do their share towards reformation—­Let their fathers and husbands see them happy without finery; and if their husbands and fathers have (as is often the case) a foolish pride in seeing them decorated, let them gently and gradually check this feeling, by showing that they have better and surer means of commanding respect—­Let them prove, by the exertion of ingenuity and economy, that neatness, good taste, and gentility, are attainable without great expense.

The writer has no apology to offer for this cheap little book of economical hints, except her deep conviction that such a book is needed.  In this case, renown is out of the question, and ridicule is a matter of indifference.

The information conveyed is of a common kind; but it is such as the majority of young housekeepers do not possess, and such as they cannot obtain from cookery books.  Books of this kind have usually been written for the wealthy:  I have written for the poor.  I have said nothing about rich cooking; those who can afford to be epicures will find the best of information in the ‘Seventy-five Receipts.’  I have attempted to teach how money can be saved, not how it can be enjoyed.  If any persons think some of the maxims too rigidly economical, let them inquire how the largest fortunes among us have been made.  They will find thousands and millions have been accumulated by a scrupulous attention to sums ’infinitely more minute than sixty cents.’

In early childhood, you lay the foundation of poverty or riches, in the habits you give your children.  Teach them to save everything,—­not for their own use, for that would make them selfish—­but for some use.  Teach them to share everything with their playmates; but never allow them to destroy anything.

I once visited a family where the most exact economy was observed; yet nothing was mean or uncomfortable.  It is the character of true economy to be as comfortable and genteel with a little, as others can be with much.  In this family, when the father brought home a package, the older children would, of their own accord, put away the paper and twine neatly, instead of throwing them in the fire, or tearing them to pieces.  If the little ones wanted a piece of twine to play scratch-cradle, or spin a top, there it was, in readiness; and when they threw it upon the floor, the older children had no need to be told to put it again in its place.

The other day, I heard a mechanic say, ’I have a wife and two little children; we live in a very small house; but, to save my life, I cannot spend less than twelve hundred a year.’  Another replied, ‘You are not economical; I spend but eight hundred.’  I thought to myself,—­’Neither of you pick up your twine and paper.’  A third one, who was present, was silent; but after they were gone, he said, ’I keep house, and comfortably too, with a wife and children, for six hundred a year; but I suppose they would have thought me mean, if I had told them so.’  I did not think him mean; it merely occurred to me that his wife and children were in the habit of picking up paper and twine.