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Chapter Eighteen - The Tin Woodman Talks to Himself

The Tin Woodman had just noticed the cupboards and was curious to know

what they contained, so he went to one of them and opened the door. There

were shelves inside, and upon one of the shelves which was about on a level

with his tin chin the Emperor discovered a Head--it looked like a doll's head,

only it was larger, and he soon saw it was the Head of some person. It was

facing the Tin Woodman and as the cupboard door swung back, the eyes of

the Head slowly opened and looked at him. The Tin Woodman was not at all

surprised, for in the Land of Oz one runs into magic at every turn.

"Dear me!" said the Tin Woodman, staring hard. "It seems as if I had met

you, somewhere, before. Good morning, sir!"

"You have the advantage of me," replied the Head. "I never saw you before in

my life."

"Still, your face is very familiar," persisted the Tin Woodman. "Pardon me,

but may I ask if you--eh--eh--if you ever had a Body?"

"Yes, at one time," answered the Head, "but that is so long ago I can't

remember it. Did you think," with a pleasant smile, "that I was born just as I

am? That a Head would be created without a Body?"

No, of course not," said the other. "But how came you to lose your body?"

Well, I can't recollect the details; you'll have to ask Ku-Klip about it,"

returned the Head. "For, curious as it may seem to you, my memory is not

good since my separation from the rest of me. I still possess my brains and

my intellect is as good as ever, but my memory of some of the events I

formerly experienced is quite hazy."

How long have you been in this cupboard?" asked the Emperor.

I don't know."

Haven't you a name?"

Oh, yes," said the Head; "I used to be called Nick Chopper, when I was a

woodman and cut down trees for a living."

Good gracious!" cried the Tin Woodman in astonishment. "If you are Nick

Chopper's Head, then you are Me--or I'm You--or--or--What relation are we,

anyhow?"

The Tin Woodman of Oz