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They were now invited to enter the tin dining room, where luncheon was

served.

Aunt Em found, to her satisfaction, that Dorothy's promise was more

than fulfilled; for, although the Tin Woodman had no appetite of his own,

he respected the appetites of his guests and saw that they were

bountifully fed.

They passed the afternoon in wandering through the beautiful gardens

and grounds of the palace. The walks were all paved with sheets of tin,

brightly polished, and there were tin fountains and tin statues here and

there among the trees. The flowers were mostly natural flowers and grew

in the regular way; but their host showed them one flower bed which was

his especial pride.

You see, all common flowers fade and die in time," he explained, "and so

there are seasons when the pretty blooms are scarce. Therefore I decided

to make one tin flower bed all of tin flowers, and my workmen have

created them with rare skill. Here you see tin camelias, tin marigolds,

tin carnations, tin poppies and tin hollyhocks growing as naturally as if

they were real."

Indeed, they were a pretty sight, and glistened under the sunlight like

spun silver. "Isn't this tin hollyhock going to seed?" asked the Wizard,

bending over the flowers.

Why, I believe it is!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman, as if surprised. "I

hadn't noticed that before. But I shall plant the tin seeds and raise

another bed of tin hollyhocks."

In one corner of the gardens Nick Chopper had established a fish-pond in

which they saw swimming and disporting themselves many pretty tin

fishes.

Would they bite on hooks?" asked Aunt Em, curiously.

The Tin Woodman seemed hurt at this question.

Madam," said he, "do you suppose I would allow anyone to catch my

beautiful fishes, even if they were foolish enough to bite on hooks? No,

indeed! Every created thing is safe from harm in my domain, and I

would as soon think of killing my little friend Dorothy as killing one of

my tin fishes."

The Emerald City of Oz