please our subjects at their homes
The _soles_ we there do take.

Onward now the way we press,
And move along just so,
Until we reach the part well known
To be the toe, the toe.

[Illustration]

This is the place of which folks do talk,
If there is any pressure,
Because they cannot easy walk,
The _shoey_ missed the measure.

Just below the _ball_, across the toes,
Is where we next are found;
For there is nothing worn like _shoes_
When used upon the ground.

From here we feel like soaring higher,
And soon get at the ankle,
Which must be fit to suit the buyer,
Thus avoiding any wrangle.

[Illustration]

The _ankle_ reached, we then with care
Measure neat and true;
If anything is noticed there,
'Twill surely be the shoe.

That notice is just what we want,
From that we get our living;
And if we make a miss on that,
It might be past forgiving.

From toe to ankle we have come,
With an uncertain height,
And with the measures we've put down
Will now add that right.

[Illustration]

To have the height right is our aim;
Some like shoes high, some low;
But to have them fit is all the same,
And this we try to show.

Some in one way, some in another,
These measures have been taken,
Until we have them all together,
We should not try to shapen.

To work now by our measure marked
Will be our constant aim;
A pattern must be cut--
To start with that is plain.

But plainer still the shoe will be
From the pattern we shall cut,
Because we think you'll all agree
What's opened should be shut.

[Illustration]

Before our eyes the _patterns_ come,
The shapes are clearly seen,
A _vamp_ and _quarter_, with a _tongue_,
Worked just in between.

A stiffening of _sole_ has found its way,
And asks that it be shown,
In order, at some future day,
Its use might be made known.

The parts, you see, stand thus alone,
But have a close relation;
Because these parts must all be shown
To keep their proper station.

One part not seen, in shape the same,
Is _cut_ and called the _lining_,
Upon which each _quarter_ must be placed--
We'll not stop here defining--

[Illustration]

But show in this cut, if you please,
The lining a little larger,
With the _quarter_ pasted on it smooth,
If not there'll come a charger.