RECEIPTS FOR THE MILLION:

CONTAINING

FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIVE

Receipts, Facts, Directions, etc.

T. B. PETERSON, NO. 306 CHESTNUT STREET.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by

SARAH JOSEPHA HALE,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

PREFACE.

"All the labor of man s for his mouth," says Solomon. If this proverb be understood, as it was undoubtedly meant that the chief aim and purpose of all human labor are to make the homes of mankind places of enjoyment, we see how important the art of household management becomes.

While preparing my "New Cook Book," I was naturally led to examine the subject, and the result was a deep conviction of the need of another work on domestic economy, or directions how to guide the house. This led me to prepare the present treatise, embodying rules and receipts, such as never before have been brought together for the help and instruction of a household.

"Knowledge is power" always; knowledge used for good purposes is wisdom. Knowledge, like gold, must be gained by personal effort; and usually, in small quantities, and by continued exertions, both wisdom and gold are accumulated.

It has been by washing the sands of common experience and gathering the small bits of science and art found here and there on the mining ground of common knowledge, that this large work, containing the pure gold of truth, applicable to all the needs of common life, has been made. A few nuggets will be seen, such as the collected maxims of Franklin, and the " Words of Washington," never before placed within the reach of the popular mind.

In the economy and well-being of the family, personally and individually, improvement should be sedulously kept in view. It is not enough that woman understands the art of cookery and of managing her house she must also take care of herself; of children; of all who will be dependent on her for direction, for health, for happiness.

Personal appearance is important; the art of beautifying a home is important; the knowledge of ways and means by which the clothing of a family may be kept in good order, with the least expense of time and money, is important; some knowledge of plants, flowers, gardening, and of domestic animals, is of much benefit, particularly to those who