Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-08-09
LETTERS on EDUCATION.

tThe advice for choosing and governing servants
in the following letter relates to hired, but it |
contains suggestions which may be useful in |
choosing and governing bond servants. also.]
If mistake not my last letter was
concluded by some remarks on the means
Of trying servants to BE- careful ofthe safety
Of children, and ready 10 discover early and
honestly, any accidents that might happen
to befal them. | must make some farther
remarks upon servants. 1t is q subject Of
great importance. and inseparably connec.
ted with what have undertaken. You will
find il extremely difficult to educate children
properly, if the servants of the family do not
conspiro in it; and impossible, If they are
inclined to hinder it. In such a case, the
orders issued, OF the method laid down,
will be neglected, where that is possible and
safe where neglect is unsafe, they will be
unsuccessfu!ly or improperly executed, apd
many times, in the hearing Of the children,
they will be either laughed at, or complained
ofand disapprcsed. The certain consequence
Of this is, tina. children will insensibly come
to look upon the directions and cautions Of
their parents, as unnecessary or unreasona.
ble restraints. Its known and very com.
mon way for servants to insinuate them.
selves into the affections ofchiidren, by grant.
ing them such indulgences as would bere.
fused them by their parents, as we'll as con-
cealing the faults which ought to be pun
ishsd by parents, and they are often very
successful in training them up to a most
dangerous fidelity in keeping the secret.
Such is the evil to be feared. which ought
to have been more largely described le,
US now come to the remedy. The founda.
tion, TO be sure, is to be very nice and care.
full in the choice of servants. This is com.
monty thought to be an extremely difficult
matter, and we read frequently in public pa
pers the heaviest complaints Of bad serv.
ants. am, however, one of those who
think the fault is at least as often in the
masters. Good servants may certainly be
had, and do generally iucline of.hemselves
to be 10 good families, and when they 6nd
that they are so, do often continue very long
in the same, without desiring to remove.
You ought, therefore, to be exceedingly
scrupulous, and not without an evident ne.
cessity, 10 hire any servant but who seems
to be sober and pious. Indeed, | fatter
myself, that pious family is such, as none
but one who is either saint or hypocrite
will be supposed TO continue in. If any
SYMPTOMS of the last character appears,
you need not be told what you ought TO
do.
The next thing, after the choice Of SER
wants, is to make conscience of doing your
duty to them, by example, instruction, ad.
monition and prayer. Your fidelity to them
will naturally produce in them fidelity to you
and yours, and that upon the very best prin.
ciples. 1t will excite in them deep sense
ofgratitude, and at the same time fill them
with sentiments Of the highest and mos, un.
feigned esteem. could tell you of instan.
ces {you will however probably recollect
some YOURSELF Of servants who from their
living comfortably, and receiving benefits in
pions families, have preserved such re-
gard and attachment to their masters, as
have been little short of idolatry. I shall
just mention one--a worthy woman in this
place, formerly servant to one ofmy pre-
decessors, and married many years since to
athriving tradesman, continues to have such
an undiminished regard to her masters
memory, that she cannot speak ofhlm with.
out delight keeps by her to this hour the
newspaper which gives an account of his
death and character, and, believe, would
no, exchange i, for q bill or bond, to very
considerable sum.
But he third and finishing direction with
regard to servants, is to convince them. in
a cool and dispassionate manner, OF the
reasonableness Of your method ofproceed.
ing, that as il is dictated by conscience. It
is conducted with prudence. Thence it is
easy to represent to them that it is their
duty, instead ofhindering its success by op.
position or negligence, to cooperate with
it to the utmost of their power. ltis not be.
low any man to reason in some cases with
his servants. There is a way Of speaking
to them on such subjects, by which you will
lose nothing Of your dignity. but even cor
roborate your authority. While you mani.
fest your firm resolution. never to depar,
from your right and title to command: you
may, Notwithstanding, at proper season, and
by way ofcondescension, give such general
reasons Cor your coaduct, as to show that
you are not acting by mere caprice or hu.
NOR. Nay, even while you sometimes in-
sis,, that your command of itself shall be
law, and that you will not suffer it to be dis.
puted. nor be obliged to give reason for
it, you may easily show them that this also
is reasonable. They may be told that you
have the greatest interes, in the welfare of
your children, the best opportunity ofbeing
appris d as to the means of prosecuting it,
and that there may be many reasons for