Chapter 16. The Magic Art of the Great Fraud.

The next morning, the Scarecrow told his friends, "Congratulate me. I'm going to Oz to get my brains, finally. When I come back, I'll be like other men."

Dorothy said kindly, "I've always liked you as you were."

"It's kind of you to like a Scarecrow," he replied. "But surely, you'll think higher of me when you hear my new brain's splendid thoughts." He cheerfully said goodbye to them and knocked on the door to the Throne Room.

"Come in," Oz called.

The Scarecrow entered, finding the little man deep in thought by the window.

"I've come for my brains," the Scarecrow said, a bit uneasy.

"Sure, sit in that chair, please," Oz replied. "Sorry for removing your head, but it's necessary to put your brains in the right place."

"That's okay," said the Scarecrow. "Feel free to remove my head, as long as it's better when you put it back on."

So, the Wizard removed his head, emptied the straw, then went to the back room. He mixed a measure of bran with many pins and needles. After shaking it, he filled the Scarecrow's head top with it and used straw to hold it in place.

Once he'd reattached the Scarecrow's head, he said, "From now on, you'll be great, as I've given you brand-new brains."

The Scarecrow felt proud and pleased about his greatest wish coming true. After thanking Oz warmly, he returned to his friends.

Dorothy looked at him, noticing his head was bulging with brains.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

"I feel wise indeed," he replied earnestly. "When I get used to my brains, I'll know everything."

"Why are there needles and pins sticking out of your head?" the Tin Woodman asked.

"That shows he's sharp," the Lion commented.

"Well, I must go to Oz and get my heart," said the Woodman. He walked to the Throne Room and knocked.

"Come in," Oz called, and the Woodman said, "I'm here for my heart."

"Alright," the little man replied. "But I'll need to cut a hole in your chest to put your heart in the right place. I hope it won't hurt."

"Oh, no," the Woodman responded. "I won't feel it."

Oz got tinsmith's shears and cut a small, square hole in the Woodman's left chest side. He went to a drawer and took out a pretty silk heart filled with sawdust.

"Isn't it beautiful?" he asked.

"Indeed!" the Woodman, who was delighted, replied. "But is it a kind heart?"

"Oh, very!" Oz answered. He put the heart in the Woodman's chest, replaced the tin square, and soldered it neatly.

"There," he said, "now you have a heart to be proud of. Sorry for the chest patch, but it couldn't be helped."

"Never mind the patch," said the happy Woodman. "I'm very grateful and will never forget your kindness."

"Don't mention it," replied Oz.

The Tin Woodman returned to his friends, who congratulated him on his good fortune.

The Lion then went to the Throne Room and knocked on the door.

"Come in," said Oz.

"I'm here for my courage," announced the Lion, entering the room.

"Very well," the little man replied, "I'll get it for you."

He reached into a cupboard, took a square green bottle from a high shelf, and poured its contents into a beautifully carved green-gold dish. He placed it before the Cowardly Lion, who sniffed at it, seeming to dislike it.

"Drink," said the Wizard.

"What is it?" asked the Lion.

"Well," answered Oz, "if it were inside you, it would be courage. Courage is always inside one, so this can't be courage until you've swallowed it. So I advise you to drink it as soon as possible."

The Lion didn't hesitate and drank until the dish was empty.

"How do you feel now?" asked Oz.

"Full of courage," replied the Lion, who joyfully returned to his friends to share his good fortune.

Left alone, Oz smiled, thinking about his success in giving the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion what they believed they wanted. "How can I avoid being a fraud," he said, "when they all make me do things everyone knows can't be done? It was simple to make the Scarecrow, Lion, and Woodman happy because they imagined I could do anything. But more than imagination is needed to take Dorothy back to Kansas, and I have no idea how to do it."