Preface

TRIALS AND CONFESSIONS OF A HOUSEKEEPER.

BY

T. S. Arthur

PHILADELPHIA:

1859.

INTRODUCTION.

UNDER the title of Confessions of a Housekeeper, a portion of the matter in this volume has already appeared. The book is now considerably increased, and the range of subjects made to embrace the grave and instructive, as well as the agreeable and amusing. The author is sure, that no lady reader, familiar with the trials, perplexities, and incidents of housekeeping, can fail to recognize many of her own experiences, for nearly every picture that is here presented, has been drawn from life.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I.

MY SPECULATION IN CHINA WARE.

II.

SOMETHING ABOUT COOKS.

III.

LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT.

IV.

CHEAP FURNITURE.

V.

IS IT ECONOMY?

VI.

LIVING AT A CONVENIENT DISTANCE.

VII.

THE PICKED-UP DINNER.

VIII.

WHO IS KRISS KRINGLE?

IX.

NOT AT HOME.

X.

SHIRT BUTTONS.

XI.

PAVEMENT WASHING IN WINTER.

XII.

REGARD FOR THE POOR.

XIII.

SOMETHING MORE ABOUT COOKS.

XIV.

NOT A RAG ON THEIR BACKS.

XV.

CURIOSITY.

XVI.

HOUSE CLEANING.

XVII.

BROILING A LOBSTER.

XVIII.

THE STRAWBERRY-WOMAN.

XIX.

LOTS OF THINGS.

XX.

A CURE FOR LOW SPIRITS.

XXI.

A BARGAIN.

XXII.

A PEEVISH DAY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

XXIII.

WORDS.

XXIV.

MAY BE SO.

XXV.

"THE POOR CHILD DIED"

XXVI.

THE RIVAL BONNETS.

XXVII.

MY WASHERMAN.

XXVIII.

MY BORROWING NEIGHBOR.

XXIX.

EXPERIENCE IN TAKING BOARDERS.

XXX.

TWO WAYS WITH DOMESTICS.

XXXI.

A MOTHER'S DUTY.

CONFESSIONS OF A HOUSEKEEPER.