Abstract: A cradle for holding and feeding a stack of sheets in a printer or copier which compensates for non-uniformities in the stack, and especially non-uniformities in the central portion of the stack, thereby presenting a level top sheet to a sheet feeder regardless of how many sheets are in the stack. The cradle broadly comprises a rectangular base plate and four support posts arranged proximate the corners of the base plate. Two extension springs are arranged diametrically with respect to one another, each spring supported at its ends by the support posts, with the springs intersecting one another at approximately the center of the base plate. The extension springs support a plastic sheet, upon which the stack of sheets is laid.