CHAPTER PAGE I. THE KITCHEN PEOPLE 11 II. TOASTER MAN 14 III. MARY FRANCES' MOTHER 24 IV. MARY FRANCES WARNS THE KITCHEN FOLKS 27 V. AUNT MARIA 30 VI. JACKET-BOILED POTATOES 33 VII. THE POT-AND-KETTLE FIGHT 40 VIII. THE POTATO LUNCH 46 IX. MARY FRANCES GETS BREAKFAST 56 X. THE BREAKFAST BURNS UP 65 XI. A JOKE ON AUNT MARIA 70 XII. THE TRAMP 75 XIII. COMPANY TO LUNCH 83 XIV. A PATENT DISH-WASHING 91 XV. THIMBLE BISCUITS 94 XVI. THE DOLLS' KITCHEN PARTY 104 XVII. THE SICK NEIGHBOR 110 [Illustration: COOK BOOK] XVIII. A MAN'S LUNCH 116 XIX. POOR BLUE PITCHER 127 XX. MARY FRANCES GIVES A COOKING LESSON 131 XXI. THE PICNIC 135 XXII. THE CANDY PULL 139 XXIII. GETTING READY FOR A PARTY 144 XXIV. THE TEA PARTY 154 XXV. MARY FRANCES GETS DINNER 159 XXVI. MOTHER'S SURPRISE. "GOOD-BYE, LITTLE MISS" 173 [Illustration] [Illustration] LIST OF RECIPES PAGE 1. PLAIN TOAST 15 2. BUTTERED TOAST 19 3. MILK TOAST 20 4. JACKET-BOILED POTATOES 35 5. BAKED POTATOES 46 6. BOILED POTATOES 47 7. MASHED POTATOES 47 8. POTATO SOUP 49 9. BOILED EGGS 60 10. HARD-BOILED EGGS 61 11. COFFEE 63 12. TEA 76 13. OMELET 77 14. WHITE SAUCE 84 15. BAKED APPLES 86 16. THIMBLE BISCUITS 97 17. BAKING POWDER BISCUITS 98 18. COCOA 102 19. GINGERBREAD COOKIES 108 20. SOFT CUSTARD 111 [Illustration] [Illustration]