In these days all young people want "to make something." In most of our Public Schools, and in very many of our Elementary Schools, the importance of "tool-work" has been recognized, and workshops are now fitted up and put at the service of those who delight in "making things." In some of our technical departments provision is even made for doing metal-work. This little book is not intended for those who have such a complete set of tools as is provided under these circumstances, or who have a personal instructor in handicrafts, but for those who have the "desire and will" to do something by themselves without any elaborate appliances. Perseverance does most in the acquisition of this as in other branches of knowledge, and it is the "practice that makes perfect." Nobody will learn to make a box, or fit up a cupboard, by merely reading about it, nor will the first attempts bring out such good results as later ones. The proper use of tools is of an immense advantage, for a useful boy in a household can do many tilings to save the household purse. A lock, for instance, gets out of order. A lad handy with a screwdriver will take it off, look into it, and find it perhaps full of dust; he will brush it out, put a little oil into parts needing it, and at the same time the more inquisitive will learn how locks are made. The lock thus cleaned will be put together again and screwed into its place, and all done so neatly, that unless it is examined, persons generally would not be able to tell that it had been removed. Another lad may undertake the same bit of business, and by careless use of the screwdriver it may fly out of the grooves in the screws, scratch the parts surrounding the lock, chip off paint, and knock out pieces of wood, and be equally careless about the lock; pieces may slip out, and the whole thing be replaced so slovenly that the lock and its surroundings tell their own story.

Above all things care is necessary in doing even the smallest "job" well. A little thing well and neatly done always looks creditable, and it brings satisfaction to the one who has done it, and is always looked upon with some degree of pride by the parents of whoever has done it. Neatness and industry generally go together, while untidiness and slovenliness in work look like laziness, and proclaim a sort of "don't care" principle.

It will not be the fortune of all our readers to have special places where they can reserve a place for a workshop, or keep a room entirely to themselves for this sort of thing. Those who have, will, we hope, value it as a luxury; those who have not can do a good deal of useful work without it. They may have to work in a back-kitchen or in a scullery; well, never mind - let them make the best of it. In the summer time many of them can work outside, and thus get more room.

As to tools, get some one who understands them to buy them for you, and second-hand tools can sometimes be had very cheaply. Do not, however, think those tools arc the cheapest that cost the least money; they must combine good quality and fair price, or they may be very dear indeed.

For heavy work - by this we mean anything that comes outside model-making with thin wood, cardboard, and other light materials - you require a bench on which your work can be done. If you cannot get a small carpenter's bench, you can very likely fit up something for yourself that will answer the same purpose. A small deal table that is firm on its legs will answer the purpose; it must also be placed firmly against the wall. In addition to this a good strong stool is an advantage; it will do for holding wood on while it is being sawn.

In selecting your wood for making things it is of great advantage to have it dry and well seasoned. Boxes and packing-cases can often be bought cheaply, and form a good stock of wood for an amateur. Egg-boxes offer good lengths of wood for this purpose. The nails must be carefully drawn with pincers, and the lengths of wood stored up in some rather dry place. This wood is rough, and will afford material for planing, if you happen to possess such a tool as a plane. Successful planing can only be accomplished after some practice.