomeunseenpower.