d
together in proper juxtaposition, the ends of the little paddles are
just below, but an inch or so away from the blades of the big paddles.
The ends of the big paddles descend as far as the bottom of the blades
of the little paddles. I hope that you are not confused or bewildered:
the drawing will help to enlighten you.

Against this background of paddles the two canoes are placed: the little
one uppermost, the larger one a few inches below. Very pretty the whole
device looks. I should keep the secret until the whole is quite
complete. The surface of the wood should be made as smooth as satin by
dint of rubs and scrubs with sand-paper, and then it looks well if left
without any covering of paint or varnish: the stems of the paddles have
a little adornment in long specks of red and blue paint.

Now L am going to turn away--for a time at any rate--from whittling of
wood, and to speak of cutting of cork--that is ordinary corks. So many
things can be constructed with them by the help of a penknife and liquid
glue.

The celebrated Cleopatra's Needle is a good object; a wheelbarrow, an
old-fashioned square arm-chair, a book-case, an old oak chest, a Dutch
cradle, and many other articles of furniture can be imitated. In
selecting copies for imitation it is best to choose those of old date,
made of oak, for the cork resembles old worm-eaten oak when its first
freshness has gone and its complexion becomes darker. A very pretty and
uncommon object to copy is that of an old-fashioned clock, a veritable
"my grandfather's clock," an upright tall eight-day clock that has a
long chain and a heavy pendulum concealed within its tall case, and that
shows a big square face with large figures printed on it. I will give
you a few details about my cork clock, and I think you will make one and
set it upon a bracket to be admired by all beholders. This miniature
clock stands 7-1/2 inches high. Its two cases and head are hollow; it is
built of little blocks of cork of different sizes, fitted neatly
together, so that at the first glance one imagines each portion to be
one large piece. The lower part of the clock is 2 inches high and 1-1/2
inches across. This hollow four-sided case stands on a basement formed
of cork blocks, which project a wee bit beyond the case; this structure
is supported by 4 feet of a club-like form. So far so good. Now we will
raise the structure higher. A case in which the pendulum with its chain
is supposed to be ha