THE CARPENTER
The joiner comes in when the bricklayer leaves,
Pulls off his jacket - tucks up his sleeves -
Draws out his plans - sharpens each tool -
Then measures his work with his little joint rule,
To see how much stuff each portion will take,
A window - a cupboard - or staircase to make:
Then mortices neatly the framing of doors,
And planes up the stuff for panels and floors:
Till at last he comes down to the kitchen below,
Where a dresser he fixes, and shelves in a row;
With a bench underneath for the saucepans to lay,
Then lets in the painter, and toddles away.
From March's Penny Library 1860
