In the Country of the Gillikins, which is at the North of the Land of Oz,lived a youth called Tip. There was more to his name than that, for oldMombi often declared that his whole name was Tippetarius; but no one wasexpected to say such a long word when "Tip" would do just as well.

This boy remembered nothing of his parents, for he had been brought whenquite young to be reared by the old woman known as Mombi, whose reputation,I am sorry to say, was none of the best. For the Gillikin people had reasonto suspect her of indulging in magical arts, and therefore hesitated toassociate with her.

Mombi was not exactly a Witch, because the Good Witch who ruled that part ofthe Land of Ozhad forbidden any other Witch to exist in her dominions. So Tip's guardian,however much she might aspire to working magic, realized it was unlawful tobe more than a Sorceress, or at most a Wizardess.

Tip was made to carry wood from the forest, that the old woman might boilher pot. He also worked in the corn-fields, hoeing and husking; and he fedthe pigs and milked the four-horned cow that was Mombi's especial pride.

But you must not suppose he worked all the time, for he felt that would bebad for him. When sent to the forest Tip often climbed trees for birds' eggsor amused himself chasing the fleet white rabbits or fishing in the brookswith bent pins. Then he would hastily gather his armful of wood and carry ithome. And when he was supposed to be working in the corn-fields, and thetall stalks hid him from Mombi's view, Tip would often dig in the gopherholes, or if the mood seized him --lie upon his back between the rows of corn and take a nap. So, by takingcare not to exhaust his strength, he grew as strong and rugged as a boy maybe.

Mombi's curious magic often frightened her neighbors, and they treated hershyly, yet respectfully, because of her weird powers. But Tip frankly hatedher, and took no pains to hide his feelings. Indeed, he sometimes showedless respect for the old woman than he should have done, considering she washis guardian.

There were pumpkins in Mombi's corn-fields, lying golden red among the rowsof green stalks; and these had been planted and carefully tended that thefour-horned cow might eat of them in the winter time. But one day, after thecorn had all been cut and stacked, and Tip was carrying the pumpkins to thestable, he took a notion to make a "Jack Lantern" and try to give the oldwoman a fright with it.

So he selected a fine, big pumpkin -- one with a lustrous, orange-red color-- and began carving it. With the point of his knife he made two round eyes,a three-cornered nose, andbeen considered strictly beautiful; but it wore a smile so big and broad,and was so Jolly in expression, that even Tip laughed as he lookedadmiringly at his work.

The child had no playmates, so he did not know that boys often dig out theinside of a "pumpkin-jack," and in the space thus made put a lighted candleto render the face more startling; but he conceived an idea of his own thatpromised to be quite as effective. He decided to manufacture the form of aman, who would wear this pumpkin head, and to stand it in a place where oldMombi would meet it face to face.

"And then," said Tip to himself, with a laugh, "she'll squeal louder thanthe brown pig does when I pull her tail, and shiver with fright worse than Idid last year when I had the ague!"

He had plenty of time to accomplish this task, for Mombi had gone to avillage -- to buy groceries, she said -- and it was a journey of at leasttwo days.

So he took his axe to the forest, and selected some stout, straightsaplings, which he cut down and trimmed of all their twigs and leaves. Fromthese he would make the arms, and legs, and feet of his man. For the body hestripped a sheet of thickbark from around a big tree, and with much labor fashioned it into acylinder of about the right size, pinning the edges together with woodenpegs. Then, whistling happily as he worked, he carefully jointed the limbsand fastened them to the body with pegs whittled into shape with his knife.

By the time this feat had been accomplished it began to grow dark, and Tipremembered he must milk the cow and feed the pigs. So he picked up hiswooden man and carried it back to the house with him.

During the evening, by the light of the fire in the kitchen, Tip carefullyrounded all the edges of the joints and smoothed the rough places in a neatand workmanlike manner. Then he stood the figure up against the wall andadmired it. It seemed remarkably tall, even for a full-grown man; but thatwas a good point in a small boy's eyes, and Tip did not object at all to thesize of his creation.

Next morning, when he looked at his work again, Tip saw he had forgotten togive the dummy a neck, by means of which he might fasten the pumpkinhead tothe body. So he went again to the forest, which was not far away, andchopped from a tree several pieces of wood with which to complete his work.When he returned he fastened a cross-pieceto the upper end of the body, making a hole through the center to holdupright the neck. The bit of wood which formed this neck was also sharpenedat the upper end, and when all was ready Tip put on the pumpkin head,pressing it well down onto the neck, and found that it fitted very well. Thehead could be turned to one side or the other, as he pleased, and the hingesof the arms and legs allowed him to place the dummy in any position hedesired.

"Now, that," declared Tip, proudly, "is really a very fine man, and itought to frighten several screeches out of old Mombi! But it would be muchmore lifelike if it were properly dressed."

To find clothing seemed no easy task; but Tip boldly ransacked the greatchest in which Mombi kept all her keepsakes and treasures, and at the verybottom he discovered some purple trousers, a red shirt and a pink vest whichwas dotted with white spots. These he carried away to his man and succeeded,although the garments did not fit very well, in dressing the creature in ajaunty fashion. Some knit stockings belonging to Mombi and a much worn pairof his own shoes completed the man's apparel, and Tip was so delighted thathe danced up and down and laughed aloud in boyish ecstacy.

"I must give him a name!" he cried. "So good a man as this must surely havea name. I believe," he added, after a moment's thought, "I will name thefellow 'Jack Pumpkinhead!'"