Fig 2
One thing, boys, you must remember: In planing across the grain never plane to the end at first, for you will chip the corners and spoil the end. Keep reversing the block; i. e. first plane from A to B, then from B towards A. (See [fig. 2].)
Before fitting the legs into their sockets, plane the legs to fit the five and one half inch spaces made in the first board. The inner upper edge of the legs must come exactly level with the top line of the board. The outer edge will of course be higher on account of the slope of the slot, and must be planed smooth with block-plane after the legs have been firmly nailed into place with three or four eight-penny nails.
To keep the legs from spreading apart at the ends, you must make a sort of brace.
Fig 3
Take a piece of the board left after cutting off the legs, and fit it across the legs under the top board in this way: Hold it close to the board and against the legs, then draw a pencil line, following the outside slant of the legs. (See [fig. 3].) Now with cross-cut saw cut across on this line; trim with block-plane before nailing; put one piece on each end, nailing through to the legs.