John F. Adams

The settle here described, while more particularly suitable for the library, will also be found a very useful piece of furniture for sitting-room, den or hall. It is four feet long and can be made of oak, stained to match other furniture, or in mahogany or gum-wood will look well. The seat is upholstered and fitted with stuffed cushions made with a box edge, as with a bed mattress.

The corner posts are 45 in. long and 2 in. square; the top ends having a 2 in. bevel, leaving the ends 3/4 in. square. The cross-pieces are 1 3/4 in. square; those for the back being 47 in. long, and for the ends, 15 in. long, allowing 1 1/2 in. on each end for tenons. The spindles are 13 1/4 in. long and made from 5/8 in. square stock spaced 1 1/2 in. apart. There are 5 at each end and 21 at the back, thus requiring that the end spaces be 1 3/4 in. wide. The mortises for the spindles should be slightly over 1/4 in. deep and accurately spaced and carefully cut to gauge lines made with a marking gauge.

The top cross-pieces are 2 1/2 in. below top of the posts and those at the seat are 13 in. below the top ones. The smaller cross-pieces under the seat are also 5/8 in. square, and of the same lengths are the larger ones. The front one is 2 in., those at the ends 3 1/2 in., and the back one 6 in. below the cross-pieces for the seat. Care should be used in making the mortises for these pieces that their direction is exactly square with the posts to avoid any bending when the frame is finally put together.

Inside the cross-pieces forming the seat is fitted a frame of 1 1/2 X 3/4 in. stock, the upper edge of which is 1/4 in. below the top surface of the seat. To the frame are tacked the strips of webbing for the seat. The webbing may be of any width conveniently obtained, and should be woven after the fashion of willow seat piazza chairs, the ends being firmly tacked to the frame. A thin tufting of hair or jute can then be laid on and covered with cambric, also tacked to the frame. If cushions are not desired. the seat cau be covered with leather, fastened with large flathead upholstering nails of a suitable enamel color. If such nails are used a piece of leather or carpeting must be placed on the head when hammering, to avoid breaking off the enamel. If casters are used, the legs should be cut off to make allowance for same.