The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-28
CHAPTER w.

Daily Bill of Fare-The management of Some
Servants-Nodce to Outflow to Make the
Best Of an Error-Why Some Servants are SO
Tawdrily Dressed-Whether a Mistress is Com
PEELED to- Give Character or Not-The COnse-
quences of Giving False Character Declining
to Give One under Some Circumstances
/ found, if Keziah saw any indecision in my
manner as to what was to be had for dinner.
she directly gave her opinion that it was best to
have so and so, an interference dlsllked very
much. 1t was very rarely that the bill of fare
was unwritten when l left my room, but on
some occasions 1t would happen So. A mistress
will find it much to her comfort to think over
the orders for the day before o'clock IN the
morning; and the easiest of all plans is, to
WTite out the bill of fare and the tradesmen's
orders. so that no occasion for lingering ana
gossping round the kitchen door shall arise.
1t is all very well to say that it is hard SER
want cannot have her gossip as we'll as the mis-
tress; but there is time for all things, and the
best part of the day for work is soon lost, and
then arises discontent or worry because there
is so much of the DAYS work to complete in
the afternoon; forgetting that once the golden
hours, are lost, order and regularity are at
an end.
The cause ofsome annoyance in the house, is
the having too many servants for the work;
then the master and mistress have a miserable
life. Empty brains are always on the alert for
mischief, which usually takes the form of Cos
siping about tormer places relating scandal
and passing remarks-generally invidious COM
parisons-upon both places, old and new. A
servant is happier herself, and indeed Tor that
the mistress IS also, when both are fully en-
ployed, when both have to COatriue for the
leisure hour.
Repeated holidays are fertile source of dis
comfort; lust as a child who is at school can
learn nothing If constantly taken from h;s
studies, even So, servants can rarely, under two
or three days, be brought to the routine of
work after they have had holiday. A friend
once told me she dreaded new servants, who sti-
pulated Tor day out every three months, to buy
clothing; for the next few days afterwards, the
pert answer trembled on the tongue, and the
fippant manner was so provocative of reproof,
which II it were given in ever so slight degree,
1t was, Please, ma'am, to suit yourself this day
month"; 1t seems hard against the girls to re.
cord this, but it is the truth; and if mistress
wishes TO retain her servant she will keep her
self out OF the way tor three or four days. till
the cross temper OF the damsel has evapOrated
through her work.
But it just happens that the day the girl is
absent the mistress has 10 turn servant for
time and she necessarily comes across some
hidden hordes" of dirt and fue some light
iorsaken corners, which have escaped her notice
In her daily visits to her kitchen; let her be-
ware OF bringing them under her servants
notice for some days, or there will be tempest
Inc soft words of the girls lover or the
lhoughtess counsels of her friends, are still
lingering IN her ears; or the love of change, or
| Ihe sense OF freedom, which one day out, away
from copstraint, gives her, are all too new upon
| her, ana she will not stand IT" when her atten-
ton Is directed to the discoveries which have
| been going on in her absence.
These experiences are not written in the spirit
| OF conformation of servants; for if mistresses
were suddenly metamorphosed into domestic
helpers and servers they would not be one
| whit the bemer themselves, and possibly might
| be worse. This should be thought of more
often than 1t is; at the sane time too much
latitude must not be given to do as they like,
neither should fault be passed over if ouce it
be seen--but there is wisdom and peace In a
seeming blindness sometimes. | once observed
services OF girl for six years. . -
at is all managepent she replied. Hannah
performs her work well, at least, all that am
likely TO see, and lghtens many trouble fol-
me; but If | were to remark to her about the
| general untidiness of the kitchen, or once opeu
! her dresser drawers, she would leave me
tomorrow; what don't wish to see that never
| will look al, and this is the secret of her Ions
service with me, and OF the good understanding
between u.s. One would scarcely follow thi