The Cyclone

           Shewasawakenedbyashock,sosuddenandsevere thatifDorothyhadnotbeenlyingonthesoftbedshemighthavebeenhurt. Asitwas,thejarmadehercatchherbreathandwonderwhathadhappened; andTotoputhiscoldlittlenoseintoherfaceandwhineddismally. Dorothysatupandnoticedthatthehousewasnotmoving; norwasitdark,forthebrightsunshinecameinatthewindow,floodingthelittleroom. ShesprangfromherbedandwithTotoatherheelsranandopenedthedoor. 

           Thelittlegirlgaveacryofamazementandlookedabouther,hereyesgrowingbiggerandbiggeratthewonderfulsightsshesaw. 

           Thecyclonehadsetthehousedownverygently—foracyclone —inthemidstofacountryofmarvelousbeauty. Therewerelovelypatchesofgreenswardallabout,withstatelytreesbearingrichandlusciousfruits. Banksofgorgeousflowerswereoneveryhand, andbirdswithrareandbrilliantplumagesangandflutteredinthetreesandbushes. Alittlewayoffwasasmallbrook,rushingandsparklingalongbetweengreenbanks,andmurmuringinavoiceverygrateful toalittlegirlwhohadlivedsolongonthedry,grayprairies. 

           Whileshestoodlookingeagerlyatthestrangeandbeautifulsights, shenoticedcomingtowardheragroupofthequeerestpeopleshehadeverseen. Theywerenotasbigasthegrownfolkshehadalwaysbeenusedto;butneitherweretheyverysmall. Infact,theyseemedaboutastallasDorothy,whowasawell-grownchildforherage, althoughtheywere,sofaraslooksgo,manyyearsolder. 

           Threeweremenandoneawoman,andallwereoddlydressed.