"I see you have been careful about the label, James. It was not possible to decipher it when smothered with dirt, but we can read it now. Yes, what I thought, original ticket without a doubt. Joseph filius. Bring me that bottle of benzine and the hog-hair brush." This being done, the chief takes the brush wetted with the benzine and carefully brushes about the corners and other parts where the grease has refused to come away under the ordinary treatment. Each application is followed by a wiping of the cloth held in readiness.
"There," he says at last, "it is quite fresh and wholesome. Don't suppose Mr. Mouse will go in again."
"Now, James, what do you propose doing? making a clean sweep of the ragged parts with the knife or letting in angular portions in the German manner?"
"Well, sir, on looking close at it perhaps the best way will be to act both ways, cut that part straight through and fit the splinters along there."
"Yes," says the chief, "I think that way will save as much of the old material, if not more, than any other. Take pains with it and mind the small joinings are clean and sharp."
James retires with the upper table to his bench, where the different necessary excisions are proceeded with.
The next stage is that of glueing pieces of wood at the back of and across the sound holes. The object of this is to get more strength and leverage for pressing home the fresh wood to be inserted. From the neglect of this precaution many instruments have had cracks and other damages caused, making matters worse than before and necessitating much more work in rectifying it. After the necessary time, the glue being hard and dry enough, James begins the matching of the parts with pieces of old wood from the carefully hoarded pile in a box kept for the purpose; first one piece, then another is tried, until the right one is obtained for each requirement, both in respect of colour and matching of the thread or grain. The surfaces to come in contact and be fixed are minutely fitted, the larger ones only at present, the smaller gaps are left.
All being ready, strong glue is applied to the parts which are to be united and they are pressed together, help toward adjustment being obtained from the wood glued across.
Being left to dry, and this being complete, the cramps or wedges, as may have seemed appropriate, are removed, the cross pieces cut away and the glue washed off.
The paring down of the fresh wood to the level of the surrounding parts has now to be very carefully done. The adjacent curves must be studied and the surfaces of the fresh parts worked until by testing, not only by the sight, but passing the finger across, the surface feels as one piece.