The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-25

AllOWA0CpS-tlpV were bIbhlCu Ju5J % NY
mothers had been: they made their tea from
our supply; sugar and butter they ssed at their
own discretion; they we're neither exTayagant
nor wastefuL
hold had directed that no bulls should be paid
till | was about again, but that everything
ordered was to be entered IN pooK' On IN.
spectlng this was astounded at the quantity OF
articles consumed-tea, sugar, bacon, and put
ter enough for o family OF dozen people, and
had no remedy but to pay for the robbery.
Nothing was lett, not even piece OF soap or jar
of dripping. My husband and myself were sur
prised at the unprinCipled mistress who had
given such excellent characters with these SER
wants; and as her residence lay in the way of
his daily route, he volunteered to call and re-
monstrate upon the deception which had vic.
timiZed us.
The lady received and listened to him with
all courtesy, and exploined that she had
answered all my inquiries satisfactorily, but it
was out of her way to volunteer inform alton;
give high wages, as she did much of the work
herself, such as dustlng, making pastry, and
also constantly overseeing them. Besides, she
never deprived girls of characters for want of
cleanliness, because that was only matter of
opinion the dirt some ladies would not tolerate,
others would think scarcely worth notice.
Servants were not to be had as formerly; there
was no one to train them. If girls were honest
it was all that must be looked for, the mistresses
must make them do their work well.
But their extravaganza was great. Allen,
did you mention this"
Yes but Mrs. Slater said it was better to
allow the girls the articles they would require
for their own use, lock up all the rest, and give
out daily supply for the lamllys consump-
tlon."
"Lock upl" 1 exclaimed; 81 never did such
a thing in my life, and how can tell how much
they will eat and drink? | don't think even
mamma knows, for l am sure she never put her
servants on allowances"
'Then call on Mrs. Slater and ask her; she is
eI,r auyd and | nOntUthink the m
would have served her as they have vou.n
This advice did not quite suit me. ] said |
would consider. Meantime l sought and OBJ
tanned two other servants, one an elderly
woman, the other about twenty, both with
good characters. All went on pretty well for a
time, but it is necessary to recolect the pro-
verb:-''The eye OF the master is of more worth
than both his hands" | now began to find
that the Housekeeping was running beyond the
sum allowed for it; the consumption of butter,
tea, and coffee was nearly as much again as in
the previous year, for ourselves we consumed
no more than usual, but there was waste or
peculation somewhere. / said at last TO the
cook that, as my expenses were increasing,
must devise some plan to lessen them. 81 Will
give you and Mary sufficient tea and sugar for
a week, and you had better give me the key,
and will regulate the consumption"
The storm OF words this proposal raised long
remembered. She quickly replied that mo lady
would do sieh things" and as she was not TO be
trusted she would leave that day month: and
with Mary to accompany her. The next lady
this cook went 20 she told her our place du not
SUIT her, as we were mean enough to starve our
servants. So soon is bad name given to
place by unprIucpled characters.
The next help | obtained from a registry
Office in neighboring town. was very averse to
this course, but fortnight with but daY-woman's
assistance made me clad TO get servants from
any source. This time determined to control
the expenditure, and the verbal agreement l
made with them was most precise. was TO
give them so much money beyond their wages,
that they might tind themselves in tea, sugar,
and washing. After obtaining personal and sat
isfactory characters. ielL like one from wnom
great burden has been lifted. Now, thought
there can be no cause OF dissatisfaction. Alas
alas things went Just the same. If left the
room with the tea-caddy unlocked, its contents
speedily Vanished; the suger went faster than
ever; and the butter, of course that was always
consumed In the parlor, and the eggs were used
in the puddings.
Mamma came 20 spend a week with us, and to
her | unfolded my trouble. | had shrunk
hitherto from telling her my misery, fearing she
might think ! was a bad manager, but she con-
soled me by saying that good servants tor
middle-class families were not to be had-they
had all emigrated; among the higher class it
was altogether different.
consumption? 2" l asked. This is my great
trouble"
Gust the quantity you consume yourself, ex-
cepting in the article of tea, and OF this would
tea Is to them as refreshing as glass of WINE,
and when they are working hard a stimulant OF
this kind is very grateful. Give me pencil and
| will write down what is a liberal but necessary
weekly allowance for each servant:-A quarter
OF pound OF tea; half pound Of sugar; half a
pound OF butter. The washing, too, If you put
it out, must be limited for them, or you will
have white sleeves and frilled or worked petit
coats 10 pay for
''You may fancy the tea is rather eXtravagant,
but it is only two teaspoonfuls at breakfast and
the same at tea for each; il they choose to drink
coffee instead of tea, by all means let them have
it-three quarters of pound to each. Bread,
cheese, and meat, OF course, as much as they
please, but no waste. Bread Is very prolific
source OF disagreement; the tops and bottoms
OF the loaves, the Well-hngered crusts that have
been LETT from grating bread crumbs, are all
wasted-thrOwn or given away TO beggars, who
in their turn despse them and throw them in
any convenient secret place; they never eat
| them. Don't suffer bread to be used in this
way for crumbs. Cut of the loaf as thick OF
thin slice as may be needed, pare of the crust
and set it by to be eaten at the first opportunity
! peel off, also the hard or outside and give to
the birds, then the remainder break up and rub
| through a coander-there viii be no waste; and
in outing bread for dinner, pare off very thin
| slice OF the outside, as no one likes this, and II
needed cut the Loaf to within a tinger's length
! of the bottom, then divide it into six pieces and
| there will be no waste.
'The cutting of bread should, as in Older
| time, be seen TO by the MISTRESS One lOa
ought to be consumed before another is cut
and new bread on no account be eaten i am
glad there is no side-door to your house.
| knew one lady with large groWn-up family
who, closing this up, her bread bill was re
duced four shilings q week. All the pieces
| had gone TO the beggars, who threw them away
but, mamma, / allowed the last servants
money to find their tea and sugar: why couiC
they not be content, and not take mine !"