L Frank Baum

The Tin Woodman of Oz L Frank Baum

The Emperor of the Winkies paused in his story to reach for an oil-can, with which he carefullyoiled the joints in his tin throat, for his voice had begun to squeak a little. Woot the Wanderer, having satisfied his hunger, watched this oiling process with much curiosity, but begged the Tin Manto go on with his tale."The Witch with the Silver Shoes hated me for having defied her," resumed the Emperor, hisvoice now sounding clear as a bell, "and she insisted that Nimmie Amee should never marry me. Therefore she made the enchanted axe cut off my other arm, and the tinsmith also replaced thatmember with tin, including these finely-jointed hands that you see me using. But, alas! after that, theaxe, still enchanted by the cruel Witch, cut my body in two, so that I fell to the ground. Then theWitch, who was watching from a near-by bush, rushed up and seized the axe and chopped my bodyinto several small pieces, after which, thinking that at last she had destroyed me, she ran awaylaughing in wicked glee."But Nimmie Amee found me. She picked up my arms and legs and head, and made a bundle ofthem and carried them to the tinsmith, who set to work and made me a fine body of pure tin. Whenhe had joined the arms and legs to the body, and set my head in the tin collar, I was a much betterman than ever, for my body could not ache or pain me, and I was so beautiful and bright that I hadno need of clothing. Clothing is always a nuisance, because it soils and tears and has to be replaced;but my tin body only needs to be oiled and polished