The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-10-29
forget my poor mothers face that even
ing when told her.

forget my poor mothers face that even
ing when / told her. :
Did Mrs. b. never think, when she was
enjoying her summer holiday with hel
children, that part at least of that en-
jOyment was purchased at her govern
ess's expense? No, / don't think so. In.
deed, / am sure that the idea never oc.
Cured to her, kind woman as she was. A
holiday is good for every one, she thought
(goOd for me, too) and that was all.
That you can enjoy an enforced rest at
the price of your daily living, or that a
governess would be almost willing to 90
on teaching during the holidays for moth
ing but the bare food, without which she
must 60 hungry, were questions that
never entered her head. 1t is case
that occursin more than fifty households
during the summer. Why should one be
an exceptiOn2
No, my afternoon pupils did not 60 out
of town at all. One was very clever and
delicate; the other One-third an idiot,
healthy and obstinate. 1t sometimes
took more than half my time trying by
cOaxing, argument, and severity, to in
duce her to learn few easy tasks, which
child of eight could have mastered in
half an hour, and then the other girl got
irritated, and complained of not receiv-
ing equal attention. 1t was hard for her
but think 1t was equally hard for me.
Those two hours with these two girls
were harder work than the four with
Mrs. BIS three children. Besides, the
latter came to it fresh; these had music
and other lessons in the morning, and
were often languid and tired when they
took their other lessons.
Yes, I did get some temporary en-
ployment during the holidays; 1 gave
French lessons to a milliner,s show
woman. She lived in Westbourne
Grove, and I used to walk there and
back three evenings in the week, for two
shillings lesson. The mornings I had
for myself, and for nursing my mother,
who was ailing very much. The heat
affected her, and unfortunately we found
it hard enough work to pay for the doc
tors visits. To carry out prescriptions,
which involved fresh air, nOurishing food,
wine, ETC., was impossible.
About this time got the offer of a
very good morning engagement, but it
was to be for at least two. years and,
considering myself bound to Mrs. B., l
was obliged to decline it. This gave of
fense to the friends who had procured
it for me; and from often coming to see
us, and sending my mother fruit and
jelly, they dropped our acquaintance al
together.
"No, don't blame them, please. 1t is
very annoying to have taken trouble for
a person and find it thrown away. Idare
say they thought me too independent,
and did not understand my scruples.
Fortunately Mrs. b. came back at the
appointed time, and / resumed my old
work until Christmas, when l was taken
very i'll, and obliged to give up teaching
for the time, and go into
hospital for nearly three weeks. When
came out / went to see after my twin
pupils first, and was received by their
mother, who told me very cOurteously
that the dull one had been sent 10 school;
and that as "I had not got on well with
the other, they had agreed that she should
have masters and study by herself.
This was in the depth of winter. I was
deeply in debt, incurred during my
illness. / had never been able to afford
the "cloth jacket" and was trembling
with cold and weakness. Iwonder what
any one thought who saw me that after
noon, crying bitterly as trudged along
binding snow, and a wind which
nearly cut me in two!
/ have never been strong since.
Well, / got another situation in time,
nearer home though with less salary, and
began another year much the same as the
last, except that both families went away
in summer. l was prepared for it this
time, and had succeeded in getting a
engagement which would Oc-
cupy at least halfo of each day. 1t was an
odd one-teaching married lady the
rudiments of French, reading, writing,
and arithmetic. They were poor, and
could only pay me half-a-guinea week,
think the husband was a clerk in the
city, so the debts went on increasing; and
even when my regular pupils came back,
found it impossible to pay them off al
together.
For, remember, / could, and can, do
no more now than did at first. then
walked from five to six miles day in
addition to my educational work. can
not walk four now. Brain work is more
than manual and no brain work
Is SO fatiguing as teaching, because 1t is not
,nly strain on ones own intellect,
patience, and temper, but depends for its
success on the intellect, patience, and
;emper of those you have to teach. Now
when the body is fatigued the mind is
eldom fresh, for the one acts on the other
n equal degree and if by overwork and
insufficient food you let the body go into
! feeble, languid, or unhealthy condition,
he mind is pretty sure to follow suit.
But all daily governesses are not as
,adly offas / ann Certainly not. / have
friend, for instance, whose brother is a |
young barrister, and in order to be able |
% live with him she takes an engage
nent in town gets the same salary that l
10, but only pays him two-thirds for her
,oard and lodging, and keeps the rest for
Ter private needs. Of course, she
has to work hard, TO put up with
many disagreeables, and go out in all
veathers to keep her engagements; but
N the whole she preserves her health,
nd leads happy and not too anxious
ife.
Yes, many people are fond of cxtolling
he life of a daily governess, in contrast
o that of resident, as being 50 much
nore independent; and also that, instead
f being tied to the same set of children
norning, noon, and night, there are GER
ain hours Of the morning and evening
n which you are absolutely free from
hem and their parents altogether.
This is true--in sense; but then
esident governess has no rent to pay, no
bod to secure, no household cares to
arass her in addition to those of her pro-
ession and none of the fatigue and ex-
osure of hurrying from place to place,
erhaps at wide distances, to keep heren-
agements. Also, it is more certain peo-
le are fond Of hiring daily governess
i'll the children are just old enough to
IN oahnnI. H.. |