www.freeclassicebooks.com

Chapter Nineteen - The Invisible Country

They were proceeding so easily and comfortably on their way to Mount

Munch that Woot said in a serious tone of voice:

I'm afraid something is going to happen."

Why?" asked Polychrome, dancing around the group of travelers.

Because," said the boy, thoughtfully, "I've noticed that when we have the

least reason for getting into trouble, something is sure to go wrong. Just

now the weather is delightful; the grass is beautifully blue and quite soft to

our feet; the mountain we are seeking shows clearly in the distance and

there is no reason anything should happen to delay us in getting there. Our

troubles all seem to be over, and--well, that's why I'm afraid," he added, with

a sigh.

Dear me!" remarked the Scarecrow, "what unhappy thoughts you have, to

be sure. This is proof that born brains cannot equal manufactured brains,

for my brains dwell only on facts and never borrow trouble. When there is

occasion for my brains to think, they think, but I would be ashamed of my

brains if they kept shooting out thoughts that were merely fears and

imaginings, such as do no good, but are likely to do harm."

"For my part," said the Tin Woodman, "I do not think at all, but allow my

velvet heart to guide me at all times."

"The tinsmith filled my hollow head with scraps and clippings of tin," said

the Soldier, "and he told me they would do nicely for brains, but when I

begin to think, the tin scraps rattle around and get so mixed that I'm soon

bewildered. So I try not to think. My tin heart is almost as useless to me, for

it is hard and cold, so I'm sure the red velvet heart of my friend Nick

Chopper is a better guide."

Thoughtless people are not unusual," observed the Scarecrow, "but I

consider them more fortunate than those who have useless or wicked

thoughts and do not try to curb them. Your oil can, friend Woodman, is

filled with oil, but you only apply the oil to your joints, drop by drop, as you

need it, and do not keep spilling it where it will do no good. Thoughts should

be restrained in the same way as your oil, and only applied when necessary,

and for a good purpose. If used carefully, thoughts are good things to have."

The Tin Woodman of Oz