tin drums and cymbals and
flutes and horns and all. They played so nicely the "Shining Emperor
Waltz," composed expressly in honor of the Tin Woodman by Mr. H. M.
Wogglebug, T.E., that Polly could not resist dancing to it. After she
had tasted a few dewdrops, freshly gathered for her, she danced
gracefully to the music while the others finished their repast; and
when she whirled until her fleecy draperies of rainbow hues enveloped
her like a cloud, the Tin Woodman was so delighted that he clapped his
tin hands until the noise of them drowned the sound of the cymbals.

Altogether it was a merry meal, although Polychrome ate little and the
host nothing at all.

"I'm sorry the Rainbow's Daughter missed her mist-cakes," said the Tin
Woodman to Dorothy; "but by a mistake Miss Polly's mist-cakes were
mislaid and not missed until now. I'll try to have some for her
breakfast."

They spent the evening telling stories, and the next morning left the
splendid tin castle and set out upon the road to the Emerald City. The
Tin Woodman went with them, of course, having by this time been so
brightly polished that he sparkled like silver. His axe, which he
always carried with him, had a steel blade that was tin plated and a
handle covered with tin plate beautifully engraved and set with
diamonds.

The Winkies assembled before the castle gates and cheered their Emperor
as he marched away, and it was easy to see that they all loved him
dearly.

16. Visiting the Pumpkin-Field

Dorothy let Button-Bright wind up the clock-work in the copper man this
morning--his thinking machine first, then his speech, and finally his
action; so he would doubtless run perfectly until they had reached the
Emerald City. The copper man and the tin man were good friends, and
not so much alike as you might think. For one was alive and the other
moved by means of machinery; one was tall and angular and the other
short and round. You could love the Tin Woodman because he had a fine
nature, kindly and simple; but the machine man you could only admire
without loving, since to love such a thing as he was as impossible as
to love a sewing-machine or an automobile. Yet Tik-tok was popular
with the people of Oz because he was so trustworthy, reliable and true;
he was sure to do exactly what he was wound up to do, at all times and
in all circumstances. Perhaps it is better to be a machine that does
its duty than a flesh-and-blood person who will