Note: Images of the original pages are available through the Google Books Library Project. See http://www.google.com/books?id=zNVBAQAAIAAJ [Illustration: Book Cover] LIVING ON A LITTLE by CAROLINE FRENCH BENTON Author of "A Little Cook Book for a Little Girl," "Margaret's Saturday Mornings," etc [Illustration] Boston * Dana Estes & Company * Publishers Copyright, 1908 By Dana Estes & Company To all those housekeepers, young and old, who are engaged in the delightful task of making one dollar do the work of two Thanks are due the editor of _Good Housekeeping_ for permission to reprint the greater part of this book from that magazine. Contents CHAPTER PAGE I. At the Very Beginning--Dividing the Income 11 II. Saving for Staples--The Kitchen--Buying--Linen 28 III. Arranging the Meals--Cooking-Dresses--The Table--The Dinner 48 IV. Soups and Meats 68 V. Vegetables, Salads, Desserts 90 VI. Breakfast, Luncheon, Supper--Odds and Ends 110 VII. The Emergency Closet--Winter Preserves--Cake 129 VIII. The Game of Menus 148 IX. Two Dinner Parties 165 X. Reducing Expenses 183 XI. Luncheons for a Little 201 XII. In the Country 221 XIII. Midsummer Housekeeping--The End of the Holiday 245 CHAPTER I At the Very Beginning--Dividing the Income Mrs. Thorne laid down the letter she was reading and looked across the table to her husband, who, as he was industriously engaged in buttering a muffin, paid scant attention to her for the moment. Presently, however, as he became aware of something portentous in the air, he looked up and inquired: "My dear, you alarm me. What's the matter? Has the bank suspended and are you considering how best to break the news to me, or has Dolly eloped with the ice-man?" His wife did not relax her important expression as she replied, "Dolly's engaged." "Engaged!" Mr. Thorne assumed an overwhelming surprise. "You don't say so! Now who in the world can she possibly be engaged to?" Mrs. Thorne regarded him with scorn. "Just as though you did not know perfectly well! Who could she possibly be engaged to but Fred Mason? I told you a month ago she was certain to be."