Uncle Henry never laughed. He worked hard from morning till night and did not know what joy was. He was gray also, from his long beard to his rough boots, and he looked stern and solemn, and rarely spoke. –The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum What theme can you infer from this passage? Laughing too much can make one ill. Rarely speaking shows wisdom. Being a hard worker is rewarding. Working too hard leaves no room for joy.