"We can turn the pins," suggested Lick Milton.
"You can; but while you are fitting the wood into the lathe I can cut out two of them with a broad axe. Your eye must be educated to the size. As we add each section to the building, we fill in the space between this one and the next. Now we have the frame up all but the roof.
"All structures are not framed alike, and some of the connections I have mentioned have to be omitted in some places. For example, the braces between the cross-girders and the posts can be used only in the ends of the building. Again, all the middle posts, except the two at the ends, must be short ones, for we don't want them in the middle of the hall.
"The framing of the roof is a simple matter, though we shall have to support the ceiling of the hall from it. To do this we use a little larger timber than would otherwise be required for the rafters, as they form a sort of truss, from which we hang the upper floor. I have finished what I had to say; but the details will have to be explained as we go along."
"You can't do anything with some of these timbers," said Bob Swanton, as he pointed to one near him. "It is twisted all out of shape."
"That one is warped in the sun; but a stick must be very crooked before we throw it out," replied Mr. Brookbine. "We must take the 'wind' out of it. All we want is two faces at right angles with each other. We select the two best sides, and with a couple of squares sight along each. Then we must hew it down where it is out."
The students were then required to take the square and compasses from the box. The actual work of framing was to begin.