PREFACE.

IN compiling these receipts, dear reader, it never occurred to me that the public would ever lay eyes on them. I hoarded them up as treasures for my own daughters and grandchildren. I think it the duty of every woman to be the head of her household, as much as it is the duty of the man to be the head of his place of business or counting room, wherein to rule means to understand his position and duties. This same rule is applicable to the household. In order to govern and command the respect of your servants and to show them that you are not ignorant of the duties you expect them to perform, you must first learn the management of a household yourself.

The more and better educated you are the more fit you are to perform the duties of help-meet to your dear husband. It is indeed a wife's duty to see that nothing goes to waste, and food improperly prepared is a waste; and what is still more important the health of every member of the family depends on properly selected and prepared food, made palatable by seasoning, and that not too high. A young lady ignorant of housekeeping and its duties is as unfit to be married as a man that has not the certainty of providing for a family. A lady that is able to go into the kitchen when necessity calls her there to perform certain duties is surely to be more respected than the ignorant one that boasts of her education and yet is sorely deficient in that sphere.

Many a lady may tell you that she did not know how to make a cup of tea when she got married, but prides herself on being an excellent "cook and housekeeper" now. Well and good, all honor is due her for her industry and perseverance, but she probably never told you of the heartaches and restless nights of worry it caused her when Henry came home and told her that his dear mother or father intended paying them a visit, or that he had invited them to dinner, on a special occasion, and wouldn't dear mother see that their favorite dish was prepared for dinner? She may have had a good plain cook, but she did not know how Henry wanted that favorite dish prepared. "Wouldn't missus just be kind enough to explain and tell me just how she wants it done and shure I'll try me besht to plaise?" But, oh, dear! she didn't know how to cook a potato, much less give the receipt for Henry's favorite dish. Poor child--I hope I have not worked in vain; try and learn from me, through practicing the following receipts, and if I have succeeded in eliciting Henry's praises about his dear wife's meals and making you look all smiles and happy, I shall feel fully repaid for my labor.

In issuing this edition for the "household" II must admit with thanks that I owe my success to the many encouraging letters received, through the kindness of the publishers, from intelligent housekeepers all over the country. The letters of praise and kind acknowledgments I have in my possession would alone fill a volume like this.

BABETTE.