For this purpose two stringers or drawer rails may be used, their front edges being as far from the face of the legs as are the rails from the side and back.

The upper drawer rail may be dovetailed at both ends into the tops of the legs, as shown in Fig.292.If this takes more room than can well be spared from the depth of the drawer, it may be omitted, but it adds greatly to the stiffness of the table and is an excellent means of fastening on the top by the use of screws passing thru it.
[Illustration: Fig.292.Table Construction: Upper Drawer Rail of Table Dovetailed into Left Front Leg.] The drawer rail, also called the fore edge, is long enough to partly overlap the side rails, into the lower edges of which it is gained so as to be flush with them, and may be fastened to them with screws, Fig.293.The construction may be further strengthened by also doweling the end of this stretcher into the legs.

If there are two drawers, the partition between them may be doweled or gained into these upper and lower stretchers.
[Illustration: Fig.293.The Fixing of a Drawer Rail, Seen From Below.] If the legs are to be tapered or otherwise shaped, that should be done next.

Then glue and assemble the end rails with their proper legs, taking care to see not only that the joints come up square, but that the legs are in the same plane.

Finally assemble the whole, inserting, if necessary, a temporary diagonal brace to insure squareness, Fig.
294.