E-text prepared by Delphine Lettau, Stephanie Kovalchik, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustration and illuminations. See 35963-h.htm or 35963-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/35963/pg35963-images.html) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/35963/35963-h.zip) [Illustration: Very sincerely yours, Annie S. Swan.] Twenty-fourth thousand. COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE And the Gentle Art of Home-Making. by ANNIE S. SWAN (Mrs. Burnett-Smith), Author of "A Bitter Debt," "Homespun," "Aldersyde," Etc., Etc. "_Love is the incense that doth sweeten earth._" "_Be it ever so humble, There's no place like home._" London, 1894: Hutchinson & Co., 34, Paternoster Row. * * * * * * New Books By ANNIE S. SWAN. A BITTER DEBT. A TALE OF THE BLACK COUNTRY. _In large crown 8vo, handsome cloth gilt binding, with illustrations by D. Murray-Smith. Price 5s._ Thirty-second Thousand. HOMESPUN: A STUDY OF A SIMPLE FOLK. _In cloth, gilt, 1s. 6d., paper, 1s. With Illustrations._ "The language is perfect; the highest strings of humanity are touched."--_Athenæum._ "'Homespun' is excellent, a masterpiece. It is told with great skill, and quiet but genuine power. The story will long be a favourite in Scotland, and is sure to be widely read in England."--_British Weekly._ "Power and felicity are in evidence on every page."--_Glasgow Herald._ London: HUTCHINSON & Co., 34, Paternoster Row. * * * * * * TO The Loved Memory OF MY FATHER. "An honest man--the noblest work of God." [Illustration] CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. THE LOVERS 7 II. THE IDEAL WIFE 19 III. THE IDEAL HUSBAND 30 IV. THE FIRST YEAR OF MARRIED LIFE 43 V. THE IDEAL HOME 56 VI. KEEPING THE HOUSE 64 VII. THE TRUEST ECONOMY 72 VIII. ON KEEPING UP APPEARANCES 80 IX. MOTHERHOOD 90 X. THE SON IN THE HOME 99 XI. THE DAUGHTER IN THE HOME 109 XII. THE EDUCATION OF OUR DAUGHTERS 117 XIII. THE SERVANT IN THE HOME 128 XIV. RELIGION IN THE HOME 136 [Illustration] COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. I. _THE LOVERS._