"Can he be mended?" asked Dick's mother.

"Oh, yes, I think so," answered Patrick.

"And may we watch you mend him?" asked Arnold.

"May we, Patrick?" echoed Dick.

"Yes," answered the good-natured gardener. "Come along!"

Back to the garage he went where he had been mending something that
was broken on the automobile, taking the Tin Soldier with him and
followed by the two boys. Patrick heated a soldering iron in a
little furnace in which burned glowing charcoal. Then Patrick took
some shining metal that looked like silver, but which was really
soft lead.

Solder melts easily, and when some is placed on two pieces of broken
tin and heated, it holds together the two pieces of tin just as glue
holds together pieces of cardboard or paper.

In a little while the Bold Tin Soldier was mended, and there he
stood, straight and stiff, with his sword at his side as before. And
where the sword had been soldered on a tiny spot of bright lead
showed.

"I can paint that spot over for you tomorrow, when I have some red
paint," said Patrick to Arnold.

"Oh, I know what I can do!" cried Arnold, looking at the shiny spot