IN COLONIAL days no hearth was complete without a cricket for the comfort of the child who turned the roasting spit in the open fireplace. Nowadays these crickets are used as footstools.

A thick pine board, about 11/2" by 11" by 15", is cut to an elliptical pattern, and the edges planed and sandpapered to produce an irregularly worn effect. The legs are turned from maple, birch, oak, or other hardwood, and slots are sawed in the tenons to receive wedges. Bore 3/4" holes through the top at the angle shown in plan and elevation, so that the legs flare out It will pay to improvise a jig for this. Insert the legs, drive wedges into the slots, then cut off the protruding tenons flush with the top surface. Finish with several coats of penetrating wax of the desired color.

Below, the first step is to sow an opening through the wall for the secret door, unless there is already a door in the desired position. If so, the "bookcase" may be added to it without difficulty.

So attractive is this bookcase, it would tempt almost anyone to step up and examine the titles, yet it isn't a case and hasn't any books. Instead, it's a secret door leading to another room.