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Main > Fairy tale > All authors > Frank Baum > Fairy tale "Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West "

Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West

The girls had not been rich when their fairy godfather first found them.

Indeed, each of them had been energetically earning, or preparing to

earn, a livelihood. Now, when their uncle's generosity had made them

wealthy, they almost regretted those former busy days of poverty, being

obliged to discover new interests in life in order to keep themselves

occupied and contented. All three were open-handed and open-hearted,

sympathetic to the unfortunate and eager to assist those who needed

money, as many a poor girl and worthy young fellow could testify. In all

their charities they were strongly supported by Mr. Merrick, whose

enormous income permitted him to indulge in many benevolences. None gave

ostentatiously, for they were simple, kindly folk who gave for the pure

joy of giving and begrudged all knowledge of their acts to anyone outside

their own little circle.

There is no doubt that John Merrick was eccentric. It is generally

conceded that a rich man may indulge in eccentricities, provided he

maintains a useful position in society, and Mr. Merrick's peculiarities

only served to render him the more interesting to those who knew him

best. He did astonishing things in a most matter-of-fact way and acted

more on impulse than on calm reflection; so it is not to be wondered at

that the queer little man's nieces had imbibed some of his queerness.

Being by nature lively and aggressive young women, whose eager interest

in life would not permit them to be idle, they encountered many

interesting experiences.

They had just come from a long visit to Louise at the ranch and after

conferring gravely together had decided to hide themselves in Hollywood,

where they might spend a quiet and happy winter in wandering over the

hills, in boating or bathing in the ocean or motoring over the hundreds

of miles of splendid boulevards of this section.

Singularly enough, their choice of a retreat was also the choice of a

score or more of motion picture makers, who had discovered Hollywood

before them and were utilizing the brilliant sunshine and clear

atmosphere in the production of their films, which were supplied to

picture theatres throughout the United States and Europe.

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