Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-11-13
THE FIRE-SEDE.
From the Boston CultivatOr.
Domestic Help.

Mr.. EditOr-The following question has be-
come great question for discussion at the pres
ent day, viz What is the cause of so much
difficulty in obtaining females for nurses, and to
do house work at the present day.
Now do not think this evoked question"
neither do deem it necessary for a person to
be skilled in logic, or philosophy, in order to be
able to answer this question. 1t only needs a
small share Of common sense. | think She sim,
pie relation of an anecdote will throw light E.
nough upon this subject TO clear away all the
mist that hangs over it.
A short time ago visited your city and du-
ring my stay visited an aged man, who for
many years did large commercial business in
the city; but now has retired to his country seat
in an adjoining town to spend the remainder of
his days upon the fruits of his past labor. Du-
ring my visit he invited me to ride with him
We called upon friend of HIS and after the
usual salutatons, the lady Of the house began to
tell her troubles. She was destitute of help Her
girl had just left her. The girls were so I'M
steady nowadays that she could get none that
would stay more than fortnight. The old
gentleman listened with all the gravity of d
Judge, until she got through and then he said
81 am glad of it. hope you will never get ono
until YOU learn how to treat your help" (Tht
old gentleman never carries butter i'll his mouth
to grease his words wilh)
The lady exclaimed; "why Mr. dc
you mean to say that don't treat my help we!'
Eyes !" replied the old man
Why not 7" said the lady
Do you let your girls sit at the table with your
asked the old man.
No indeed do You suppose l would have
kitchen girls at my table,
&c Do you ever have them sit down with you il
the parlor!"
MOI"
Do you treat them as equals, or interiors ?
" AS interiors, of course !"
"Then replied the old man, out Of thine owl
mouth will | condemn thee. Now, said he,
you will listen, will tell you my experience.
have no trouble about female help. | have on
woman that has been with me thrty-three years
and another eight years. have employed lt
male help fifty years, and never had one leave m
except they got married. Now | will tell yo
how to manage | always treat them as equals
| have them sit at my table, and in my parlo
when their duties do not call them to the kcl
en-, or some other place. They sit with me il
church, they come around The same family al
altar, and trust they will spend an eternity il
the same heaven with me. | treat them with a
much respect as would you, and require it G
my children. Ifthey are below me in any par
ticular, strive to elevate them to me; and
they are above me strive to elevate myself t
them, Now if you will pursue this course,
will warrant you will have no trouble abou
help
Now Mr. Editor, have no doubt that here
the secret Girls as well as boys have read th
old self evident hnlh that call men are create
equal, and rejoice that there is spirit enough
in some at least to maintain it,
The spirit of caste has made sad lnroads j
our country for the last thirty or forty years; an
should you think this text worthy of place i
your columns, may at some future time writ
an article upon its pernicIous moral influence.
HOMOGENEOUS