String Output Problem

How come the following c++ code generate nonsense character output?

#include <iostream.h>

char* mmString(int mm) {
char mmList[12][20] =
{ "January ", "February ", "March ", "April ", "May ", "June ", "July ", "August ", "September ", "October ", "November ", "December " };
return(mmList[mm-1]);
}

int main() {
int month;
for (month=1; month<13; month++) {
cout << mmString(month) << endl;
}
return 0;
}

The actual out put is 12 lines of nonsense character rather than the name of 12 months.

Why? Is it because I haven't initialize the string properly? If that is really the case, I cannot figure the rationale behind.

Sorry...
Problem solved. It is because char mmList[12][20] should be declared outside the function.

#include <iostream.h>

class getmonth {
public:
char mmList[12][20] =
{ "January ", "February ", "March ", "April ", "May ", "June ", "July ", "August ", "September ", "October ", "November ", "December " };
public:
char* mmString(int mm) const {
return(mmList[mm-1]);
}
};

int main() {
int month;
for (month=1; month<13; month++) {
cout << getmonth.mmString(month) << endl;
}
return 0;
}

This program generates error. I don't the mmList to be initialize at public part. How should I improve the program?

Code:

#include <iostream.h> 

const char* mmString(int mm) 
{ 
static char mmList[12][20] = { "January ", "February ", "March ", "April ", "May ", "June ", "July ", "August ", "September ", "October ", "November ", "December " }; 
return(mmList[mm-1]); 
} 

int main() 
{ 
int month; 
for (month=1; month<13; month++) 
{ 
cout << mmString(month) << endl; 
} 
return 0; 
}

Making the array static would be the easiest way.
You cannot initialize class member this way. You would have to strcpy all values in the constructor.