Take a thin slip of wood, from 8 to 10 inches long, and about one-fourth as wide; plane it up as smooth as you can. Now put a slip of wood round the edge for a rim, about 1/8 of an inch wide, and of the same depth. Round off the upper rim. We just remind you this may be put on with glue, or fastened by a few brads coming through from the under side. Smooth down the whole, and rub with fine glass-paper. In the centre put such a device as given in . Fig 75. This is done by cutting the pattern out in a sheet of stiff brown paper or cardboard - the pattern being the portion removed - then rubbing through the pattern the brown stain we have already introduced. Lift off the the pattern carefully, and allow the stain to dry. Then varnish it. The pattern, if used carefully, will do for several other objects where the same device is required. This means of reproducing patterns, which are called stencillings, is a very useful one, and, as you will see, admits of a very wide application. You can buy patterns for larger work cut in zinc.

Fig. 75. - Pen-tray.

Instead of using the stain, you can substitute Aspinall's enamel; several colours are useful for this purpose.