Dorothy let Button-Bright
wind up the clock-work in the
copper man this morning--his
thinking machine first, then
his speech, and finally his
action; so he would doubtless run perfectly until they had reached the
Emerald City. The copper man and the tin man were good friends, and
not so much alike as you might think. For one was alive and the other
moved by means of machinery; one was tall and angular and the other
short and round. You could love the Tin Woodman because he had a fine
nature, kindly and simple; but the machine man you could only admire
without loving, since to love such a thing as he was as impossible as
to love a sewing-machine or an automobile. Yet Tik-tok was popular
with the people of Oz because he was so trustworthy, reliable and
true; he was sure to do exactly what he was wound up to do, at all
times and in all circumstances. Perhaps it is better to be a machine
that does its duty than a flesh-and-blood person who will not, for a
dead truth is better than a live falsehood.
About noon the travelers
reached a large field of pumpkins--a
vegetable quite appropriate
to the yellow country of the
Winkies--and some of the pumpkins
which grew there were of remarkable
size. Just before they entered
upon this field they saw three
little mounds that looked like
graves, with a pretty headstone
to each one of them.
"What is this?" asked
Dorothy,
in wonder.
"It's Jack Pumpkinhead's
private graveyard," replied
the Tin Woodman.
"But I thought nobody ever
died in Oz," she said.
"Nor do they; although if
one is bad, he may be condemned
and killed by the good citizens," he
answered.
Dorothy ran over to the little
graves and read the words engraved
upon the tombstones. The first
one said:
Here Lies the Mortal Part
of JACK PUMPKINHEAD Which Spoiled
April 9th.
She then went to the next
stone, which read:
Here Lies the Mortal Part
of JACK PUMPKINHEAD Which Spoiled
October 2nd.
On the third stone were carved
these words:
Here Lies the Mortal Part
of JACK PUMPKINHEAD Which Spoiled
January 24th.
"Poor Jack!" sighed Dorothy. "I'm
sorry he had to die in three
parts, for I hoped to see him
again."
"So you shall," declared
the Tin Woodman, "since he
is still alive. Come with me
to his house, for Jack is now
a farmer and lives in this
very pumpkin field."
They walked over to a monstrous
big, hollow pumpkin which had
a door and windows cut through
the rind. There was a stovepipe
running through the stem, and
six steps had been built leading
up to the front door.
They walked up to this door
and looked in. Seated on a
bench was a man clothed in
a spotted shirt, a red vest,
and faded blue trousers, whose
body was merely sticks of wood,
jointed clumsily together.
On his neck was set a round,
yellow pumpkin, with a face
carved on it such as a boy
often carves on a jack-lantern.
This queer man was engaged
in snapping slippery pumpkin-seeds
with his wooden fingers, trying
to hit a target on the other
side of the room with them.
He did not know he had visitors
until Dorothy exclaimed:
"Why, it's
Jack Pumpkinhead himself!"
He turned and saw them, and
at once came forward to greet
the little Kansas girl and
Nick Chopper, and to be introduced
to their new friends.
Button-Bright was at first
rather shy with the quaint
Pumpkinhead, but Jack's face
was so jolly and smiling--being
carved that way--that the boy
soon grew to like him.
"I thought a while ago that
you were buried in three parts," said
Dorothy, "but now I see you're
just the same as ever."
"Not quite
the same, my dear, for my
mouth is a little more
one-sided than it used to be;
but pretty nearly the same.
I've a new head, and this is
the fourth one I've owned since
Ozma first made me and brought
me to life by sprinkling me
with the Magic Powder."
"What became
of the other heads, Jack?"
"They spoiled
and I buried them, for they
were not even
fit for pies. Each time Ozma
has carved me a new head just
like the old one, and as my
body is by far the largest
part of me, I am still Jack
Pumpkinhead, no matter how
often I change my upper end.
Once we had a dreadful time
to find another pumpkin, as
they were out of season, and
so I was obliged to wear my
old head a little longer than
was strictly healthy. But after
this sad experience I resolved
to raise pumpkins myself, so
as never to be caught again
without one handy; and now
I have this fine field that
you see before you. Some grow
pretty big--too big to be used
for heads--so I dug out this
one and use it for a house."
"Isn't it damp?" asked
Dorothy.
"Not very.
There isn't much left but
the shell, you see,
and it will last a long time
yet."
"I think you are brighter
than you used to be, Jack," said
the Tin Woodman. "Your last
head was a stupid one."
"The seeds in this one are
better," was the reply.
"Are you going to Ozma's
party?" asked Dorothy.
"Yes," said he, "I
wouldn't miss it for anything.
Ozma's
my parent, you know, because
she built my body and carved
my pumpkin head. I'll follow
you to the Emerald City to-morrow,
where we shall meet again.
I can't go to-day, because
I have to plant fresh pumpkin-seeds
and water the young vines.
But give my love to Ozma, and
tell her I'll be there in time
for the jubilation."
"We will," she
promised; and then they all
left him
and resumed their journey.
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