When Bell Winship proposes that the "Jolly Six" try housekeeping together in her family's empty cottage, the idea sounds half daring experiment, half social rebellion. With the recitation hall burned down and spring just beginning in New England, the girls divide the work of cooking, cleaning, and keeping house with comic seriousness, determined to prove what friendship, ingenuity, and girlhood confidence can accomplish. Bell persuades wary adults, secures the key, provisions, and help from her family, and turns the frozen cottage into a warm, workable home. Soon the six are sharing meals, beds, books, music, and jokes by the fire, their distinct personalities shining through as they build a lively sisterhood marked by cooperation, teasing, and quiet faith. Their adventures range from a disastrous ink mistake and absurd errands to snowy outings, mock solemnity, and a memorable indoor picnic staged by inventive boys in a transformed hall. Amid the domestic comedy, Bell's storytelling opens wider worlds: a sunlit California memory, a tragic frontier romance, and reflections on grief, gratitude, and spiritual growth. The result is a charming, spirited tale of self-reliance, humor, and the pleasures and trials of making a home together. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.