It ought perhaps to be explained in passing, for the benefit of those who are not _au fait_ to the mysteries of the "Jew-basket" and "missionary-basket," that these _meubles_ are willow repositories, of the capacity of a good-sized family clothes-basket, dedicated to the purpose of conveying from house to house a monster collection of pin-cushions, needle-books, card-racks, workbags, articles of infant wear, etc., etc., etc., made by the willing or reluctant hands of the Christian ladies of a parish, and sold perforce to the heathenish gentlemen thereof, at prices unblushingly exorbitant. 
It ought perhaps to be explained, for the benefit of those who are not au fait with the mysteries of the "Jew-basket" and "missionary-basket," that these are the size of a clothes-basket, dedicated to the purpose of conveying from house to house a monster collection of pin-cushions, needle-books, card-racks, articles of infant wear, etc., made by the willing or reluctant hands of the Christian ladies of a parish, and sold to the heathenish gentlemen thereof, at exorbitant prices. 