Cooking and castle-building

are vagabonds and drones, who steal and consume the substance of those who labor and produce. Nevertheless, we must all eat to live ; and the food we eat should be prepared in the best man- ner. Men and women are the most perfect crea- tions of the Maker of the universe, and are de- signed for the performance of labor of the highest order : but unless the conditions of their existence are complied with, and the materials that are required to keep them in working order are pre- pared with skilfulness and care, it is impossible for them to do the best work and lead the truest lives. "The sum of the whole matter, then, is this: That the great things of life' are composed of, and dependent on, its little things ; and the more care and attention that are bestowed upon necessary little things, the more successful will be the en- deavor, and the greater the result, of all human effort." LITTLE THINGS. 211 "Cousin Kate," said Alice, "as you commenced your discourse without a text, you might appro- priately terminate it with one. For instance, ' Little drops of water, Little grains of sand, Make the miglity ocean And the pleasant land.* And since you appear to be able to preach almost as well as you can cook, you might, in case you relinquish your idea of publishing a cook-book, favor the world with a volume of sermons. But, jesting aside, I think I have learned more this summer than ever before in the same length of time ; and I am sure I have been more contented and happy." "Alice, you express my sentiments, also," said Emeline. "Therefore, if my novel should remain forever unfinished, and Cousin Kate's cook-book never be written — even should our expectations fail to be realized in the Home-School — still the lives of us three will be richer and sweeter, for having spent our summer at Maplewood, although much of our time has been spent in Cooking and Castle-Building." II5"DEX. Page Page Yeast, .... . 16 Buckwheat cakes. . 74 Bread . 19 Buckwheat cakes. No. 2, . 75 Graham bread, . . 31 Corn dodgers, . 77 Rolls, .... . 32 Corn muffins. . 78 Egg rolls, . . 34 Corn griddle-cakes, . 79 Cream biscuit, . 38 Corn slappers. . 79 Strawberry shortcake, . . 40 Cape May bread, . . SO Maryland biscuit, . 41 Coffee, .... . 83 Pickcd-up codfish, . 44 Black tea, . . 91 Oatmeal mush, . 44 Green tea, . . 92 Baked potatoes, . 44 Toast . 93 To boil milk. 47 Green pease, . . 95 Fried chicken, . 50 Asparagus, . . 96 Fried fish, . . 51 String beans, . 96 Graham gems, . 52 Lima beans, . . 96 Fine flour gems, . 52 Stewed beans. . 97 Graham cakes, . 52 Baked beans. . 97 Hasty pudding, . 54 Boston baked beans, . . 97 Cracked wheat, . 54 Stewed corn, . 99 Hominy grits, 55 Corn oysters. 99 Stewed chicken, . 56 Boiled potatoes, . 100 Stewed chicken with mush- Mashed potatoes, . . 101 rooms. 57 Fried potatoes. 102 Stewed beef, . 57 Stewed potatoes, . 102 Stewed veal, . ,57 Browned potatoes. 102 Bread cakes. 70 Soup, .... 104 Rice cakes, . . . . 71 Broth, .... 107 Waffles, 71 Roast lambj . . . . 107 Waffles, No. 2, . . . 72