The American Frugal Housewife

The Project Gutenberg eBook, The American Frugal Housewife, by Lydia M. Child
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: The American Frugal Housewife
Author: Lydia M. Child
Release Date: September 18, 2004 [eBook #13493]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AMERICAN FRUGAL HOUSEWIFE***
E-text prepared by Audrey Longhurst, William Flis, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
THE AMERICAN FRUGAL HOUSEWIFE.
by
MRS. CHILD,
Author of "Hobomok," "The Mother's Book," Editor of the "Juvenile Miscellany," &c.
1832
DEDICATED TO
THOSE WHO ARE NOT ASHAMED OF ECONOMY.
A fat kitchen maketh a lean will.--FRANKLIN.
"Economy is a poor man's revenue; extravagance a rich man's ruin."
[Illustration: MUTTON.
1. Leg.
2. Loin, best end.
3. Do. Chump do.
4. Neck, best do.
5. Do Scrag do.
6. Shoulder.
7. Breast. Saddle, 2 Loins.]
[Illustration: PORK.
1. The Sperib.
2. Hand.
3. Belly, or Spring.
4. Fore Loin.
5. Hind do.
6. Leg.]
[Illustration: VEAL.
1. Loin, best end
2. Do Chump do
3. Fillet.
4. Knuckle, hind.
5. Do. fore.
6. Neck, best end.
7. Do. scrag do.
8. Blade Bone.
9. Breast, best end.
10. Do. Brisket.]
[Illustration: BEEF.
Hind Quarter.
1. Sir Loin.
2. Rump.
3. Aitch Bone.
4. Buttock.
5. Mouse do.
6. Veiny piece.
7. Thick Flank.
8. Thin do.
9. Leg.
Fore Quarter.
10. Fore Rib, 5 Ribs.?11. Middle do 4 do.?12. Chuck, 3 do.?13. Shoulder, or Leg Mutton piece.?14. Brisket.?15. Clod.?16. Neck, or Sticking piece.?17. Shin.?18. Cheek.]
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER?ODD SCRAPS FOR THE ECONOMICAL.?SOAP.?SIMPLE REMEDIES.?GRUEL.?EGG GRUEL.?ARROW-ROOT JELLY.?CALF'S FOOT JELLY.?TAPIOCA JELLY.?SAGO JELLY.?BEEF TEA.?WINE WHEY.?APPLE WATER.?MILK PORRIDGE.?STEWED PRUNES.?VEGETABLES.?HERBS.?CHEAP DYE-STUFFS.?MEAT CORNED, OR SALTED, HAMS, &c.?CHOICE OF MEAT.?COMMON COOKING.?VEAL.?CALF'S HEAD.?BEEF.?ALAMODE BEEF.?MUTTON AND LAMB.?PORK.?ROAST PIG.?SAUSAGES.?MINCE MEAT.?BEANS AND PEAS.?SOUSE.?TRIPE.?GRAVY.?POULTRY.?FRICASSEED CHICKEN, BROWN.?FRICASSEED CHICKEN, WHITE.?TO CURRY FOWL.?CHICKEN BROTH.?FISH.?PUDDINGS.?BAKED INDIAN PUDDING.?BOILED INDIAN PUDDING.?FLOUR OR BATTER PUDDING.?BREAD PUDDING.?RENNET PUDDING.?CUSTARD PUDDINGS.?RICE PUDDINGS.?BIRD'S NEST PUDDING.?APPLE PUDDING.?CHERRY PUDDING.?CRANBERRY PUDDING.?WHORTLEBERRY PUDDING.?PLUM PUDDING.?HASTY PUDDING.?CHEAP CUSTARDS.?COMMON PIES.?MINCE PIES.?PUMPKIN AND SQUASH PIE.?CARROT PIE.?CHERRY PIE.?WHORTLEBERRY PIE.?APPLE PIE.?CUSTARD PIE.?CRANBERRY PIE.?RHUBARB STALKS, OR PERSIAN APPLE.?PIE CRUST.?COMMON CAKES.?GINGERBREAD.?CUP CAKE.?TEA CAKE.?CIDER CAKE.?ELECTION CAKE.?SPONGE CAKE.?WEDDING CAKE.?LOAF CAKE.?CARAWAY CAKES.?DOUGH-NUTS.?PANCAKES.?FRITTERS.?SHORT CAKE.?INDIAN CAKE.?BREAD, YEAST, &c.?PRESERVES, &c.?CURRANT JELLY.?CURRANT WINE.?RASPBERRY SHRUB.?COFFEE.?CHOCOLATE.?TEA.?PICKLES.?BEER.?GENERAL MAXIMS FOR HEALTH.?HINTS TO PERSONS OF MODERATE FORTUNE?[FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE MASSACHUSETTS JOURNAL.]?FURNITURE.?EDUCATION OF DAUGHTERS.?TRAVELLING AND PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.?PHILOSOPHY AND CONSISTENCY.?REASONS FOR HARD TIMES.?HOW TO ENDURE POVERTY.?APPENDIX?TO THE?AMERICAN FRUGAL HOUSEWIFE.?CARVING.?INDEX.?APPENDIX.
It has become necessary to change the title of this work to the "American Frugal Housewife," because there is an English work of the same name, not adapted to the wants of this country.
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER
The true economy of housekeeping is simply the art of gathering up all the fragments, so that nothing be lost. I mean fragments of time, as well as materials. Nothing should be thrown away so long as it is possible to make any use of it, however trifling that use may be; and whatever be the size of a family, every member should be employed either in earning or saving money.
'Time is money.' For this reason, cheap as stockings are, it is good economy to knit them. Cotton and woollen yarn are both cheap; hose that are knit wear twice as long as woven ones; and they can be done at odd minutes of time, which would not be otherwise employed. Where there are children, or aged people, it is sufficient to recommend knitting, that it is an employment.
In this point of view, patchwork is good economy. It is indeed a foolish waste of time to tear cloth into bits for the sake of arranging it anew in fantastic figures; but a large family may be kept out of idleness, and a few shillings saved, by thus using scraps of gowns, curtains, &c.
In the country, where grain is raised, it is a good plan to teach children to prepare and braid straw for their own bonnets, and their brothers' hats.
Where turkeys and geese are kept, handsome feather fans may as well be made by the younger members of a family, as to be bought. The sooner children are taught to turn their faculties to some account, the better for them and for their parents.
In this country, we are apt to let children romp away their existence, till they get to be thirteen or fourteen. This is not well. It is not well for the purses and patience of parents; and it has a still worse effect on the morals and habits of the children. Begin early is the great maxim for everything in education. A child of six years old can be made useful; and should be taught to consider every day lost in which some little thing has not been done to assist others.
Children can very early be taught to take all the care of their own clothes.
They can knit garters, suspenders, and stockings; they can make patchwork and braid straw; they can make mats for the table, and mats for the floor; they can weed the garden, and pick cranberries from the meadow, to be carried to market.
Provided brothers and sisters go together, and are not allowed to go with bad children, it is a great deal better for the boys and girls on a farm to be picking blackberries at