We are now going to make something that will require all our attention. We must remember all the mistakes we have made in our carpentry experience up to date and be careful to avoid them from now on, because this and the bench and table that follow are full-sized pieces of furniture.

In the present case it will be necessary to find a smooth flat board twelve inches wide from which to cut the top. Get a smooth sheet of paper and draw a perfect twelve-inch square. Mark two points on each side exactly three and one-half inches from the corners, and, after joining these with straight lines, you will have a good eight-sided figure for the top. Mark this out on the wood, and carefully saw off the corners, after which plane and sandpaper the edges smooth. In or- I der to keep this piece from warping, screw a strip about an inch thick and two inches wide on the under side, across the grain, taking care that the screws do not come through on the top side. This strip should be placed in the exact center, so that the legs will hide it when they are put on. The four legs must now be sawn to the proper taper and planed smooth on the sides. Saw out the small piece at the bottom of each one to form the feet and then round off the upper corners. The cross-braces are now to be sawn and should be exactly as long as the top is wide. Each of these pieces must be cut down one-half at the center, so that they will cross one another Just as though they were made from one piece of wood. As soon as these are fitted nicely and tested with the square, the putting together may commence. Mark the edges of the top to show exactly where the legs should be fastened, and then nail on the legs, after which the cross-braces should be nailed in place. In order to add a little ornament and at the same time cover up the nail heads, some small round blocks should be glued on, or else nails with large brass or copper heads, such as upholsterers use, should be driven in just to one side of the ordinary nails.

Stain the desired color, shellac and rub with wax - all as previously described.