North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-03-02
VOLUME XIV---NN 20.

"My dear Mrs. Drone, Kateewas not
particularly good girl when she first came
to me she had been in this country but
six months, and knew only the plainest
cooking. For the first year or two l had
to keep an eye On her constantly. and
show her every thing Now she knows
all my ways, and can lie trusted perfectly,
and for ten years hack has been great
comfort to us ALL"
SWELL" said l, III wouldn't 60 through
all that for the hest girl living. And if !
did, she would up and marry the first
thing. or go to some one else; and then
mucl. good would she do me I've no
idea Of trying tha, system
But, my dear Mrs. Drone. she repli>
ed, 81, seems to me the only way ef max
ing good servants and az for leaving, If
you once teach them to love your house as
a home, and rely on you rs a friend,
you'll find they will be as 10th to 80 as
you to have them"
81 know you give Kate all sorts of
privileges" said ! "out every day, if she
likes, and visitors in the kitchen now, l
must cay that even to Kate wouldn't
allow that. No calls and no fellows, is
my rule. My help must put up with it or
go"
But" said the old lady, "didn't it
ever occur to you that servants must
sometimes see their friends, and have their
lovers, like the rest Of us? They will do
it; the only question is, whether it shall
be safely and properly under your eye, or
in places Of which you know nothing?
Kate never goes out till her work is done,
and never without asking nae her visitors
are quiet and wellbehaved people, whom
l know all about. If felt that any Of
them were likely to lead her into mischief,
l should talk with her about it as freely
as if she were my daughter, and she
would take it just as kindly, and be sure
of my goodwill" )"
"Well," l said, getting up to 60,
"that's beyond me. If l had to make
such fuss over my girls as that, I'd rath'
or give up housekeeping at once"
Woodworking" said Mrs. Placid
"and do think over what I've said. I
assure you it's the only way to have
contented, orderly household"
It's all very well for people who have
got into ''streak Of good servants" as
mother calls it, to profess these fine theo-
rics; but I've no idea of being such
slave as that while there's hotel in the
land to 20 to. When / got home, John
met me ut she door, Gloss as lear.
had left Phil-and the furnace-fre had
gone out las if l had any thing to do with
that, and cook was getting over-worked-
a long string of fault.fnding. answered
back while, and then broke down and
had good cry, and John stormed and
said-but it's no matter what he said-it
was very unjust. Went to bed early with
u headache.
Friday.
Phil much the same. Tried to think of
a recipe my grandmother used to have for
sore-throat, but it has gone out of my
head. "Take a cork" it began-but that's
all can recollect. Mary better-thank
fortune and she and cook ut the ironing,
hut both .re out of sorts, and Mary has
given warning to 80. l don't believe ary
body was ever SO plagued as am with
servants. Invited the Pullets and Mr..
time to take-but don't think SO. Philly
will be fast asleep for the night, and why
shouldn't we enjoy ourselves Made
some Washington'pie and olikocks, but the
pie was little heavy, and the lard didn't
boil, which made the olikocks failure. |
My things never do turn out good. Cook
scolded because the grease boiled over on
to the irons-just like her
Saturday.
The ea-party wasn't very successful,
and have wretched headache this
morning. Cook burned the oysters, be-
cause she was out Of temper, and she's
just been in to say that she means to leave
at the end of her month-and l don't
know what we shall do. The biscuit were
badly baked, and the coffee thick, and, to
crown all, Philly woke up crying, and his
father fancied him worse, and set off for
the doctor. Such fuss when company
was in the house! never was so ,norti>
fed in my life. This is miserable day,
and should be down sick if it were not
for charming book Mr.. Brown lent me,
and which has diverted my mind little
from all the worry. 1t is called, Demetri.
us, or the Desperate Dragoman Of Damas-
Gus.
Now, you sec, dear Hearth and Home,
just how it is. Worry with servants
worry with children-worry with ones
husband-that is what makes up the his
tory of woman's life. No time for
leisure or the cultivation of the mind.
Could worse slavery be invented? And
can any one suggest remedy? If there
is such shing, what a comfort it would
be to others, as we'll rs to your discouraged
friend, DIANA DRoNE.
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A DRINK