ay be e'er so fair.
One-quarter _size_ we leave off here,
As on our way we go,
Travelling on, without a fear,
Until we reach the toe.

[Illustration]

Another quarter we would say,
At this point we may drop,
For we are now quite far away
From the ankle and the top.

But further yet, we are bound to go,
The _bottom_ must be reached,
Where _soles_ are made and often _saved_,
'Though the _saver_ be _impeached_.

The _last_ we put upon a _side_
Of white or red sole leather,
And mark with knife, or pencil wide,
The parts of _sole_ together.

The parts are known, each one defined,
_Inner_ and _outer sole_;
A _middle_ one, when we are kind,
_Lifts_ and _shank piece_ make the whole.

[Illustration]

The _inner_ sole on the _last_ is put,
The _pegs_ just where you see
Keep the sole where it belongs,
In order to agree.

The edge is bevelled from heel to heel;
The mark across the breast
Shows us when and where we may
Take a little rest.

[Illustration]

The _upper_ straight upon the _last_,
With the _seams_ appearing right,
The stiffening smooth just at the back,
Will draw upon our sight.

This should be done when we begin
To draw the upper over,
So that the _last_ in all its parts
Shall have a proper cover.

[Illustration]

Draw steady, until we have it close
At the heel and at the toe;
If these parts should be too loose
It would nearly spoil the shoe.

Draw steady, or you'll make a crack,
Which will there remain;
Perhaps may cause us to go back,
And do it over again.

[Illustration]

The _upper_, in the way described,
Drawn gently at the toe,
We hold it down with our left thumb,
While a _peg_ we try make go.

On either side of the toe now work,
And in the same way fasten
The _upper_ down upon the _sole_;
To the heel we now must hasten.

[Illustration]

Let the upper at the _seam_
Have now a secure tack;
The stiffening, all straight in between
The _lining_ and the _back_.
Be sure you get the lining smooth,
The part inside the shoe;
If it is not, you may sometime
Have a thing to make you blue.

[Illustration]

Now put the shoe upon the _bench_,
In the way shown in the cut;
And with a _string_ and _button_
Use care to close the front.

We no doubt now do see the thing
Taking on a