In paragraph five, we learn that the "original paraphernalia" of the lottery was lost a long time ago. The black box now in use was built even before Old Man Warner, the oldest man in the village, was born. It is now splintering and falling apart, but nobody has an interest in repairing it.

Paragraph six tells us that slips of paper have been substituted for the wood chips that were once used in the lottery. We also find out that the black box migrates from place to place, including Mr. Graves' barn, the post office, and a shelf in the grocery store. It is "underfoot" in the post office, and no longer seems to a have home or a comfortable place in the community.

In paragraph seven, the story mentions that much of the ritual surrounding the lottery itself has been abandoned. A chant, and a salute to each person approaching the black box once existed, but both these have been dropped.

This information shows us that the villagers have gradually lost interest in the lottery. They have become increasingly uncomfortable with it, and it is increasingly marginal to their lives. Like the splintering black box, it is old and worn out, and nobody knows what to do about it. In every way, they seem to be going through the motions of carrying out a tradition they no longer believe in but follow because it is what they have always done.