46 FARM HOMES, IN-DOORS AtfD OUT-DOORS. 



Let the open side come in front, to be lined with paper 

 and used as a receptacle for slop-jar, etc. Nail a strip of 

 board, six inches wide and three feet long, to the top of 

 the box next the wall. Buy a piece of plain white or 

 marbled oilcloth, long enough to cover this, and the top of 

 the box, and put it on neatly, bringing the edges low 

 enough that no tacks will be displayed. Cover the ends 

 of the box also with paper. Then line some coarse 

 book-muslin with pink paper-cambric and drape it upon 

 the box sufficiently full to hang gracefully. Make a nar- 

 row plaiting or ruffling of muslin and place it around 

 the top and down the opening in front, where the ends 

 of the curtain or "valance" must overlap. The mirror, 

 which should be at least two feet long a larger one 

 being, of course, all the better must rest upon the oil- 

 cloth-covered board that forms the back of the table, and 

 have its frame covered with a niching of the pink-lined 

 muslin. At either side of the bottom of the mirror 

 place small brackets, covered and draped with tiny lam- 

 brequins of muslin and cambric. They can be made of 

 cigar-boxes, or any light, thin 'wood, and will afford a 

 place for small vases and cologne bottles. Then with 

 pink and white mats for wash-bowl and pitcher, a pretty 

 pin-cushion, and one or two boxes (for brushes and 

 combs), covered with cambric and muslin, this important 

 item of furniture is completed. 



And now the husband or tho big boy of the household 

 must make a lounge frame. No matter how roughly it 

 is put together, if it is only reliably strong and stands 

 squarely on its legs. It should be about twenty-eight 

 inches wide, and not more than sixteen inches high ; if 

 higher it will lose its comfortable look, and have the ap- 

 pearance of being on stilts by the time the mattress is 

 added. Nail slats across the top, and make a mattress 

 for it of fine hay or oat straw. Then buy some calico, or 

 percale, or dress cambric in pink and white stripes, and 



