Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-17
gaoirs' department.
OUR SERVANTS.

vital interest TO the necessities ana happiness
Of many families. Indeed, in many the
question of "help" is the all.absorbing one
Whether the mistress, through inefliciency
aud ignorance of household duties, or her
multiplied cares really demanding the as
"help," "good help" is the crying want.
That there is not a supply Of individuals
equal to the demand cannot be urged, since
there are so many unemployed, or asking
for charity because they have "nothing to
do" That such persons are unskilled, and
hence not marketable" is true. But with
a different order Of things among employers
"A ''new departure" in the training and
treatment of servants-might not better
and larger number be brought into service 7
just as we sat down to give expression to
few thoughts on this subject, we CHANGED
upon a "cipping" in our scrap-box, which
says what was in cur mind better than we
could. So we copy, only sorry that we cam
not give full credit for it. 1t seems to have
been written IN a familiar, conversational
style, and discourses thus
"l seem to sec your eyes snap, and to
hear your indignant, wondering question,
| why what would you have2 What
should do to the girl | give her her wa
ges and her board, now and then one Of my
dresses, and a present at Christmas. What
more can do p Well, for one thing you
can give her affection. She is woman
she is young she is inexperienced she is
needless perhaps she is hcadstrong, and
not easily inauenced-but she is your sister
she is a child Of the same God. And you
can do her good only by loving her, and bav-
ing her love you. Show her kindness. Re-
member that room we'll lighted, well aired,
and comfortably furnished, is just as pleas
ant to her as it is to you. Remember that
she is liable to loneliness, that she longs to
feel the impulses Of life; that she has wants
of the heart to be satisfied, as well rs of the
body.
"And you can give her care. You are in
some sense her keeper. This is changing
world 1t S not beyond the bounds Of pos
sibility lat any rate we may make the sup
position) that in the future your daughter
may be in the same situation. Now treat
her as you would that your daughter should
be treated. Care for her health care for
her mind care for her soul.
"You can give her counsel. You must
not force advice on her. This will need tact.
You must first find the door to her confidence.
Then you can help her you can advise her
as to her evenings, her dress, her acquain-
tances, her use Of her wages. DO not think
that advice is always thrown away.
"You can give her example. Did it ever
occur to you, when you were scolding about
the faults Of your servant, to ask whether
you yourself are open to the same charges
You complain that she dresses up to the ex-
tent Of her income and you? You COM
plain that she does not practice economy;
and you? You complain that she does not
work any more than she can help; that she
does not take pains to learn about cooking
, and housekeeping arts that she learns ontg
, Just so much as she is compelled to; and
y0u?
"You wonder how it is that your neighbor,
Mrs. Serene, gets on with so little trouble.
} Her girls stay with her, usually, until they
, die, or are married. She realizes that it is
partnership, a joint affair. One OF tho
girls that she now has, she took from an or
phan asylum when she was but child.
People said: You are taking great deal
, of trouble on your shoulders. She will nev-
or be Of any service to you Mrs. S. an
swercd We'll, perhaps l shall be of use to
her. She teaches her girls everything
She counsels them in everything. When
}, she saw them reading cheap story newspapers
and yelow-covered novels she just had a
few shelves put up in the kitchen, and filled
them with books, readable and useful, and
the books are read. Once she said to hel
girl, Mary, what do you do with your wa.
ges {? 1t appeared that the earnings were
scattered as fast as they came in. Mrs. 5.
talked to her about the need Of providing
1 for the future. The result was that in :
few years the girl had $500 in the savings
bank, which, when she was married, gave to
her and her husband a start in life.
"She has realized that the girls needed so
ciety. So she has not discouraged then
, from having visitors But she has Away
kept the run OF their visitors. When She
has seen any little romance springing up
she has not tried to crush it, but only tt
l. guide it. When she has domestics who arr
5 Catholics, and do not like to come in Il
L prayers with the family, she finds an oppor
tunity to talk with them, to pray with them
and read with them, by themselves. Whe
= she secs that they are run down, and nee
!, rest, she arranges affairs so as to lighte
e their burdens sends them out into the coun
- try for a day, and calls in physician, whe
- it is needed, without waiting until tho sick
) ness is serious. When the brother of on
i Of one of the girls was anxious to come t
town to get situation, she permitted hir
to remain at the house for two weeks, wit
= no expense to him.
= "And as she does not make hireings {
:, them 50 they do not make hirelings Of then
y selves. In case Of sickness or extra con
- pany, they are ready to work their finger
y, off. When her sister was burned out
, Chicago, Mrs. s. wanted to invite Il
whole family right to her home. 81
- knew that it would make extra work. 81
" ~ Immediately conferred with the girls. The
''t at once said 20, yes it is all right. i
= it by all MEANS ;"
~ Now, we believe that such course,
ro adopted, will, in majority Of cases, insu
nj competent satisfactory help. II the cir
10 are not what they should be, make them 3
nj None but the imbecilo or incorrigble ca
a. withstand such an influence. At all event
bo it will pay. to make the trial.
no We are too apt to forget that the girl
49, our kitchen has sensibilties that can
wounded by our ungracious manner OF
stern commands, our readiness to dlscov'
,rs and rcprovo every failure in the periorman'
or of her duties, when as likely as not v
Il. should have made as great failure or blu
,is der as she has done. We forget that 81
,v may often be lonely, that she may often ha'
~ heartaches, and become discouraged +,
,9ts want of cheering words and proper appr
pm clatlon oil her lapUrs' nnu uo VIC no'