Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-01-03
FEMALE DOMESTICS-HARD PLACES

Far be 1t from Grandfather Tray to insiuuate
that no servants find hard places Alas
alas there are some poor things who never
have an easy one; go where they may, in town
or country, hard labor seems TO be their lot
and not unfrequently unkind treatment ajso
They rise before the break of day. and toll on
incessently until midnight, then retire to their
oeds almost too fatigued to enjoy repose and
only rise TO pursue the same slayish drudgery
again. o'
Thanks be to Providence. however. the old
man would fain hope that such palaces are but
small minority Of the whole for if il were
vitude. 'A owl
But Grandfather Gray Is inclined to think
Inat tnere are hard places, though not places of
downright slavery, such as those he has hinted
AZ, "nich might be made comparatively easy.
II employees were to exercise a little fore
tnought and consideration. For example. the
Old man has bcen sitting at friends house,
anu .ne servant has been rung for to bring
something, which she has no sooner brought
than the bell has summoned her again and
again, to bring another and another article,
Wnlch might all have been specified at once
sometimes he has also heard the servant des-
patched to distance with such vague instruc-
t'ons as to the nature of her errand that the old
man has said to himself, There will be a sec
Ond journey about that matter AS snre asI
have grey hairs"
Let 1t not be said. that Grandfather Grav is
medd!ing with other peoples business, and that
every mistress has right to do as she pleases
Win Der servants. He knows better than TO be
guilty OF the former but would fearlessly re-
peat ihat some situations are made hard where
tney might be easy, if il were not for the incop-
slderation OF employers.
Inc OLD man must say, however that he
thinks most places are rendered dificuit NV
servants themselves. 0ne for instance. is habit
u'.iy so peeVlsh, that the slightest difficulty
puts her ont OF temper for the day, and duties
"hich ought to be light and pleasing are dis
cnarged with sullenneSs, and felt to be bur-
ueh. Another invariably begins her work at
ine wrong end, and for want of arranpement
goes twice over the same ground. and TINS
gives herSelf two-fOld trouble. A third il so
hiseraoly slow in all her operations that she
olis from morn till midnight in doing that
OauIy which some servants would do well by
Tea tune, and then sit down neatly dressed to
their own neediework for the remainder of the
evening g. And fourth, who generally has
some share of the other bad Qualities which the
old man has referred to-a fourth is So forget.
tui that she Is constantly uttering as an excuse
tCr some neglected. duty, "Oh, did mt think
OF that, ma am, " or by making some blunder
In an errand, to her mistress's 8 ANNOYANCE and
ner own increase Of labor, is sent possibly again
naiI mile, where, by the exercise Of care
once would have done
The old man has seen too much of the world
nor 10 know that there must be hard places;
Q out there Is no reason why they should always
oe uncomfortable No, with due consideration
anu cohtrlVance on the part of the EMPLOYERS
heavy WORK may be much lightened, and by
sOod management, good temper, and fore
thought on the part Of the servants. many
naId, and, rs it is commonly styled, "wretch
cd place, may be made a com parativeIy easv
ana comfortable one.-Les5Ons of Life for
Female Domestics. '' I''