A practical manual for women beginning to keep house for small households, offering clear guidance on furnishing, dividing household tasks, buying and storing food, and running an economical kitchen. It combines household-management principles with step-by-step instructions for laundry, cleaning, dining-room service, and care of the sick, plus adaptations for farm life. Extensive culinary material includes recipes and techniques for soups, fish, meats and sauces, vegetables, breads, cakes, pastries, puddings, sweets, beverages, preserves, and pickles. Emphasis is on simplicity, economy, wholesome cooking, and creating a cheerful, orderly home within modest means.