oak-leaves, while the freize is adorned with a cluster of rich fruit.
The next mantelpiece is painted white and gold, and has a burnished
steel grate; while the third is painted blue and gold, and has a
stove made on a new plan, for it is managed so that its own brightness
shall help to throw out the heat of the fire in an equal and agreeable
manner. The fourth and last mantelpiece is painted black, and
ornamented with ormolu; it contains a polished steel stove. Three
ormolu fenders, and five bright ones are placed together with the
mantelpieces; and they certainly make a goodly show. But we must now
leave them, and go on to see some other wonders.

Here are several most beautiful loo-tables inlaid, and they seem to
attract a good deal of attention from more than us. You look a little
puzzled at the word _inlaid_; I think I must explain it to you, by
telling you that it means pieces of different material let into a
piece of furniture to ornament it.

There are numerous models of various buildings in the Crystal Palace;
those of York Cathedral, and Chance's Lighthouse, are particularly
well made. There is also a model of the Britannia Tubular Bridge; and
there are models of many of the fine public works of London.

Here is a pair of scissors made in Sheffield, and ornamented in the
most beautiful way, with a crown for a handle; and yonder are a pair
of cotton stockings from Ireland, spun so fine that they look exactly
like silk, and indeed you would be likely to mistake them for silk, if
you were not told they were merely cotton.

How brilliant this collection of gems looks; how the stones sparkle!
they have been sent as specimens of the jewels which Ireland produces.