THE YOUNG HOUSEKEEPER AS DAUGHTER, WIFE, AND MOTHER FORMING A PERFECT "YOUNG WOMAN'S COMPANION" IN ALL HER SOCIAL RELATIONS, INCLUDING PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS IN PLAIN AGEMENT, DRESS AND CLOTHING, HOUSE-FURNISHING, GARDENING, ETIQUETTE, AND EVERY OTHER VARIETY OF HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY IN THE NURSERY, KITCHEN, AND PARLOUR WITH COPIOUS NOTES OF THE MONTHS, COMPLETE HISTORY OF DOMESTIC MANU- COMPILED BY THE EDITOR OF "THE FAMILY FRIEND" LONDON WARD, LOCK, AND TYLER WARWICK HOUSE, PATERNOSTER ROW [All rights reserved] 268. c. 16. BOD PREFACE, IT has been the earnest desire of the Compiler of this Volume to be the "Young Woman's Companion," in the study and acquirement of subjects which cannot too seriously occupy her attention. Her duties in the Sick Room, the Nursery, the Parlour, and the Kitchen, have been set forth in the simplest manner, and no Young Woman, who is in earnest to acquit herself worthily through life, can fail to find in this Volume a valuable "Companion," in any of these domestic departments. That most indispensable feminine employment in every position of life in which the Young Woman can be placed-NEEDLEWORK-is herein set forth in all its varieties, precedence being giving to the plain and useful portions of the art. Nor has the Young Woman's Leisure Hour been forgotten. Here she may learn how to pursue the refining occupation of Gardening; here she will find delightful Prose and Poetic Readings from the most esteemed Moral and Religious Writers; here she may profit by Lessons in Letterwriting, with the best examples; and here she may acquire Etiquette, and the proprieties of Speech and Manners. A Housekeeper's Notes for each Month in the Year, interesting histories of our Domestic Manufactures, and complete Guide to House Furnishing (a happiness which Young Women are, sooner or later, called upon to undertake), are also features in this Volume. Good and useful things cannot be too often repeated, our Volume has been adorned with four hundred well-chosen Golden Rules of Life which every Young Woman will find to her advantage to dwell upon, until they become the practice of her life; and thus form part of her Daily Routine. The Volume, as a glance at its Contents will show, contains a great mass of useful topics not specially referred to in this Preface. For most of these we are indebted to that popular household favourite-THE FAMILY FRIEND. We also beg to express our acknowledgments to "The Practical Housewife," a very valuable Collection of useful Receipts published by Messrs. Houlston and Wright, of Paternoster Row. Let us observe, in conclusion, that as the Volume is intended to form a Gift. Book to Young Women, however circumstanced in life, the most scrupulous care has been bestowed upon it to render it pure in tone, and healthy in object, as well as useful in purpose. |