The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-01-08
The Management Of Servants.
BY MRS. II. c. L.


little advice from one who is seldom
obliged to make any change of aomestics,
may be of interest and advantage, especially
to young housekeeperr. Be dignified, with
that true dignity, which it seems to me
should be a part Of every Christian wo
mans character. Sham dignity is of nc
use; servant sees right through it if she
knows anything. Define your girls
duties plainly. When she first comes tc
you, tell her what you wish her to do. II
her work is to be heavy. let her under
stand it; do not represent it as very light,
letting her think, in order to secure her,
herself. Be just in your demands. Do
not think that 4 girl must work all the
time, because you are paying her good
wages and giving her her board. She will
do better work and more of it, if she feels
that you are willing that she shall have
some time to herself. Encourage her to
employ her spare time usefully; but at the
same time do not frown upon her going
out sometimes. If "a girl knows that you
are willing she should visit her friends, she
is not nearly so apt to get into the habit of
running all The time, as if you were impa-
tent with her aud tried to prevent her 60
ing at all. Help her by doing something
fer her which she cannot do herself, whom
you have time to spare, or by teaching her
something which she vsuld like to know,
as reading, sewing, etc. But do not help
her in her ordinary work, if you wish to
keep her a good servant. This may sound
unfeeling, but it is not meant to be SO. If
your girl is sick, help her, but if she is
simply in the habit of getting behind-hand
do not assist her in any way. If you have
been just in the cmount of work assigned
to her, insist upon its being done at the
right time and entirely by herself. 1 have
seen many a good girl spoiled by being con-
tinually helped. have now a most esti-
mable lady in my mind, whose servants in
variably become lazy and shiftless, although
she herself is all excellent housckeeper.-
The difficulty is that she never leaves a
girl to do piece of work all by herself.
For example: instead telling the girl
that setting the table is part of her work.
and expecting her always to do it, she puts
on few dishes herself, then the girl few
more, as it happens; and, when the meal
is ready there is almost always the neces-
sity of calling for several things that have
been forgotten. If the girl were taught to
be careful, and feel that she would have no
one to help her, the work would be done
better. If there is anything about your
girl that you do not like, tell her of it kind
ly, but plainly. Never hesitate for fear of
offendins-have your girl understand that
you arc not in the least dependent upon
her, but that you would not keep her. if
she did not endeavor to please you. The
Irish, as race, like plain speaking. Talk
to your girl moderately of her own affairs,
or of anything will interest her, at the
same time be Instructive; but do not con-
descend to gossip with her, by talking of
your own private affairs, or those of your
neighbors. Check any tendency in her to
comment upon the faults and failings in
others. Pay her wages at regular intervals,
advise her as to the use of her money, and
to invest what she does not need in some
safe way.
do not pretend to affirm that all SER
wants would be made good, by their en-
ployers acting upon these suggestions; but
do think that the mistress is often very
much i'll fault, sometimes in one of the par
tlculars L have mentioned, sometimes in
another, and often in all, and more; and 1
feel confident that, if there were more wo-
men, who made it a Christian duty to be
good mistresses, there would be more good
servants.