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Oh, no;" replied Dorothy. "Nick Chopper knows how to feed meat

people, and he will give us plenty of good things to eat, never fear. I've

been to his castle before."

Is Nick Chopper the Tin Woodman's name?" asked Uncle Henry.

Yes; that's one of his names," answered the little girl; "and another of his

names is 'Emp'ror of the Winkies.' He's the King of this country, you

know, but Ozma rules over all the countries of Oz."

Does the Tin Woodman keep any Flutterbudgets or Rigmaroles at his

castle?" inquired Aunt Em, uneasily.

No indeed," said Dorothy, positively. "He lives in a new tin castle, all full

of lovely things."

I should think it would rust," said Uncle Henry.

He has thousands of Winkies to keep it polished for him," explained the

Wizard. "His people love to do anything in their power for their beloved

Emperor, so there isn't a particle of rust on all the big castle."

I suppose they polish their Emperor, too," said Aunt Em.

Why, some time ago he had himself nickel-plated," the Wizard answered;

so he only needs rubbing up once in a while. He's the brightest man in

all the world, is dear Nick Chopper; and the kindest-hearted."

I helped find him," said Dorothy, reflectively. "Once the Scarecrow and I

found the Tin Woodman in the woods, and he was just rusted still, that

time, an' no mistake. But we oiled his joints an' got 'em good and

slippery, and after that he went with us to visit the Wizard at the Em'rald

City."

Was that the time the Wizard scared you?" asked Aunt Em.

He didn't treat us well, at first," acknowledged Dorothy; "for he made us

go away and destroy the Wicked Witch. But after we found out he was

only a humbug wizard we were not afraid of him."

The Wizard sighed and looked a little ashamed.

When we try to deceive people we always make mistakes," he said. "But

I'm getting to be a real wizard now, and Glinda the Good's magic, that I

am trying to practice, can never harm any one."

The Emerald City of Oz