L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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stay straight, and you never can tell whether you are looking backwards or
forwards!"
"Friends, I entreat you not to quarrel!" pleaded the Tin Woodman,
anxiously." As a matter of fact, we are none of us above criticism; so let
us bear with each others' faults."
"An excellent suggestion," said the Woggle-Bug, approvingly. "You
must have an excellent heart, my metallic friend."
"I have," returned Nick, well pleased. "My heart is quite the best
part of me. But now let us start upon our Journey.
They perched the one-legged Pumpkinhead upon the Saw-Horse, and tied
him to his seat with cords, so that he could not possibly fall off.
And then, following the lead of the Scarecrow, they all advanced in
the direction of the Emerald City.
They soon discovered that the Saw-Horse limped, for his new leg was a
trifle too long. So they were obliged to halt while the Tin Woodman
chopped it down with his axe, after which the wooden steed paced along
more comfortably. But the Saw-Horse was not entirely satisfied, even yet.
"It was a shame that I broke my other leg!" it growled.
"On the contrary," airily remarked the Woggle-Bug, who was walking
alongside, "you should consider the accident most fortunate. For a horse
is never of much use until he has been broken."
"I beg your pardon," said Tip, rather provoked, for he felt a warm
interest in both the Saw-Horse and his man Jack; "but permit me to say
that your joke is a poor one, and as old as it is poor."
"Still, it is a Joke," declared the Woggle-Bug; firmly, "and a Joke
derived from a play upon words is considered among educated people to be
eminently proper."
"What does that mean?" enquired the Pumpkinhead, stupidly.