MOTHERLY TALKS WITH YOUNG HOUSEKEEPERS: EMBRACING EIGHTY-SEVEN BRIEF ARTICLES ON TOPICS OF HOME INTEREST, AND ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED CHOICE RECEIPTS FOR COOKING, ETC. BY MRS. H. W. BEECHER. [Illustration] NEW YORK: J. B. FORD AND COMPANY. 1873. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, BY J. B. FORD & CO., in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. UNIVERSITY PRESS: WELCH, BIGELOW, & CO., CAMBRIDGE. PUBLISHERS’ PREFACE. THIS book, composed of brief and pithy articles, on almost every conceivable point of household duty, is a friendly monitor for young wives, and a mine of good sense and information for growing maidens. Originally published in the Household Department of “The Christian Union,” the articles have been so frequently called for and inquired after by those who had found help in them, that the author yielded to the desires of others, and has gathered them into this little volume. Mrs. Beecher’s notion of woman’s sphere is, that, whatever exceptional women may be able to accomplish, by reason of peculiar circumstances and talents, and freedom from domestic responsibilities, the place of labor and achievement for most women, and for all married women and mothers, is Home. And this book is exactly what its title sets forth,--a kind and motherly way of helping the inexperienced to make agreeable, well-regulated, and happy homes. Following the “Talks” are a choice selection of nearly five hundred Cooking Receipts, all vouched for by the author’s own experience and skillful testing. CONTENTS. PART I. MOTHERLY TALKS WITH YOUNG HOUSEKEEPERS. PAGE I. System in Work 3 II. March 7 III. Spring Labor 11 IV. Sunshine and Fresh Air 14 V. House-cleaning 17 VI. Washing-day 21 VII. Putting Clothes to soak 25 VIII. Patient Continuance in Well-doing 28 IX. Preparing for the Country 32 X. Heedlessness 35 XI. Washing Flannels 38 XII. June Cares 42 XIII. Pure Air and thorough Ventilation 46 XIV. Milk and Butter 49 XV. Making Cheese 53 XVI. A troublesome Question 57 XVII. Woman’s Kingdom 63