Tin woodcutter from the country of the lake. Man of iron What does a tin woodcutter look like

Tin Woodman- the old name for former Roman legionnaires who deserted from the battlefield in a checkerboard pattern, leaving behind empty tanks and abandoned artillery pieces. One of the Tin Woodmen was Pinocchio's surrogate father.

The first Tin Woodmen were the legionaries of Quintius Varra, who got lost on the orders of Emperor Augustus in the dense Herman Dark Forest. Having frightened the unfortunate Hermans to death, they gobbled up a house of candies, chopped to death the unfortunate transvestite wolf, dressed in the costume of Baba Yaga, set up a hut on Bush's chicken legs and began to engage in logging. The creaking of the chainsaws of the importunate Romans woke the Medved, who lived in the forest, and he pursued them until he drove them into the Siberian Khanate of Oz. Roman sources testify that Augustus was so struck by the atrocities of his legionnaires that he began to beat himself with his head and yell the strange phrase “Quintius Varr, at least return the chainsaw!”

In the XX century, according to the Elvish calendar, a totalitarian sect called the "Iron Woodman" appeared. Its leader, Sarumyan the Honest, argued that orcs and Teletubbies are born from stumps, therefore, the more stumps there are, the stronger Cthulhu will become. The adherents of the cult themselves, after an untimely death, will fall into the afterlife of stumps. As a result of the action of this sect, the ecosystem was disturbed

The Tin Woodman was one of the most remarkable inhabitants of the Land of Oz. As Emperor of the Winkies, he was Ozma's subordinate and longtime friend. He was very careful about his appearance and was always polished to a shine, and his joints were richly oiled. He was distinguished by refined manners and a kind heart. Having cordially greeted Ojo and Patchwork, he invited the guests to the iron drawing room of his castle, where both the furniture and the paintings were made of pure iron. The walls were covered with iron plates, and an iron chandelier hung from the ceiling.

The Tin Woodman was eager to know where Dorothy had met Patchwork, so the guests began to tell him how the girl was made from a blanket, and also how Margolotta and Uncle Nandi became marble statues, and Ojo went to get everything necessary to save them.

Dorothy then told of their adventures in the Quadling Country and how they got water from the dark well. The Tin Woodman sat in his rocking chair and listened intently. Ojo did not take his eyes off the emperor and suddenly noticed that a drop of oil was swelling on the hinge of his left knee. He immediately began to fumble in his pocket for a crystal bottle, and then squeezed it in his fist.

The Tin Woodman stirred in his chair, and Ojo, to the amazement of his friends, sank to the floor and placed the vial under the Emperor's left knee. A drop fell into him, and the boy, screwing the cap on tightly and putting the vial in his pocket, stood up in embarrassment.

What did you do? said the Tin Woodman.

Caught a drop of oil from the hinge on your left knee.

A drop of oil? the emperor exclaimed. - How carelessly my servant lubricated me! I'll have to carefully pick it out: after all, I'll stain everything with oil.

Nothing, Dorothy reassured him. - Ojo for some reason really wanted to get this drop.

Exactly, the boy admitted. - Indeed, among what the Crooked Sorcerer ordered me to get, there was a drop of oil from a living person. At first I could not understand what was meant, but now this drop is in a bottle!

I am very glad,” said the Tin Woodman. Did you get everything you wanted?

Not really. I needed to get five things, and I only have four so far. I have three hairs from the tail of a Wuzi, a six-leaf clover, a flask of water from a dark well, and a drop of oil from the body of a living person. The easiest is left, and I am sure that my dear uncle Nandi and Margolotta will come to life again.

Excellent, said the Tin Woodman. - Congratulations. But what is this fifth thing?

Left wing of a yellow butterfly. In your yellow country, and with your help, it will not be difficult for me to find him.

The Tin Woodman stared at him in amazement.

Are you kidding? he asked Ojo.

No, he replied in surprise. - I'm serious.

But did you really think that I would let you or someone else tear off the wing of a yellow butterfly? the emperor asked sternly.

Why not?

Why? Are you still asking me why? Yes, this is the most cruel intention that I have ever heard of, - said the Woodcutter. - Yellow butterflies are one of the most beautiful living creatures and they can't stand pain. To tear off the wing of a living butterfly means to inflict terrible torment on it and doom it to death. I will never allow such an atrocity!

Ojo was stunned. Dorothy also felt a little uneasy, although deep down she knew how right the Tin Woodman was. The Scarecrow nodded in agreement with the words of his old friend. Patchwork looked at the audience in bewilderment.

Who cares about some butterfly? she snorted.

Don't you feel sorry for her? asked the Tin Woodman.

Not a little! - answered the girl. - I have no heart, but I want to help my friend Ojo and for this I would kill a dozen butterflies, if only he could revive his uncle.

The Tin Woodman sighed regretfully.

You have good intentions,” he said, “and if you had a heart, you would be a wonderful person. I do not blame you for your heartless words, because you cannot understand the feelings of those who are endowed with a heart. For example, I have a very kind and sympathetic heart, which the Wizard of the Emerald City once gave me, and I never - never! - I will not allow someone to torment yellow butterflies like that.

Yellow butterflies live only in the yellow Land of the Winkers,” Ojo said sadly.

I'm glad to hear it," the Emperor of the Land of Miguns responded. - But I'm in charge here and I won't let my butterflies offend.

But if I don't have a wing - just the left wing! - I can't help Uncle Nandi.

It means that he is destined to remain a marble statue forever, - the Tin Woodman minted.

Never! - cut the woodcutter. - I forbid it.

What do we do? Dorothy asked.

Everyone was silent, thinking. Finally the Tin Woodman spoke:

We should all go to the Emerald City and ask Ozma's advice. We have a very wise ruler, and she will figure out how to help the unfortunate.

The next day the friends went to the Emerald City and reached it without much incident. For Ojo, it was a sad journey. He did not know how to revive Uncle Nandi without the wing of a yellow butterfly. Would it be necessary to wait six long years until the Crooked Sorcerer made a new batch of Revitalizing Powder? Ojo walked with his head down and groaned from time to time.

What happened to you? - sympathetically asked the Tin Woodman, who also went to Princess Ozma.

I am Ojo the Unlucky, he heard back. - Whatever I undertake, I will fail.

Why are you Ojo the Unlucky?

I was born on an unlucky day, Friday.

So what? - the Woodcutter was surprised. Friday is just one of the seven days of the week. Do you really think that once every seven days the whole world is unlucky?

Friday the thirteenth,” Ojo said.

Thirteenth? But this is just a lucky number, - the Woodcutter objected. - All my luck is connected with the thirteenth. No one pays attention to luck if it happens on the thirteenth, but if they are unlucky that day, people are ready to blame the number, and not look for the true reason.

For me, the thirteenth is also a lucky number, - the Scarecrow gave his voice.

And for me, - said Patchwork. - There are exactly thirteen shreds on my head.

And I'm left-handed, - Ojo did not give up.

Many of the greatest people were left-handed,” Emperor Migunov said. - When you are left-handed, you have, in fact, two hands, and when you are right-handed, then one.

And I have a wart under my arm! Ojo confessed.

How fortunate! cried the Woodcutter. - If it were on the tip of the nose, it would really be ugly, but under the arm it is invisible.

That's why they called me Ojo the Unlucky, the boy concluded.

So we have to put an end to this and rename you. From now on, you are Ojo the Lucky. All the explanations we have heard from you are unreasonable. Moreover, keep in mind that those who constantly complain about bad luck do not have time to take advantage of favorable moments in life. Try to be Ojo the Lucky.

But how? Ojo was surprised. - After all, all my attempts to help my uncle failed.

Don't give up, Ojo, Dorothy advised. Nobody knows what lies ahead for us.

Ojo said nothing, but was so upset that even the beauty of the Emerald City could not dispel his anguish.

The townspeople joyfully greeted their favorites: Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. When they arrived at the palace, they were told that Princess Ozma would receive them at once.

Dorothy told the princess that they managed to get almost everything that the Crooked Wizard asked for, but when it came to the last thing, the wing of a yellow butterfly, the Tin Woodman said no.

He is right, answered Princess Ozma. “If Ojo had told me in advance that he needed the wing of a yellow butterfly, I would have explained to him that he would not get this in the country of the Tin Woodman. Then you would not have to experience all the hardships of a long journey.

And I liked the trip, - answered Princess Dorothy.

Anyway, I didn't follow Dr. Pipt's orders, and now I have to wait six years until he makes the Revitalizing Powder.

Doctor Pipt will make no more Powder, answered Ozma with a smile. - You really believe me. By my order, the Sorcerer was brought to my palace, his cauldrons were destroyed, and the book with recipes for potions was burned. I also had the marble statues of Margolotte and your uncle delivered - they're in the next room.

This message left everyone in amazement.

Let me see Uncle Nandi. Just for a second, Ojo asked.

Wait, said Ozma. - Let me finish. Not a single incident in Oz escapes the attention of the good sorceress Glinda. She became aware that Dr. Pipt had made the Glass Cat and brought Patchwork to life. She knows what happened to Margolotta and Uncle Nandi, and she is also aware of Ojo's adventures with Dorothy. Glinda knew that Ojo would not get everything he wanted, so she sent for our Wizard and told him what to do. An event will soon take place in our palace, which, I am sure, will please you. Now let's go to the next room.

Emperor Migunov fell silent and, taking out an oil can, lubricated the hinges on his iron throat, for his voice suddenly became a little raspy. Tramp Booth, having eaten to satiety, followed this procedure with interest, but asked the owner to continue the story.

The sorceress in silver slippers hated me with a fierce hatred,” he spoke again, and his voice rang clear as a bell. “She told the ax to cut off my other hand, but the blacksmith made it for me from iron. But one day an ax cut my torso in half, and I fell to the ground. Immediately, the Sorceress hiding there jumped out from behind a tree, chopped me into small pieces and ran away with wild laughter, believing that the end had come for me. But Nimmy Amy found me. She gathered my arms, legs, head, tied it in a bundle and took it to the blacksmith. He set to work and made me a new iron body, to which he attached my old head. I was very proud of my new appearance: after all, I now felt neither pain nor fatigue and looked so beautiful that I did not need clothes. There is only one concern from clothes: it gets dirty, then it is torn, and the iron body only needs to be lubricated and wiped from time to time.

Nimmy Amy said that she loved me very much, despite the intrigues of the sorceress. She said I would make the most brilliant husband in the world, and she was right. But the damned Sorceress did not give up. An enchanted ax cut off my head, and the old aunt turned up right there and, having dragged it away with her, hid it somewhere. I wandered helplessly through the forest, not knowing where to go, but Nimmy Amy found me and took me to the blacksmith. He made me an iron head, but then Nimmy Amy came running with my old head, which she stole from the old woman. But, on reflection, I still preferred the iron head - I still wear it - and Nimmy Amy agreed that a man made entirely of iron is better than one who was assembled from different materials. The blacksmith was very proud of his work and for three whole days he admired me and praised me in every way.

Now I was not afraid of the machinations of the Evil Witch: she could not harm me. Nimmy Amy said we should get married soon so she could come live in my house and be able to take care of me.

A husband like you, dear Nick, - said my beloved - then my name was Nick, - the dream of every girl. You don't have to cook food, you don't have to make a bed, at parties you will dance without knowing fatigue. While you are cutting trees, I will not bend my back around the house, but rest, unlike all married women. The iron logic in your head won't let you be angry with me. And besides, I will be the wife of the only Tin Woodman in the world. “It just goes to show that Nimmy Amy was as smart as she was brave and beautiful.

It looks like it is, - agreed Booth. - But tell me: why didn't you die when you were cut into pieces?

Nobody dies in the Land of Oz. And although I lost parts of my body, I continued to live. I have always remained a man, even when I was completely made of iron.

Clearly, - Booth said thoughtfully. - And then you, of course, married Nimmy Amy?

No, he didn't get married. She said she still loved me, but I stopped loving her. There was no heart in my iron body, and without a heart one cannot love. So, in a way, the Wicked Witch got her way. Nimmy Amy served the old woman's aunt and bent her back on her ...

What happened to you? Booth asked.

One day I went out of the house without an oiler and began, as usual, chopping wood. Suddenly, for no reason, a thunderstorm came up, a terrible downpour poured down. My joints were so rusted that I couldn't move my arm or leg. I stood in the dark wilderness until Dorothy and the Scarecrow came to my aid. They oiled me properly, and I came to life again. Now I never part with a butter dish.

And who is Dorothy? Booth asked.

Little girl. She was brought to Oz by a hurricane from Kansas, right in the house. When the house landed, it crushed the Wicked Witch and she was finished. Perhaps she still lies under the house to this day.

No, - the Scarecrow corrected his friend. - Dorothy told me that the old woman turned to dust and the wind scattered it around.

With Dorothy and the Scarecrow,” continued the emperor, “I went to the Emerald City, and the Wizard there gave me a heart. But I got a kind heart, not a loving one. That's why I couldn't love Nimmy Amy again.

Has the Wizard fooled you? Booth asked.

Why do you think so? - the Woodcutter was surprised.

But because if the heart was really kind, you would never leave the girl who loved you and helped you in difficult times. You would seek her out, marry her, and then bring her to your luxurious castle and make her an empress.

The woodcutter was so surprised by Booth's words that for some time he sat and gazed at him intently. But here the Scarecrow shook his straw head and said resolutely:

And the boy is right! I myself sometimes wondered: why didn’t you return to this sweet and unhappy girl?

Immediately the Woodcutter stared at his friend

Scarecrow. After a pause, he said in a serious tone:

Frankly, it somehow never occurred to me to find Nimmi Amy and make her empress. But even now it is not too late to correct the oversight. Tramp Booth reminded me of this in time: why shouldn't I go in search of her? It's not her fault that I lost my heart and fell out of love with her! If I can make her happy, then I simply must return to her, marry her and reward her for her loyalty.

Exactly! said the Scarecrow.

Won't you keep me company? Emperor Migunov asked him. "Won't you go with me to the Land of the Munchkins?"

Of course, I'll go, - answered the Scarecrow.

Take me with you, - asked Booth.

Definitely,” said the Woodcutter. “It was you who said it was my duty to find Nimmy Amy and marry her. And I, Nick, the Tin Woodman, am always ready to do my duty.

If a girl is pretty, then this is a pleasant duty, ”Both replied, pleased that he had a new adventure ahead of him.

Beauty causes admiration, but not always love, - objected the Tin Woodman. - For example, flowers are beautiful, but it would never occur to anyone to want to marry them. Duty, on the other hand, is a call to action, whether you want to act or not. I answer this call.

I do not hear any call, but I am also ready to go, - said the Scarecrow, a great travel lover. - When do we perform?

As soon as we finish the necessary preparations,” the Woodcutter replied. “I command the servants to do whatever is required in such cases.

The Tin Woodman of Oz. Iron man. Baum's Tale read

Ozma and Dorothy liked Booth very much: they found him both bright and well-mannered. He was happy that he was disenchanted, and promised to love, honor and protect the young ruler of Oz.

“Come and visit me at the palace if you like,” said Ozma, “and I will introduce you to our other two boys, Ojo and Button-Bright.”

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Booth thanked her and, turning to the Woodcutter, asked: "What are your plans, Mr. Emperor?" Are you going to keep going and find Nimmy Amy or have you changed your mind and now go to the Emerald City and then to your castle?

The Tin Woodman thought about the question for a moment, and then said:

"Why don't I move towards Nimmy Amy?" We are now in the Land of the Munchkins, where we are not in danger, and since I was going to marry before turning into an Owl, it makes more sense to do this now that the spell has been broken and I have returned to myself. Am I right, friend Scarecrow?

“Quite,” he replied. Your arguments are reasonable.

"But you don't love Nimmy Amy," said Dorothy.

“That’s because I love everyone equally,” answered the Woodcutter. “If I do not love my wife more than all other people, I will at least be kind and considerate to her, and not all husbands are capable of this.

“Do you think Nimmy Amy still loves you?” Dorothy asked.

- I am sure about that. That's why I decided to make her happy. Tramp Booth says that it is my duty to marry her because she showed such loyalty and participation when the enchanted ax cut off my hands, then legs, then my head. What do you think, Ozma?

Ozma replied with a smile:

“I don't know Nimmy Amy, so I don't know what exactly she needs to be happy. But there will be no trouble if you visit her and propose to her. If she agrees to be your wife, we will celebrate your wedding in the Emerald City. Nimmy Amy would become Empress and one of the first ladies of Oz.

So the Tin Woodman decided to continue his journey, and the Scarecrow and Booth said that they would go further with him. To the surprise of those gathered, Polyflower also wished to join the travelers.

"I can't stand being stuck within four walls, even in a palace," she said. - As soon as I meet Rainbow, I will immediately go to heaven to my sisters, who are waiting for me. Yes, and my mother is probably angry, because I always disappear somewhere. But I'd rather see the Rainbow while traveling through Munchkin Country with the Tin Woodman than by being locked up in a palace. So I'm going with the Woodcutter and help him get Nimmy Amy's hand in marriage.

Dorogi didn't mind joining them either, but since the Tin Woodman didn't call her, she found it inconvenient to ask. True, she hinted that she would not mind joining his squad, but he pretended not to understand the hint. Marriage is a delicate matter, and perhaps the Tin Woodman wanted his explanation with Nimmy Amy to have fewer witnesses. So Dorothy had to content herself with thinking about how she would help Ozma throw a grand reception when the Tin Woodman came to the Emerald City with his bride.

Ozma suggested that they ride together to that forest in the Munchkin Country where the Tin Woodman used to live. Ozma said goodbye to Ginger, who gave Booth a basket of cream and chocolate caramel buns for the road and told Wood Horse to get going. This bizarre creature immediately broke into a trot, and soon his hooves clattered along the road. When they entered the forest, the road became so narrow that the Red Carriage could not get any further. This is where the farewell happened.

Ozma, Dorothy, and Toto wished the Woodcutter, the Scarecrow, Booth, and Polyflower a happy journey, while they themselves set off for the Emerald City. The woodcutter with his friends went deeper into the forest. Both he and the Scarecrow knew these places well and felt at home in the forest thicket.

“I was born in these places,” Emperor Migunov said not without pride. “Here an evil sorceress bewitched my axe, Nimmy Amy lived in this forest, and at the other end of it stood the house of my friend the blacksmith, who turned me from a simple man into an iron one.

“He seems to be a great craftsman,” said Booth.

- He's just amazing! exclaimed the Tin Woodman.

“I wish I could meet him,” Booth said.

“If we are talking about artificers,” said the Scarecrow, “then you should meet the farmer who made me. My friend the Woodcutter is not bad for an iron creature, but a true connoisseur of beauty will immediately say: the straw Scarecrow is much more refined.

“You are too soft and light,” said the Woodcutter.

“And you are a hardhead,” said the Scarecrow.

- on

The conversation threatened to turn into a quarrel, but Polyflower laughed merrily, and Booth hurried to change the subject.

In the evening they made a halt under the trees. Booth had a hearty supper of buns and chocolate caramel and invited Polyflower to join him, but she thanked and refused, and at dawn she drank plenty of the dew that had gathered on the grass and forest flowers. In the morning they were on their way again. Suddenly the Scarecrow said:

“That's where Dorothy found the Tin Woodman. He was so badly rusted that he could not move his arm or leg. But we oiled him well, he became as good as new and went with us to the Emerald City.

“Yes, it was a sad time,” agreed the Woodcutter. I was chopping a tree in the forest, and suddenly a terrible downpour began. Before I could even look back, I was rusty from head to toe. So I stood with the ax raised over my head for days, weeks, months. I can't even say for sure how long I stayed like that. But then Dorothy showed up and saved me. Look! Here is the same tree that I then cut down!

“So your hut must be somewhere nearby,” Booth concluded.

“Yes, it’s really nearby, but we don’t need to go into it. We need to quickly find Nimmy Amy, and her house is quite far from here, through the forest to the left.

“She seems to be living with an old aunt who was friends with the Wicked Witch?” the boy asked.

“She once lived,” replied the Woodcutter. “Then I found out that Dorothy's house had crushed the Wicked Witch, and the old woman was gone. So now Nimmy Amy seems to live alone. True, I haven’t seen her since then, because I was standing rusty in the forest, but I think she was very glad that now there was no one to push her around.

“Well then,” said the Scarecrow. "Let's find her soon." Show us the way, Your Imperial Majesty!

The Tin Woodman followed the path that led them to the darkest part of the forest, where it was as dark as twilight. The Tin Woodman parted branches and branches, and sometimes even used his axe. Suddenly the Tin Woodman stopped and exclaimed;

- God!

The Scarecrow, following on his heels, bumped into his iron friend, not having time to stop, and then looked out from behind his iron shoulder and exclaimed no less surprised:

- Blimey!

Tramp Booth also approached them and, seeing what was the matter, also uttered a surprised cry.

All three of them stood stock-still, staring at what was before their eyes until Polychrome's silver laughter snapped them out of their daze.

On the path in front of them stood a man who looked exactly like the Tin Woodman. He was of the same height, in the same way arms and legs were attached to the body on hinges, and he was also all made of iron. He stood motionless with his mouth open, and his iron eyes looked up. In his hand he had a sword. That was the difference between him and Emperor Migunov, who had an ax in his hands.

- It's just a dream! Rogue Booth muttered.

“Exactly,” agreed the Scarecrow. “Can there be two Tin Woodmen?”

“No, of course not,” laughed Polychrome, and with a fluttering step approached the stranger. “This is the Iron Warrior. See his sword?

The Tin Woodman reached out and touched his counterpart on the shoulder. Then he asked in a voice trembling with excitement:

- Who are you?

There was no answer.

“Don’t you see that it’s all rusty, as you must have been yourself in your time?” Multicolor said. “Come on, Nick the Woodcutter, lend me your oiler.

The woodcutter silently handed her the oil can, which he never parted with. Polyflower smeared the poor man's jaws and began to move them back and forth until he said:

- Thanks. Enough. I can speak. Now lubricate my joints, please.

Booth took an oil can and began to lubricate the hinge joints, while the others began to move the warrior's arms and legs until he could do it himself. He was very glad that he was freed from the captivity of rust. He began to march up and down the path, singing loudly:

Everyone is glad to see a soldier,

When is the parade.

And we appreciate it doubly

When he fights on a warrior

With enemies bravely, like a lion,

Danger and fear scorned.

But he knows for sure, friends:

You can't fight with your family!

The Tin Woodman sat on a gleaming iron throne in the sumptuous iron throne room of his gleaming iron castle in the Land of the Winkies, which is part of the Land of Oz. Sitting next to him on a wicker straw chair was his old friend the Scarecrow. From time to time they recalled the curiosities that they met during their joint adventures in the Land of Oz, but more often they just sat in silence, because all this had already been talked about many times. It was pleasant for them to sit and be silent together, occasionally breaking the silence with some phrase that reminded them that they were not sleeping. However, these outlandish creatures never slept. Why should they, one wonders, sleep if they did not know fatigue?

The sun was setting on the horizon, painting the gleaming towers and turrets of the iron castle in the crimson sunset color, when Booth the Tramp appeared on the winding road that led to the castle. At the gates of the castle he was met by a servant - Migun.

The Tin Woodman's servants wore iron helmets and were dressed in silver uniforms, on which metal plaques were sewn, which made them sparkle and shimmer, like a castle under the rays of the sun or its owner himself.

Rogue Booth looked at the glittering servant, then at the glittering castle, and his eyes widened in surprise. Booth was small in stature and young in years, and although he managed to wander around the wide world, he had never seen such an amazing sight.

Who lives here? - he asked.

Emperor Migunov the Tin Woodman, replied the servant politely, accustomed to courteous treatment of strangers.

Tin Woodman? Here are miracles! exclaimed the little tramp.

Maybe our emperor is not like everyone else, - the servant replied, - but he is kind, fair and honest, and therefore those who gladly serve him quickly forget that he is made of iron.

Can I have a look at it? said Tramp Booth after a moment's thought.

If you wait a little, I'll go and ask him, - said the servant and went to the throne room, where the Woodcutter and the Scarecrow were sitting. Both were delighted with the new man and ordered him to be brought to them as soon as possible.

Booth walked along corridors richly trimmed with iron, passed under iron arches, passed iron halls furnished with fine iron furniture, and marveled more and more. But with all his surprise, he bowed deeply to the emperor and politely said:

I welcome your majesty and am ready to serve you faithfully.

Fine! said the Tin Woodman with his usual cheerfulness. - Tell me who you are and where you are from.

I am Tramp Booth, the boy confessed, and I have come here, after some wandering, from my home in the farthest corner of Gillikin Country.

To leave home and start wandering, - said the Scarecrow, - means dooming yourself to hardships and dangers, especially if you are made of flesh and blood. Didn't you have friends in Gillikin Country?

Hearing the straw man speak so fluently, Tramp Booth stared at the Scarecrow in a not very courteous manner, but after a moment he replied:

I had a cozy house and good friends, your straw excellency, but they lived so quietly, boringly and depressingly, that I got tired of the order. Nothing aroused my interest, and I decided that in other parts I would meet a lot of all sorts of curiosities, and set off on my way. I wandered for almost a year and now I ended up in your beautiful castle.

During this year you have probably seen so much that you have become much wiser, - said the Tin Woodman.

Nothing of the kind,” said the Tramp. “I assure your Majesty that the more I saw, the more I realized that I knew very little. There is a lot to learn in the Land of Oz.

It's easy to learn. Have you asked people questions? inquired the Scarecrow.

Yes, and a lot, but many refused to answer.

They are in vain,” said the Tin Woodman. If you need information, you have to ask. Personally, I am willing to answer all questions if asked politely.

Me too, - the Scarecrow nodded his head.

I'm glad to hear that," said Tramp Booth, "because I just want to ask you something: Could I have some food?

Poor fellow! cried the emperor. “I completely forgot that wanderers usually come hungry. Now you will be fed. - And with these words he blew into the iron whistle that hung around his neck. Immediately a servant appeared and made a deep bow. The woodcutter ordered to feed the guest. The servant departed and soon returned with a tray full of all kinds of food on iron plates, polished so that they could look like in a mirror.

An iron table was brought to the throne, a tray was placed on it, and an iron chair was placed next to the table for Bout.

Eat, Tramp Booth, said the Tin Woodman. - I hope, you like it. I go without food myself, as does my friend the Scarecrow, but the Winkies are flesh and blood and eat regularly, so my pantry is full of provisions. Besides, I have guests.

For some time the boy ate in silence, because he was very hungry, but then, having satisfied his hunger, he asked:

How is it, your majesty: you are made of iron, but you live like ordinary people?

It's a long story," said the iron man.

The longer it is, the better, Booth said. - Please tell her.

If you want it so much, then if you please, - said the Tin Woodman, leaning back on the back of the throne and throwing his legs over his legs. - I haven't told it for a long time, because everyone around me learned it by heart. But you are a guest, and you will indeed be interested to hear how I became such a successful man of dazzling appearance. Now I will tell you everything.

Thank you,” Booth said with his mouth full.

I have not always been iron, - began the Woodcutter. - Once I was the most ordinary person of flesh, blood and bones and lived in the Land of Munchkins. I cut trees for firewood so that people could warm themselves by the fires and cook food. I lived in a small hut in the forest, and everything was fine until I fell in love with a girl who lived in the same area with an old aunt.

And what was her name? Booth asked.

Nimmy Amy. She was so beautiful that the sunsets turned red looking at her. She lived with an old lazy aunt and always bent her back on her. She washed the floors, cooked, washed, went to the forest for firewood. That's where we met. I saw her and fell in love at first sight. I myself began to bring her firewood, and we became friends. I asked her to marry me and she agreed. But the old woman overheard our conversation and was terribly frightened. She didn't want to lose her employee. She went to the Wicked Witch of the East, the one with the silver slippers, and promised her two sheep and a cow if she upset our wedding. The sorceress told me not to come close to Nimmy Amy, but I replied that I wanted to sneeze at her prohibitions. The sorceress held a grudge against me, and the very next day, when I was chopping wood, the ax escaped from my hands and cut off my right leg.

Horrible! exclaimed Rogue Booth.

It wasn't good enough, agreed the Woodcutter. You can't chop wood with one foot. But I decided not to give up. At the other end of the forest lived my acquaintance blacksmith, and I somehow jumped up to him on one leg and asked for help. He made an iron leg and attached it to my torso. Walking on an iron leg turned out to be just as comfortable as on an ordinary one.

Your friend is a jack of all trades! Booth exclaimed.

That's for sure. He is a blacksmith and can make whatever his heart desires out of iron. When I came to Nimmy Amy, she kissed me and said she was proud of me. The sorceress saw me and became terribly angry. The next day she enchanted the ax again, and it cut off my left leg. I jumped on an iron leg to a blacksmith friend, and he made me a second iron leg. Nimmy Amy was very happy and said that when she became my wife, she would clean and oil my iron legs. The sorceress was beside herself with rage, and the next day the ax enchanted by her cut off my hand. The blacksmith made me an iron hand, and I did not grieve, because Nimmy Amy assured me that she still loved me.