Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/602

448 The box may be lined with Canton flannel, velours, leather, or almost any good ling material, and a band of webbing or a chain arranged to the inside will prevent the cover from falling back too far, By using thicker wood a much larger box may be made from this pattern if desired.

vines, low plants, or pretty blade grasses, the design for a hanging-plant box is shown in the illustration.

This is not a very large affair, and is to be made of thin wood not more than three eighths or half an inch in thickness. The box part may measure 8 inches square at the top, 6 at the bottom, and 10 inches high. The inside of the box is to be treated to several coats of paint or asphaltum varnish to protect the wood, and the outside may be given a few coats of paint of any desired shade. The corners may then be bound with iron strips, and the design on each of the four sides worked out with tack-heads painted black, Any suitable design may be used, and by pricking through the lines of the original drawing the design may readily be repeated on each side. The tacks are driven on the lines thus transferred; or, tissue-paper tracings may be made and the tacks driven over the lines. When all the tacks have been started, the paper can be torn away from them and they may then be driven in tight. A very pretty effect is made by using copper tacks.

At the top of the box, in the four corners, screw-eyes are to be made fast, into which the ends of the suspending chains will be caught

Four chains are to be made from thin strips of metal and small harness-rings and fastened in place, as shown in Fig. 21.

In putting the links together, care should be taken to fasten them well, so they will not come apart.

coal-box is a very simple affair, as it can be made from an ordinary box cut at one end so as to form a projection or nose.

The shape of the box is clearly shown in Fig. 22, and in size it can be made to meet any requirement. For ordinary use, however, it will be 15 inches wide, 20 inches long from back to end of nose, and about 12 inches high, not counting the ball feet, which will raise it up two inches more. The box should be securely screwed together at the joints, and the lid or cover fastened on with sheet-brass hinges. Paint or varnish will give the woodwork a good finish, and the lining should be made with several successive coats of asphaltum varnish or paint of a dark color.

Brass, lead, or black iron binding will look well on this box, and with large-headed nails the effect will be bold and pleasing. Four brass balls, from 1½ to 2 inches in diameter, with screws attached, are screwed fast under the corners to act as feet. These ball feet may be purchased at a good hardware-store.