THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ

Faithful Story Astonishing Adventure Undertaken Tin Woodman, assisted by Woot the Wanderer, the Scarecrow of Oz, and Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter

by L FRANK BAUM "Royal historian of Oz"

This Book is dedicated son son Frank Alden Baum

TO MY READERS

that some of waiting story Tin Woodman, because many correspondents have asked me, time and again what ever became "pretty Munchkin girl" whom Nick Chopper was engaged to marry Wicked Witch enchanted his axe and he traded his flesh for tin I, too, have wondered what became of her, but until Woot the Wanderer interested himself matter the Tin Woodman knew no more than However, her, after many thrilling adventures, discover have read this story

delighted continued interest of both young and old Oz stories learned college professor recently wrote me to ask: "For readers of what age are your books intended ? " It puzzled me to answer that properly, until I had looked over letters received One says: "I'm little boy 5 years old, and I Just love your Oz stories My sister, writing this , reads me the Oz books, but read them myself " Another letter says: "I'm great girl 13 years old, so you'll be surprised when I tell you not too old yet Oz stories " Here's another letter: "Since young girl I've never missed getting Baum book for Christmas I'm married, now, but am as eager and read the Oz stories as ever " And still another writes: "My good wife and I, both more than 70 , believe that more real enjoyment in your Oz books than in books we read " Considering these statements, the college professor that my books are intended for all those whose hearts are young, no matter what their ages

justified in promising that some astonishing revelations Magic of Oz in my book for 1919 Always your loving and grateful friend,

L FRANK BAUM

Royal Historian of Oz

"OZCOT" at HOLLYWOOD in CALIFORNIA

1918

LIST OF CHAPTERS
1 Woot the Wanderer
2 The Heart Tin Woodman
3 Roundabout
4 The Loons of Loonville
5 Mrs Yoop, the Giantess
6 The Magic of Yookoohoo
7 The Lace Apron
8 The Menace Forest
9 The Quarrelsome Dragons
10 Tommy Kwikstep
11 Jinjur's Ranch
12 Ozma and Dorothy
13 The Restoration
14 The Green Monkey
15 The Man of Tin
16 Captain Fyter
17 The Workshop of Ku-Klip
18 The Tin Woodman Talks to Himself
19 The Invisible Country
20 Over Night
21 Polychrome's Magic
22 Nimmie Amee
23 Tunnel
24 The Curtain Falls

Chapter One

Woot the Wanderer

The Tin Woodman sat glittering tin throne handsome tin hall splendid tin castle Winkie Country Land of Oz Beside him, in chair of woven straw, sat his best friend, the Scarecrow of Oz At times they spoke to one another of curious things they had seen and strange adventures they had known since first they two had met and become comrades But at times they were silent, things talked over , found themselves contented in merely being together, speaking brief sentence they were wide awake and attentive But then, these two quaint persons never slept Why should they sleep, never tired ?

And now, brilliant sun sank low over the Winkie Country of Oz, tinting the glistening tin towers and tin minarets tin castle with glorious sunset hues, there approached along winding pathway Woot the Wanderer, who met castle entrance Winkie servant

The servants Tin Woodman all wore tin helmets and tin breastplates and uniforms covered with tiny tin discs sewed closely together on silver cloth, their bodies sparkled as beautifully as did the tin castle -- and almost as beautifully as did the Tin Woodman himself

Woot the Wanderer looked man servant --all bright and glittering -- and magnificent castle -- all bright and glittering -- and as he looked his eyes grew big with wonder For Woot was not very big and not very old and, wanderer though , this proved the most gorgeous sight that had ever met his boyish gaze

"Who lives here ? " he asked

"The Emperor Winkies, the famous Tin Woodman of Oz," replied the servant, who trained to treat all strangers with courtesy

"A Tin Woodman ? How queer ! " exclaimed the little wanderer

"Well, perhaps our Emperor is queer," admitted the servant; "but kind master and as honest and true as good tin can make him; so we, who gladly serve him, are apt to forget that like other people "

"May him ? " asked Woot the Wanderer, after moment's thought

" please you to wait moment, go and ask him," said the servant, and then he went hall where the Tin Woodman sat friend the Scarecrow Both were glad to learn that stranger had arrived castle, for give them something new about, so the servant was asked to admit the boy at once

Woot the Wanderer had passed grand corridors -- all lined with ornamental tin -- and under stately tin archways and many tin rooms all set with beautiful tin furniture, his eyes had grown bigger than ever whole little body thrilled with amazement But, astonished though , able polite bow throne and in respectful voice: "I salute your Illustrious Majesty and offer you my humble services "

" ! " answered the Tin Woodman accustomed cheerful manner "Tell me who , and whence you come "

" known as Woot the Wanderer," answered the boy, "and come, through many travels and by roundabout ways, from my former home in far corner Gillikin Country of Oz "

"To wander from one's home," remarked the Scarecrow, "is to encounter dangers and hardships, especially if one is made of meat and bone Had you no friends corner Gillikin Country ? not homelike and comfortable ? "

To hear man stuffed with straw speak, and speak , quite startled Woot, and perhaps he stared bit rudely Scarecrow But after moment he replied:

"I had home and friends, your Honorable Strawness, but they were so quiet and happy and comfortable that them dismally stupid Nothing corner of Oz interested me, but I believed that in other parts country find strange people new sights, and so I set out upon my wandering journey wanderer for nearly full year, and now my wanderings have brought me splendid castle "

"I suppose," said the Tin Woodman, "that year seen that become very wise "

"No," replied Woot, thoughtfully, " not at all wise, I beg to assure your Majesty The more I wander the less that , for Land of Oz much wisdom and many things learned "

"To learn is simple Don't you ask questions ? " inquired the Scarecrow

"Yes; I ask questions as I dare; but some people refuse to answer questions "

" kind ," declared the Tin Woodman "If one ask for information he seldom receives it; so I, part, make it rule to answer any civil question asked me "

"So do I," added the Scarecrow, nodding

" this," said the Wanderer, " makes me bold to ask for something to eat "

"Bless the boy ! " cried the Emperor Winkies; "how careless of me not to remember that wanderers are usually hungry food brought you at once "

Saying this he blew upon tin whistle that was suspended tin neck, and summons servant appeared and bowed low The Tin Woodman ordered food stranger, and the servant brought in tin tray heaped with choice array of good things to eat, all neatly displayed on tin dishes that were polished till they shone like mirrors The tray was set upon tin table drawn throne, servant placed tin chair table boy to seat himself

"Eat, friend Wanderer," said the Emperor cordially, "and I trust the feast to your liking I, myself, eat, being made manner that I require no food me alive Neither does my friend the Scarecrow But all my Winkie people eat, being formed of flesh, , and so my tin cupboard is never bare, and strangers are always welcome to whatever it contains "

The boy ate in silence for time, being really hungry, but after his appetite was somewhat satisfied, :

"How happened your Majesty made of tin, and still be alive ? "

"That," replied the tin man, "is long story "

"The longer the better," said the boy "Won't you please tell me the story ? "

"If it," promised the Tin Woodman, leaning back tin throne and crossing his tin legs "I haven't related my history in long while, because everyone here knows it nearly as But you, being stranger, are curious to learn how I became so beautiful and prosperous, so recite for your benefit my strange adventures "

" ," said Woot the Wanderer, still eating

" not always made of tin," began the Emperor, "for beginning man of flesh and bone and blood and lived Munchkin Country of Oz There , by trade, woodchopper, and contributed my share comfort Oz people by chopping up the trees forest firewood, the women would cook their meals while the children warmed themselves fires home I had little hut edge forest, and my life was one of much content until I fell in love with beautiful Munchkin girl who lived not far away "

" the Munchkin girl's name ? " asked Woot

"Nimmie Amee This girl, so fair sunsets blushed when their rays fell upon her, lived with powerful witch who wore silver shoes and who had made the poor child her slave Nimmie Amee was obliged to work from morning till night old Witch East, scrubbing and sweeping her hut and cooking her meals and washing her dishes She had to cut firewood, too, until her one day forest and fell in love with her , I always brought plenty of firewood to Nimmie Amee and we became very friendly Finally I asked her to marry me, and she agreed , but the Witch happened to overhear our conversation and it made her very angry, for she wish her slave taken away from her The Witch commanded me never near Nimmie Amee again, but her my own master and would do as I pleased, not realizing was careless way to Witch

"The , as cutting wood forest, the cruel Witch enchanted my axe, so slipped and cut off my right leg "

"How dreadful ! " cried Woot the Wanderer