The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-27
HALF AN HOUR IN Il SERVANTS
REGISTRY OFFICE.


swhat passed within my hearing, though it
nresented probably but sample of the daily
proceedings in an establishment of the kind
Ibad come to meet young person whose
serviees was anxious TO secure from the
stronp terms in which she had been re-
oororoended to me; but as l was before
tbe time appointed, and she was con-
Siderably after, was placed in the position OF
-, ,rintentional witness of what transpired in
the interval
Let me, first of all, observe that the
mofieen in question was kept by female,
IA. ,oarried woman Of well-merited reputation
for respectability and judgment, who had now
been doing business for years in that line,
and Il was said had made good thing of it.
She had her stated hours for business, and
did nothing else. Formerly she had kept
shop. greengrocer's, ON a small scale, carry
ing on the two businesses together; but she
found that the two lines did not some
how suit one another; that the supply
ing her customers with apples and cab
bages interfered so with her "domes-
tic'' transactions that, favoring no doubt
the one that was most lucrative, she
disposed of her stock n-trade, converted her
shop into what she termed her Office with an
ante or waiting-room, pulled down the old
sign-board, and replaced it by another which
proclaimed to the passing world, in gilt and
blue, that the undivided attention of the pro-
prietress was devoted to her registry"
She was a person eminently adapted for the
calling she had selected. Ia her dress she was
faultessly neat and simple. Never did you
see upon her-at least in business hours-so
much as a superhuous bit of ribbon, far less
anything approaching the gay or tashy. Her
manner, without being dry, was thoroughly
business like and the same to all her custo-
mers. Whether it were peeress or poor Gu
rates wife, whether it were the employer of a
dozen servants or only of one of all work, she
preserved consistently the same civil demeanor
to every one, so that all came away with a
COrrespondingly good opinion of Mrs. Prim-
worthy.
The young woman whom l expected not
having arrived, Mrs Primworthy begged that
] would take a seat in the ante-room already
referred TO-, which accordingly 1 did, hoping,
as did SO, that my detention might not be
long.
This apartment evidently served as Mrs.
Primworthy's sitting room, when she was not
pursuing her professional avocations. There
was a convenient dividing wall through
which, when seated, you could take a pano-
ramic view of the so-called office. This inter-
mediate window had been left open; 80 that
not only could see, if l wished, those in the
next room, but l could also hear-in fact
could not help hearing-their conversation.
Having accordingly taken a chair, readily
accepted also the offer of a newspaper, and for
few moments it engaged my attention; but
] soon found reading to be impossible, owing
to the distractions of the adjacent audience
chamber, so gave up the attempt.
MY attention was first drawn off on the arri-
val of a lady in her carriage and pair, who,
having alighted, proceeded to relate to Mrs.
Primworthy her pitiable case. Her counte-
nance fancied, bore a look of harassment;
and as heard her disclose the plight that she
was in, certainly did not wonder that she
should evince something like anxiety.
'Well, Mrs. Primworthy," she began, 'I
am in great trouble. My servants are all
leaving me, and l cannot imagine the reason
why. When l say all, | mean all excepting
my cook, who came to me about fort
night ago. l do hope she will stay,
for really she is invaluable. But all the rest
have given me notice, and that within a day
or two of one another. They seem, without
any cause, to have taken a whim into their
heads to leave me in less than month from
now. feel it so l cannot tell you. When
think of the ingratitude of their behavior, to
say nothing of the perplexity they have placed
me in, it almost overcomes me; and then we
have visitors coming to stay with us. Oh,
Mrs. Primworthy, am quite bewildered at the
prospect
''Well, ma am, Pm exceedingly sorryto hear
it; but you surely don't mean to say that all
your servants have given warning P'
''Yes, indeed l do. Now you know our old
nurse who has been with us for years, and
who, supposed was so attached to the fam
lily that she could not have endured the
thought of leaving us. Well, she was the
very first, positively, to give me notice. That
/ thought bad enough. Then, one by one, the
others followed her example, My lady's-
maid, who suits me to a nicely, and my house
maid, and even that steady young man Jones,
whom was so thankful to you for finding for
me, he says he must seek another situation
too"
'"Tis certainly very trying, ma'am, isn't it?
wonder whatever can be the cause of it all.
Has there been nothing unpleasant with
them that you can think Of ma'aml Ser
wants are really getting so high and
mighty in their notions now, that
they'll scarce bear being spoken to-"
"Oh, dear, no. There has been no occasion
even for fault-fnding lately. And it seems so
strange, they all say they are so sorry to go,
and speaking of the kindness of their master
and mistress, yet they cannot think of stay
ing. have questioned them, and entreated
them to tell me what is the natter but the
emily answer can get is:-'Things is not as
they used to be- But am not aware of any
change. We treat them exactly the same as
wealways, have and they have no complaints II
make. i have only one comfort amidst i
all, and that is my new cook, who il
the best, l think, l have ever had
SAYS she is quite comfortable, and has eX
pressed no wish to leave me. She tells m