LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 WHO ARE ENGAGED IN 
 
 DOMESTIC SERVICE 
 
 BY 
 
 MISS CATHARINE E. BEECHER. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY LEAVITT & TROW, 
 19 4 Broadway. 
 
 MDCCCXLII. 
 

 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by 
 
 JOHN F. TROW, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District 
 
 of New- York. 
 
 Universiry Press : 
 JOHN F TROW, PRINTER, 
 
 114 Nassart-street, 
 New- York, 
 
 
 . \ 
 
 A 
 
ERRATUM. 
 
 Page 218, line 9 from top, for '' starch," read stretch. 
 

 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by 
 
 JOHN F. TROW, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of tlie District Court of the Southern District 
 
 of New-York. 
 
 University Press : 
 JOHN F TROW, PRINTER, 
 
 114 Nassar.-street, 
 New- York. 
 
 K 
 
TO AMERICAN LADIES. 
 
 My Countrywomen : 
 
 Will you aid me in an attempt to benefit a 
 most useful, a most important, and yet a much 
 neglected portion of our fellow citizens ? I can 
 accomplish little without your aid 3 with it, I 
 trust much may be done. 
 
 Have you ever heard any instructions from 
 the pulpit addressed to the class for whom I 
 now write ? Have you ever read a printed 
 sermon, or a tract suited and designed to m- 
 struct Americans of this class, on the topics 
 presented in this book 1 Have you not felt 
 how important it is that this class, who have 
 so much influence on domestic enjoyment, and 
 on the character of children, should be proper- 
 ly instructed in the duties of their station, and 
 yet how difficult it is to address them acceptably, 
 or to find books that answer for this purpose ? 
 
 These things have been urged on my atten- 
 tion by benevolent ladies, who have felt these 
 difficulties, and who complain that, while those 
 they hire can find books enough which treat on 
 the duties of their employers^ they seldom find 
 
b TO AMERICAN LADIES. 
 
 instructions in regard to the peculiar duties of 
 their own station. I have made an attempt to 
 remedy this deficiency, so far as my abiUty ex- 
 tends. But a great difficulty meets me. The 
 persons for whom I write, have few opportuni- 
 ties to know what issues from the press, and 
 seldom buy books. It is others, who, from a 
 spirit of philanthropy and benevolence, must 
 procure such advantages for them, or they will 
 seldom be secured. I would therefore appeal 
 to all benevolent and Christian ladies, whose 
 eye may rest on this page, and ask if each will 
 not secure the reading of this book to at least 
 one of those for whom it is written. If house- 
 keepers will supply those they hire, if travellers 
 and visitors will use this, to present as a token 
 of good will to those w^ho serve them, where 
 they temporarily sojourn, if on New-Years and 
 Christmas, this may be remembered as a suita- 
 ble present to those who do so much to aid on 
 festive occasions, then, if this book is fit for the 
 end designed, there will be many who will be 
 joined, in the best of all fellowship, with their 
 friend and countrywoman, 
 
 The Author. 
 
; >// 
 
 ff 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER r. PAGE 
 
 The station of domestics important, respectable, 
 and advantageous to themselves. A story to 
 illustrate the state of things in this country . 9 
 
 LETTER IL 
 
 A conversation between the clergyman and a do- 
 mestic ........ 27 
 
 LETTER in. 
 
 Difficulties experienced by the shipwrecked com- 
 pany, and how these were remedied . . 36 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 The manner in which this story illustrates the 
 state of things in this country ... 43 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 Reasons for regarding the station of a domestic 
 as honourable and respectable . . . 51 
 
 LETTER VL 
 
 The reasons why the station of a domestic is not 
 regarded as so honourable as it really is . 62 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 Reasons why the station of a domestic is a de- 
 sirable one, and superior to that of a semp- 
 stress, a shop girl, or a factory girl . . 69 
 
 LETTER VIIL 
 
 The importance of raising the respectability of 
 the station of a domestic, in public estimation, 
 and the mode by which it can be done . 78 
 
Vm CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 On the duties of subordination. Rules of the 
 Bible. Respectful manners the mark of a lady 91 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 On Visiting, Company, and Religious Meetings. 
 On going out, and having company. Religious 
 Meetings. A story to illustrate . . 110 
 
 LETTER XL 
 
 Importance of health to domestics. Modes by 
 which they injure health .... 126 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 On Di'ess, Manners and Language. — Dress should 
 be conformed to means and to occupations. 
 Rules of good manners .... 142 
 
 LETTER XIII. 
 
 Trials of domestics and remedy for these trials. 
 Fault-finding. Want of comforts and conveni- 
 ences, &c. 153 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 On Economy. ^Economy a duty to all. Modes of 
 economizing 172 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 On the Care of Children. — Patience very needful. 
 Offering rewards. Never shame children for 
 their faults. Never deceive them. Set an ex- 
 ample of honesty and modesty . . . ISO 
 
 LETTER XVL 
 On Cooking 193 
 
 LETTER XVII. 
 
 On setting tables. V/ashing and ironing, and 
 other housework . . , . . 233 
 
 LETTER XVIII. 
 The Way to be Happy . . . ; 228 
 
LETTERS 
 
 TO 
 
 |3£r0on0 engaged in Dotnestk Qtxmu. 
 
 LETTER L 
 
 The station of domestics important, respectable, and 
 advantageous to themselves. A story to illustrate 
 the state of things in this country. 
 
 My Friends : 
 
 I HAVE travelled a good deal in various 
 parts of this country, and by visiting in a large 
 number of families, I have been led to feel a 
 great interest in the welfare of persons in your 
 situation. And as my friends think that I could 
 write something which might be useful and in- 
 teresting to you, I have concluded to try, and 
 have, therefore, prepared this small volume for 
 your use. I trust you will find, that I have^ 
 at least, one good qualification for writing 
 a book for you^ and that is, a real interest in 
 
 2 
 
 4 # 
 
10 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 those I address, and a sincere desire to do all I 
 can to promote their usefulness and happiness. 
 I think that much of the trouble felt by per- 
 sons in your situation of life^ would be very 
 much lessened, if a right view were taken of 
 the respectability, usefulness, and advantages 
 of the station you occupy. I do not think you 
 are aware either of the good you can do to 
 others, or of the benefits you may receive your- 
 selves, in your employment. And I do not 
 think you understand the real respectability 
 which belongs to your situation. I therefore 
 wish to give you some views on these points, 
 that I hope may tend to make you more useful, 
 and more contented with your lot. This I 
 think I can do in the most agreeable way by 
 relating the following tale. 
 
 A Story. 
 
 Once there was a ship which sailed with 
 a large company on board. There were the 
 captain, the officers, and the sailors, and a 
 company of soldiers. There was also a large 
 number of gentlemen and ladies, and there 
 were several families of children, returning 
 
 # ^ 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 11 
 
 from school to their parents, with the persons 
 who had the care of them. There was also a 
 number of servants to the gentlemen and ladies. 
 After they had been some time at sea, a 
 dreadful storm came on, the ship sprung a leak, 
 they all got into the ship's boats, and then 
 she sunk to the bottom with all their possessions. 
 After a great deal of trouble, their oor-ts suc- 
 ceeded in all reaching a neighbouring, unknown 
 shore. Their misfortunes soon reached the 
 ears of the king of that country, who was a 
 very generous and kind man. His dominions 
 had just been desolated by a pestilence, which 
 in some cases had swept off whole families. 
 The king had all these strangers conveyed to 
 a large estate whose owner, with all his family, 
 had perished in the pestilence. On this estate 
 was a large and magnificent palace, with gar- 
 dens, and orchards, and parks, and a great ex- 
 tent of fields for cultivation. Within the palace 
 were fine furniture, and rich clothing, and a 
 great quantity of food of all kinds. The out- 
 houses, also, were supplied with fine horses 
 and beautiful carriages. All this estate, with 
 its palace and treasures, was given to these 
 
12 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 strangers, on two conditions ; the first was, 
 that they should never have any kind of inter- 
 course w^ith the people of the land, but take 
 care of themselves and do all their own work. 
 The second was, that all the company should 
 consider and treat each other as " free and 
 equal." Children and servants, soldiers and 
 sailors, were to have the same right to every 
 thing in the palace, as any one else had, and 
 no person was to be superior in rights to 
 another, in any respect whatever. All were 
 '' free and equal ;" all were equally entitled 
 to " life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," 
 in any way each thought best for himself. On 
 these two conditions, this company took pos- 
 session of this noble estate, and all its treasures. 
 Immediately on entering the palace, they 
 commenced ransacking the whole establishment, 
 and every one w^as trying to get the best of 
 every thing. All wanted the pleasantest rooms, 
 and the handsomest clothes, and the best arti- 
 cles of food. Each person claimed that he had 
 as ^ood a right to the best of every thing as 
 any one else, and no one was willing to give 
 up his rights. The children liked to use the 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 13 
 
 nicest china and cut glass to play with, and the 
 cakes and sweetmeats for their food ; the ser- 
 vants liked the silks and satins for dress, and 
 the sailors and soldiers liked the fine parlours 
 with their light carpets and silk curtains and 
 sofas, to smoke and eat in. And if any of the 
 company tried to control them, insult and abuse 
 were showered down, for thus taking away the 
 rights and liberties of others. Very soon quar- 
 rels began, and these grew worse and worse, 
 until they came to blows, and there was con- 
 stant fighting for every thing. The result was 
 this ; the servants, the soldiers and the sailors 
 w^ere the strongest, and so they got possession 
 of the best of every thing. The richest cloth- 
 ing, the finest rooms, and the best food were 
 all taken by them. The captain, oflScers and 
 gentlemen were the next strongest, and they 
 got the next best. The women and children 
 were the weakest, and so they were obliged to 
 put up w^ith the poorest of every thing. 
 
 But after they had thus divided tlieir pos- 
 sessions, the question then w^as, who should do 
 the work ? All w^anted to sit in the parlours, 
 and walk in the gardens, and eat their meals, 
 
 2* 
 
14 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 and ride in their carriages; but nobody want- 
 ed to cook, or wash, or sweep, or plough, or 
 take care of horses. And yet all this work 
 must be done, or they would be destitute of the 
 necessaries and comforts of life. At first, the 
 strongest tried to force the weakest to w^ork 
 for them, and for a w^hile, it seemed as if the 
 poor women and children, who had little 
 strength to resist, would be made slaves to the 
 strong. 
 
 But they declared that nobody had a right 
 to make them w^ork, and that they would go 
 with their complaints to the king, if their rights 
 were thus invaded. 
 
 Thus matters went on, till all the carpets 
 were covered with filth, all the dishes were dir- 
 ty, all the clothing w^as soiled and torn, and 
 every thing about the estate was fast going to 
 destruction. 
 
 Meantime the soldiers, sailors and servants, 
 w^ho had the most strength, were constantly 
 domineering over the others, and quarrelling 
 and fighting among themselves. The children 
 were beaten and abused, the ladies insult- 
 ed, and all kinds of oppression practised. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOME'STIC SERVICE. 15 
 
 There was universal contention, fear, distress 
 and ill will. All the decent and well meaning 
 persons declared, that they would gladly ex- 
 change this palace for a hovel, wnth nothing 
 but potatoes to eat, and straw to sleep on, if 
 they could thus gain quiet and peace. In this 
 company was a venerable old clergyman, with 
 white locks, a benevolent countenance, and 
 kind and pleasant manners. Soon after the 
 scenes of riot and abuse commenced, he retired 
 to a hay loft for refuge ; and here he was often 
 visited for counsel and sympathy, by the suffer- 
 ing and sorrowful. One day a pale and sweet 
 looking lady came to him, in great distress. 
 Her little Ellen, her beautiful and only child, 
 was sick. She told the minister she could not 
 get a comfortable bed, nor a quiet room, that 
 her servant whom she had hired to wait on her 
 during the voyage would do nothing to help 
 her, that she had watched by her child day and 
 night till her strength was all gone, that when 
 she tried to prepare suitable food for herself 
 and her sick child, some rude sailor or soldier 
 would come along and snatch it away, that 
 she was sick, hopeless and exhausted, and that 
 
16 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 she and her child must perish for want of rest 
 and food, unless she could get some pity and 
 help. 
 
 This good minister had long been hoping 
 that a time would arrive, when the whole 
 company w^ould be brought, by their own 
 wants and the sufferings of all around them, 
 to feel that they must adopt another course, and 
 he now thought the time had probably come. 
 
 By the aid of several of his friends, he suc- 
 ceeded in getting the whole company together. 
 He then recounted to them all the blessings 
 and comforts that had been bestowed on them 
 by the enevolent king. He pointed out the 
 waste, destruction, and misery that had followed, 
 and painted in tender and plaintive tones, the 
 suffering and sorrow that had come upon the 
 weak and helpless. He described the angry 
 and revengeful passions that had distracted 
 those, who had by fighting gained the best of 
 every thing, and showed them that all they 
 had gained had never given them any peace 
 or happiness. He then pointed out the evils 
 that were threatening them for the future. 
 
 Their granary was fast running low, and 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 17 
 
 yet nothing \vas done towards raising another 
 crop. Their furniture and clothing were fast 
 going to destruction, and yet nothing was done 
 to repair the waste, or to provide a new supply. 
 He told them that famine and want of all kinds 
 were now at hand, and they must make up 
 their minds what w^as to be done. 
 
 They were all greatly moved by his wis- 
 dom and eloquence, and with one consent 
 agreed to do vvhatever he w^ould recommend. 
 He then took a Bible out of his pocket, and 
 told them that the God who made them, wish- 
 ed all his creatures to be happy, that he alone 
 knew what was best for them, and that in that 
 blessed book he had revealed the rules to guide 
 them in all circumstances. He then proposed 
 that for the six months to come, until a harvest 
 could be gathered in, they should agree to 
 take the rules which God had given them for 
 their guide. To this all consented, and they 
 then appointed the minister to study the Bible 
 for them, and to point out in all emergencies 
 what were its rules. The minister consented 
 to do this. 
 
 He then advised them, first to cleanse the 
 
18 
 
 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 palace, its furniture and their clothing, and to 
 put all things, as nearly as possible, in the or- 
 der in which they first found them. They fol- 
 lowed this advice, and, when all was ac- 
 complished, came together again for farther 
 directions. 
 
 Then the minister told them, that God requir- 
 ed all his creatures, when living together, to act, 
 not to gain all the good things that each one 
 wanted, but to do that which was /br the great- 
 est good of the whole. He then read from the 
 Bible all the passages he had collected, in which 
 this grand principle was taught. He then 
 asked them, if they would agree to take the 
 following rule for their guide in deciding all 
 questions of property, of labour, and of rights 
 and privileges, viz. that every one shall do that 
 which will secure the most comfort^ convenience 
 and enjoyment to the whole company. This 
 they all consented should be the rule to guide 
 them in every thing. The minister then told 
 them that the first thing they must do was to 
 provide the food and comforts necessary to life 
 and health. For this purpose, some must 
 plough and sow and w^ork, day alter day, in the 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 19 
 
 fields. Now it was best for all the company 
 that the strongest and healthiest should do this, 
 for if the delicate and weak undertook it, in- 
 stead of providing food by their labour, they 
 would all become sick, and have to be nursed 
 and waited upon by the rest. For this reason it 
 w^as decided, that the men should do the out-door 
 work, and that the women and children should 
 do the lighter work|in the house. The minis- 
 ter then pointed out the fact, that the king had 
 given them a noble palace with every variety 
 of furniture and clothing. But in the palace 
 were some very beautiful rooms and some very 
 plain ones ; some of the furniture was costly 
 and elegant, and some w^as very common ; 
 some of the clothing was of the most delicate 
 light silks and muslins, and some was strong, 
 dark, and fitted for hard service. 
 
 Now it was manifest that those who did 
 the hardest and dirtiest work, needed the stout- 
 est and darkest clothes, and that if any body 
 wore the delicate muslins and silks, it should be 
 those whose employments would least injure 
 them. In regard to a choice of rooms too, it 
 was best and most convenient, that those who 
 
20 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 did the dirty work should inhabit the rooms 
 most convenient to their work, and those fur- 
 nished so that they would be least injured by 
 the use of persons whose feet and clothing were 
 often soiled by their work. The most elegantly 
 furnished rooms were those most easily soiled 
 and injured, and therefore the general good 
 required, that they should be occupied by those 
 whose work and dress would least injure them. 
 He showed them, that, if instead of this ar- 
 rangement, the persons who did the hardest 
 and most soihng work, should use the finest 
 clothing and nicest rooms, very soon their 
 clothing and furniture would be gone, and the 
 company would be obliged to work to make 
 more. As a matter of convenience and econ- 
 omy, therefore, he inquired whether it was not 
 for the general good, that those who did 
 the hardest work should take the plainest 
 apartments and the strongest clothing. This all 
 decided would be best, and yet, some said that 
 it seemed hard, that those who had to do the 
 least agreeable work, should have the least 
 agreeable rooms and the plainest clothing too. 
 But they all concluded that it never would do 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 21 
 
 to wash dishes and cook and plough and dig, in 
 mushn and satin dresses ; and so they concluded 
 that the arrangement which would make their 
 clothes and furniture last the longest should be 
 adopted. 
 
 But then the question came up. How shall 
 we decide who shall do the harvest work, and 
 wear the plainest clothing, and take the least 
 agreeable rooms ? 
 
 In this dilemma, the minister recommended 
 that they should appeal to God, who was the 
 wisest Being, and a Just and Holy Judge. He 
 told them the w^ay to appeal to God was, by 
 casting lots. To this all agreed, and so 
 when the lots were prepared, the company all 
 stood up and uncovered their heads, while the 
 minister then called upon God. 
 
 . " Oh Thou, who art our Father, our Judge 
 and our King, decide for us by these lots, what 
 our portions shall be, and when thou hast thus 
 decided, incline our hearts to submit to thy will, 
 and with patience and cheerfulness, to perform 
 the duties of the station in which we are 
 placed." 
 
 After this prayer they all drew their lots to 
 3 
 
22 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 deckle their employments, and then took the 
 clothing, rooms and conveniences, as they had 
 before decided, would be for the good of all. 
 
 The minister then pointed out the necessity 
 of having overseers to each kind of work, who 
 should direct and superintend others. He des- 
 cribed the waste, confusion and trouble that 
 w^ould follow, if every one went to work on the 
 farm where he pleased, and did his work in 
 any w^ay he pleased. And so in the house- 
 keeping, he showed what discomfort and con- 
 fusion would follow, if each one did her w^ork 
 at any time, or in any manner she liked, with 
 no system or order, and w^ith no one to plan or 
 direct. 
 
 It was then concluded, that it was for the 
 general good, that each kind of work should 
 have an overseer, and that the overseers should 
 spend their whole time in planning and direct- 
 ing others about their work, while the rest 
 should obey their directions. Some seemed to 
 think that it was rather hard, that some should 
 have nothing to do but go about and see that 
 other people kept at work, but after some 
 talk, they all concluded that the work never 
 
ENGAGED L\ DOMESTIC SERVICE. 23 
 
 would be done properly any other way, and so 
 they consented that this arrangement should be 
 made. Then came up the question, who should 
 be the workers and who the overseers. On 
 talking this over it was agreed, that those who 
 knew the most, should be appointed to direct 
 the rest. Accordingly the best cook was made 
 overseer of the cooking, the best gardener 
 overseer of the garden, and thus in every kind 
 of work, the one who understood the most 
 about it, was appointed to direct the rest. 
 
 It was then proposed, that as there would 
 be sickness among the people, there should be 
 some men selected to read and study about the 
 diseases of the country, who should attend 
 upon the sick, to see that they were properly 
 nursed. 
 
 It was also decided, that those who were 
 best qualified to teach and govern the children, 
 should take charge of them, and spend their 
 time in teaching them. 
 
 The minister then told them, that though 
 now, after so much suffering for want of order, 
 industry, and harmony, they were all willing 
 to do as they had agreed, yet when they came 
 
24 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 to go to work, many would become discontented, 
 and would not submit to these regulations. 
 They would then declare that the king gave 
 them this estate, on condition that all should 
 be free and equal, that this rule was not obey- 
 ed, for that some lived without doing any hard 
 work, and had the best rooms and the best 
 clothes and ruled over others. They would then 
 declare, that they would not submit to it, and 
 would take the rooms and clothes given to 
 others, and neglect their work. Then others 
 w^ould follow their example, and soon every 
 thing would go back to the confusion and 
 misery they had been experiencing. He told 
 them also, that there were many cases which 
 would arise, when they would need more par- 
 ticular rules than any yet agreed on. 
 
 After talking over this matter, they finally 
 agreed to this plan. They chose out from 
 among the company some of the best and 
 wisest men, whose business it should be to 
 make all the rules necessary in any emergency, 
 and all these rules were to be written down, 
 so that all could read them. These men also 
 w^ere to decide what punishment should be in- 
 
ENGAGED LN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 25 
 
 flicted on any who violated these rules. They 
 then appointed another set of men who w^ere 
 to be judges, when any one w^as accused of 
 breaking these rules, to decide whether they 
 deserved punishment. Another set of men 
 w^ere appointed as officers of justice, to see that 
 these penalties w^ere inflicted. After this, the 
 whole company requested the good minister to 
 spend his time in going around to all parts of 
 the estate, to talk with every body, and to use 
 all his persuasion and influence to lead all to 
 be contented, industrious and obedient to the 
 rules. When these arrangements were made, 
 all went to w^ork harmoniously and cheerfully. 
 The fields w^ere tilled and reaped, the food was 
 cooked, the clothes were washed, ironed and 
 mended, the rooms and furniture were kept 
 clean and in order, and every thing went on 
 pleasantly. Those who had the best rooms 
 and clothes and the easiest work, tried to make 
 it pleasant and comfortable to those who did 
 the work. They felt that they had the best of 
 every thing, not because they were better than 
 the others, but because it was for the general 
 good of all. And those who did the work, 
 
 3* 
 
26 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 and had the least agreeable accommodations, 
 felt that it was God who appointed their lot, 
 and that it was as proper for them to be there 
 as for any of the rest. And they all felt so 
 pleased and thankful for having escaped from 
 such scenes of misrule and misery, that every 
 one was content with his lot. They felt that 
 by submitting to rules that were made for the 
 good of all, each one had his own situation 
 made more comfortable than it could be by any 
 other method. And so they went on, day after 
 day, in comfort and peace. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 27 
 
 LETTERII, 
 
 A conversation between the clergyman and a domestic. 
 
 My Friends : 
 
 In my former letter I told you how the 
 good minister succeeded in persuading the ship- 
 wrecked company to adopt the rules given in 
 the Bible, and the comfort and prosperity that 
 followed this course. I also told you that the 
 minister was requested by the company to 
 spend all his time in visiting every part of the 
 estate, to converse with all who were disposed 
 tp be discontented, or indolent, or unsubmis- 
 sive to the rules. 
 
 I will now tell you a little about the way 
 this good man managed to promote peace, 
 contentment, and industry. In the first place 
 they all agreed to come together one day each 
 week to hear the minister explain those rules in 
 the Bible that taught them the duties they 
 owed to God, to themselves and to their neigh- 
 
28 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 bours. Many of them had never been properly 
 instructed in their duties, and were entirely 
 ignorant of the Bible. So, on these days of 
 meeting, he used to spend a part of the 
 time in reading portions of the Bible and in pro- 
 ving its Divine authority. He told them when 
 it was written, and how it was collected and 
 preserved, and how it was safely and correctly 
 transmitted to them. He showed them too, 
 that it contained not only rules for making 
 them happy in this world, but that it taught 
 them that they were to live forever after their 
 bodies died, and that their eternal happiness 
 depended on the character and habits they 
 formed in this short life. He described the 
 character they must form in order to be happy 
 in the eternal world, and painted all the happi- 
 ness that would follow to those who formed 
 such a character, and the dreadful miseries 
 that would come upon all who died without 
 forming such a character. He also took great 
 pains, at these times, to teach them how to 
 perform all their daily duties properly, and 
 showed them that this was one way to form 
 that character that fitted them to die. Some- 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 29 
 
 times he preached on the duty and advantages 
 of industry and economy ; sometimes on the 
 ways to promote cheerfulness, and contentment ; 
 sometimes on the duties owed to overseers and 
 rulers ; sometimes on the advantages of system, 
 order and neatness ; sometimes on the duty of 
 taking proper care of the health, and the ways 
 in which it should be done ; sometimes on the 
 duty of kind, courteous, and respectful manners ; 
 sometimes on the duty of improving their 
 minds by reading and study. Indeed there was 
 no duty which he found they were in any danger 
 of neglecting, that he did not teach them the 
 proper way of performing it. And after teach- 
 ing any of these duties, he always knelt down 
 with them, and prayed to God to help all of 
 them to obey the rules he had given, on all 
 these subjects. For this good man never found 
 that they needed instruction on any duty, when 
 he could not find a plenty of rules and direc- 
 tions about the matter in the Bible. 
 
 After preaching to them thus, when all to- 
 gether, he used to go around, and talk with 
 every one separately, and find out whether or 
 not each was trying to follow his advice. 
 
Q 
 
 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 One day after he had been down in the 
 fields, talking to some of the farmers, he came 
 up through one of the beautiful gardens, and 
 as he passed a white marble fountain, he found 
 one of the girls w^ho worked in the kitchen, 
 sitting under the shade by it, looking discon- 
 tented and sullen. So he went up to her and 
 spoke in a kind and pleasant way, and then 
 the following conversation took place. 
 
 " Well, Sarah," said he, " what makes you 
 look so displeased and uncomfortable V^ 
 
 Sarah. It is because I do not think I am 
 fairly treated. I cannot see, for my part, why 
 I have not as good a right to sit up in the par- 
 lours to sew and read, when I have got my 
 work done, as the girls who are allowed to sit 
 there. They are no better than I am, and yet 
 they wear fine clothes, and sit in beautiful 
 rooms, and have nothing to do but sew on fine 
 things. And here I have to stay in the kitchen 
 and work, work, work all day long, and wear 
 homely clothes, and have the poorest rooms, 
 and be ordered about by others, instead of doing 
 as I please. And just now, when I went up to 
 sit a little while with those who were sewing 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 31 
 
 up in the parlours, the head cook came and 
 called me down, and told me never to go up 
 and sit in the parlours again. 
 
 Minister, And did she tell you any reason 
 for what she required ? 
 
 Sarah. Why yes, she said she wanted me 
 to be where she could call me when she need- 
 ed my help, and that my shoes and frock would 
 dirty the stair carpet, and the parlour carpets 
 and sofas, and that if I went up all the rest 
 that worked in the kitchen would go up too, 
 and this w^ould make work and trouble, 
 and that she never could keep things going on 
 w^ell in the kitchen, if this was allowed. But 
 I cannot see why we cannot be allowed to go 
 up sometimes, when we have no work to do — 
 I am sure I am as nice and careful as any of 
 the girls up stairs. 
 
 Minister. So you are, Sarah. But do you 
 think Peggy and Susan are as nice as you ? 
 
 Sarah, Mercy on us ! — I guess you would 
 not think so, if you could see their greasy 
 frocks and aprons, and their dirty shoes. 
 
 Minister, Well — Sarah, don't you suppose 
 *hey think they are nice enough ? 
 
32 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 Sarah, Yes, I suppose so — for when I tell 
 them to fix up and look clean and nice, they 
 only laugh at me, and say they are not going to 
 wash and fuss and prink up as I do every day. 
 
 Minister, Well, suppose you were allowed 
 to go and sit in the parlours every day, would 
 not Peggy and Susan think they had as good 
 a right to do so as you, and would not they be 
 angry and discontented because the head cook 
 was partial to you and unjust to them ? 
 
 Sarah. Well, I suppose they would. 
 
 Minister. Sarah, do you not have time to 
 sew and read, after your work is done, as much 
 as you wish ? 
 
 Sarah. Oh yes, we have a good deal of 
 time for ourselves. 
 
 Minister. Is not your chamber a comforta- 
 ble one, and do you not have all the comforts 
 and conveniences you need ? 
 
 Sarah. Oh yes. I am sure I never, when I 
 was at my dear home, had such a comfortable 
 and pleasant chamber and good bed, and all 
 sorts of comforts. 
 
 Minister. And do you not have as good 
 food as the girls who sit in the parlour ? 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 33 
 
 Sarah, Oh yes — quite as good — I have 
 never complained about that. 
 
 Minister. And who do you love most^ and 
 like to talk to the best ? 
 
 Sarah, I like Emily who works with me 
 the most of any one, she is so kind and obliging, 
 and as cheerful and merry as a lark. 
 
 Minister, Do you like any of those who sit 
 in the parlour and sew, as well as you like 
 Emily ? 
 
 Sarah, Oh no, sir — not half so well. They 
 are all so proud because they have such nice 
 clothes, and sit in such fine rooms, that I can- 
 not bear them. 
 
 Minister, Well then, my good Sarah, it 
 appears that you have a good and pleasant 
 room of your own to stay in, and a good bed, 
 and good food, and even more comforts and 
 conveniences than you had at your own home. 
 And you have time to read and sew, and books 
 given you to read, and you have the friend you 
 love best, to work with you, and all that 1 can 
 find out that troubles you is, that you cannot 
 go up and sit in fine rooms, w^here every 
 body is dressed better than you, among people 
 
 4 
 
34 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 that you say are so proud you cannot bear them. 
 It does not seem to me that this is any very 
 great evil, and if you will follow my advice 
 you will soon get over this trouble. Now I want 
 you, first, to think over these things. Somebody 
 had got to do the work in the kitchen, or all 
 the company would be uncomfortable and hun- 
 gry. It is just as right and proper for you to 
 do it, as for any body else. If your lot had 
 been drawn by one of the girls in the parlour, 
 she would have been in your place, and you per- 
 haps in hers, and then you would not have 
 thought about the matter as you do now. 
 
 You are doing a great deal of good in the 
 place where you are. The head cook tells 
 me that you are always up in good season, 
 / neat and tidy, quick and obliging, and that it 
 is a great comfort to her to have so capable 
 and good a girl to help her. And I do not 
 suppose there is a person in the whole company 
 that does more good than you do, or contrib- 
 utes more to the comfort and enjoyment of the 
 whole family. 
 
 And it is God, my dear child, who put you 
 in your lot, and he it is that requires you to be 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 35 
 
 obedient to those that have rule, and to be 
 cheerful, industrious and content with your lot. 
 Think of these things when you feel troubled, 
 and go and pray to God to help you put 
 away all proud, and envious, and discontented 
 feelings, and then I am sure you will never feel 
 or look so troubled about this matter again. • 
 
 Now Sarah was a good, and generous, and 
 grateful girl, and when the minister talked so 
 kindly to her, she told him she had been feeling 
 wrong, and that she would try to follow his 
 advice. And then when he shook hands with 
 her, and gave her his blessing, she told him 
 that he was the best and kindest friend she had 
 m the world. 
 
 And so she went in to her work, and soon 
 the good man heard her chatting and singing 
 with her friend Emily, as cheerful and busy as 
 a bee. 
 
36 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 LETTER III, 
 
 Difficulties experienced by the shipwrecked company, 
 and how these were remedied. 
 
 My Friends : 
 
 In the following letter I shall tell you of 
 some trouble that these shipwrecked persons 
 met, in following out their new plan of life. 
 
 After they had spent several months in 
 doing up the work which past neglect had 
 made needful, and after the harvest was gath- 
 ered in, the good minister found many evils 
 coming upon them, for want of enough work 
 to keep them all busy. Idleness is the parent 
 of a thousand evils and vices, and therefore 
 something he saw must be devised, in order to 
 keep all hands employed. 
 
 The company came together to talk over 
 this matter. At this meeting it was stated that 
 their clothing and furniture w^re going to des- 
 truction even with careful use, and that as more 
 must be provided soon, this might afford em- 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 37 
 
 ploymerit to idle hands. It was then urged by 
 some of the company that they should take 
 what wool they could get from their sheep, and 
 what flax they could raise^ and make a kind of 
 coarse and strong cloth called linsey woolsey^ 
 and then all might dress alike, and thus there 
 would be no more trouble about some having 
 better clothes than others. But it soon was 
 shown that this would not remedy the difficul- 
 ty about employment. For such coarse and 
 strong clothing would last so long, that all 
 those who now had employment in making and 
 mending and refitting and in doing fine sewing, 
 would be thrown out of employ. 
 
 At length it was agreed that an embassy 
 should be sent to the king, to request him to 
 let the company trade with at least one store 
 on their borders, where they might exchange 
 the products of their lands for clothing and 
 furniture. This request was granted, on this 
 condition, that each individual might bring all 
 he raised himself, and get whatever he wanted, 
 but that no one should take any thing that he 
 did not pay for with the fruits of his own labour. 
 
 After this arrangement was made, a great 
 
38 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 change took place in the palace. Those who 
 were diligent, active and bright, discovered 
 various w^ays of raising large crops, or of ma- 
 king ingenious articles, which they exchanged 
 at the store for such furniture and clothing as 
 they liked. But those who w^ere dull, or lazy, 
 or vicious, did not succeed in raising the means 
 to buy new things, and were obliged to put up 
 with old or very cheap ones. Sometimes 
 those who lived in the finest rooms would agree 
 to give up those rooms to those who w^ere most 
 successful, in order to share in some of their 
 profits. And thus it came about that many 
 w^ho had the plainest rooms, and clothing, and 
 furniture, by their industry and enterprise, final- 
 ly came to possess the finest rooms and hand- 
 somest clothing and furniture. And so on the 
 other hand, some of those wlio at first by lot 
 had gained the best of every thing, were driven 
 by their ignorance or indolence, to take the 
 poorest of every thing. 
 
 These changes at first produced great dis- 
 content. But the good minister took unwea- 
 ried pains to convince the discontented ones, 
 that though some evils came from having some 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 39 
 
 persons gain so much superior advantages, yet 
 on the whole, it was far better than to have 
 them hold property in common, and all fare 
 alike. For, as he showed them, a great part 
 of mankind are disposed to be careless and in- 
 dolent, and would never exert themselves, un- 
 less some great advantage was to be gained by 
 care and industry. For this reason, it is a 
 great advantage to every body to have persons 
 around them, who own beautiful, or conve- 
 nient things that can be gained by themselves 
 only by intelligence and industry. For thus 
 every one will be stimulated to improve his 
 mind, and employ his time diligently. 
 
 On the contrary, if every body dressed and 
 ate and fared just alike, whether they were in- 
 dustrious or not, the stimulus to exertion would 
 be taken away, and many would become lazy 
 gnorant and vicious. These teachings of the 
 minister were effectual in most cases, so as to 
 preserve harmony and peace. 
 
 But another difficulty arose, that caused 
 still more trouble. The company was so large, 
 that they could not all sit together in one par- 
 lour, nor all eat together at one table ; and very 
 
40 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 often the question came up, as to who should 
 associate together. The minister taught them 
 that this was a point where every man had a 
 right to consult his own taste and feelings. 
 No person had a right to go and visit another 
 person's room when he was not wanted, and 
 every one might decide for himself w^hat com- 
 pany he would have visit him, and who he 
 would not have as a friend or companion. By 
 following this rule, it came about that persons 
 w^hose tastes, pursuits, and characters w^ere 
 most alike, became most interested in each 
 other, and thus they found it pleasantest to eat 
 together and to sit in the same parlour. Thus 
 those who, either by lot, or by their intelligence 
 and industry, gained the finest clothes and furni- 
 ture, and had similar employments and habits, 
 formed one circle by themselves. In like man- 
 ner those who worked together in the fields 
 became best acquainted, and they formed ano- 
 ther circle. And thus, too, those who w^orked 
 in the kitchen became best acquainted and as- 
 sociated together. 
 
 But the good minister found many hard feel- 
 ings coming up from this state of things. For 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 41 
 
 those who had the most talents, and the finest 
 clothing and furniture, began to take airs of 
 superiority, and to treat the others with dis- 
 courtesy and disrespect, while those who had 
 less advantages grew envious, jealous and dis- 
 contented. It w^as a very difficult matter to 
 rectify the wrong state of feeling on both sides. 
 Though the minister taught those who had the 
 most advantages, that they should set an exam- 
 ple, to all the rest, of gentleness, humility and 
 courtesy, he could not prevent some of them 
 from appearing haughty and proud, nor induce 
 them to treat all persons with respect and 
 courtesy, whatever were their employment or 
 appearance. 
 
 And it was just as difficult to make those 
 who were less fortunate, feel kindly towards 
 those who were better off than themselves. 
 They all insisted that none should visit them in 
 their rooms, or eat with their circle, unless their 
 company was wanted, but when other people 
 used the same privilege and excluded them 
 they felt grieved and offended. They were so 
 unreasonable as to insist that nobody should 
 treat them as they were determined to treat 
 
42 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 others. And though the minister laboured more 
 to make them feel and act reasonably about 
 this than for any thing else, he often sighed 
 over his poor success. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 43 
 
 LETTER IV, 
 
 The manner in which this story illustrates the state of 
 
 things in this country. 
 My Friends : 
 
 I WILL now point out some respects in which 
 you will see that the people of this nation are 
 situated very much like the shipwrecked trav- 
 ellers. In the first place then, we have receiv- 
 ed from God, that great and benevolent King 
 over all, a noble country, filled with an abun- 
 dance of all kinds of treasures. And the two 
 conditions on which we enjoy it are, first, that 
 we shall take care of ourselves, and do our 
 own work, and, secondly, that we shall all be 
 " free and equal," and all " equally entitled to 
 life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," in 
 any way that ea^h one may think best for 
 himself. 
 
 We also are bound by the same grand rule 
 that was adopted by the shipwrecked company^ 
 that, every one shall do that which will secure 
 
44 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 the most enjoyment to the whole company, and 
 not that which each one likes best. It is accord- 
 ing to this rule that all our laws are made, which 
 restrain men from seeking their own pleasure 
 by sacrificing the public good. And our laws 
 are made by men appointed by the people for 
 the purpose, and executed by judges and offi- 
 cers appointed by the people, from among 
 themselves. In this also we resemble the com- 
 pany in the story. 
 
 The question as to who shall work, and 
 what kind of work each one shall do, and who 
 shall have the best rooms and furniture and 
 clothes, is also settled just as it was in the story. 
 
 For by common agreement w^omen are 
 appointed to work in the house, and men to 
 work out doors. 
 
 Then it is God decides what our lot shall be 
 when we are born into the world. God de- 
 termines who shall be born of poor parents and 
 who of rich, and this decides what kind of work 
 each one shall do, and what kind of accommo- 
 dations and furniture each shall possess. It 
 was thus in the story. By casting lots, the 
 company gave to God the business of deciding 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 
 
 45 
 
 what stations and employments each should 
 take, and this determined what clothes and ac- 
 commodations each should take. But more 
 depends on our intelligence, industry, and vir- 
 tue, than on the particular lot in which we are 
 born, so that the people in this country are in 
 exactly the situation of the shipwrecked com- 
 pany after they began to trade at the store. 
 Though some few keep the place they got by 
 the lot of birth, almost every thing depends on 
 intelhgence, skill, industry and virtue. In this 
 country, any man who is well educated, active, 
 skillful and industrious can become compara- 
 tively rich. Of course, in this land, men have 
 more inducements to become well educated^, 
 virtuous, and industrious than the people of 
 any other nation on earth. 
 
 In like manner, each kind of work has over- 
 seers appointed to direct others. Who these 
 overseers shall be, in most cases, also, is decided 
 on the same plan as in the story. Those who 
 know the most^ generally, become overseers. In 
 cases where persons hire laborers to work on 
 farms, or in their families, then the master of 
 the house, or the farm, is the overseer, and di- 
 
 5 
 
46 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 rects those he hires, because they agree, for a 
 reward, to do as he directs. But in almost all 
 trades and professions, it is those who know the 
 most, who rise to stations where they are over- 
 seers to others. 
 
 This is a great benefit to all the coramu- 
 nity, because it is an encouragement to all per- 
 sons to improve their minds, and to be industrious 
 in acquiring skill and knowledge. 
 
 In this country too, we have men who spend 
 all their time in studying about diseases and 
 in attending to the sick, and others who edu- 
 cate the young, and others who discharge the 
 duties performed by the good minister in the 
 story. 
 
 And we find among us too, some people 
 who think that it would be much better for us 
 if every body earned money for the common 
 stock, instead of laying it out for themselves, 
 so that nobody should have any handsomer 
 rooms, or furniture, or clothing than all the 
 others have. Such persons think it would be 
 w^ise to give up carpets, sofas, china, glass and 
 all ornaments, and to have every body live very 
 plainly, and all fare just alike. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 47 
 
 But the great body of the people know bet- 
 ter than this. They see that if all the manu- 
 factories of carpets, sofas, glass, china, silks, 
 muslins and ornaments were stopped, that 
 all the persons now employed in making, and 
 in trading in these articles, would be thrown 
 out of employ, and having nothing to do, would 
 become lazy and wicked. 
 
 They, therefore, conclude that it is best that 
 all kinds of rich and beautiful things should be 
 made, in order to keep one set of persons busy in 
 making them, and another set busy in earning 
 money to buy them. This view of the subject 
 should keep persons from complaining that so 
 many needless and extravagant things are made 
 and sold. It is true that many are thus tempted 
 to buy more than is wise or right, yet on the 
 whole, great good results to the community. 
 For if nobody bought any thing but what was 
 barely necessary to life and comfort, half the 
 world would become lazy beggars, for want 
 of something to do. In this country, also, we 
 find the same trouble that the good minister in 
 the story saw among his people. For every- 
 where we find persons associating together in 
 
48 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 different classes, that refuse to admit other 
 classes to join thera. Thus, domestics form one 
 class, farmers another, mechanics another, mer- 
 chants another, and literary persons another. 
 Now, in some parts of the country, all these 
 classes mingle together, without any distinc- 
 tions of class. But this is not generally the 
 case. For, in most places, we find various circles 
 who consider themselves as above or below 
 others, in certain respects, and who are very 
 apt to feel wrong towards each other on this 
 account. Thus domestics in a family will often 
 feel very much above persons who are mulattos, 
 and refuse to eat or associate with them, and 
 yet they think it very hard if mechanics' 
 wives and daughters have the same sort of 
 feelings towards them. In like manner, me- 
 chanics' daughters and sempstresses refuse to 
 eat or to associate with domestics^ and yet they 
 think it very wrong if merchants' or lawyers' 
 daughters refuse to associate with them. And 
 even in those circles who call themselves the 
 very first, the same feeling is often to be met. 
 I have been in places where there was a rich 
 and fashionable set, that felt above every other 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 49 
 
 class, and yet there was another class who call- 
 ed themselves literary^ who felt quite as much 
 above the fashionable set, whom they called 
 the vulgar rich, and whom they would not as- 
 sociate with, even if urged to do so. 
 
 Now it cannot be denied that there often is 
 something wrong on both sides in these cases. 
 For all should be allowed to choose who shall 
 associate with them, and who shall not, and 
 none should feel wronged or injured, because 
 others do not wish to have them come into 
 their circle. Every one should grant to others 
 the same right as he claims for himself. No 
 one has a right to force his company on us, 
 when we do not wish it, and we have no right 
 to claim that others shall admit us into their 
 circle, unless they wish it. 
 
 But the great mischief is, that those who 
 feel above another set, are very apt to treat 
 those they fancy to be below them, with dis- 
 courtesy or contempt, while those who feel be- 
 low others, are apt to indulge in suspicious, en- 
 vious, or revengeful feelings. 
 
 How has it been with you who read this ? 
 
 Are there not persons whom you refuse to as- 
 
 5* 
 
50 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 sociate with, and would you not be offended if 
 they were set to eat at the same table with 
 you ? And yet have you not felt angry when 
 others have used the same right in regard to 
 you ? Is not this a place where you very much 
 need the golden rule, " Do unto others as ye 
 <would that others should do unto you ?" 
 
ENGAGKD IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 51 
 
 LETTER V, 
 
 Reasons for regarding the station of a domestic as 
 honourable and respectable. 
 
 My Friends : 
 
 The preceding letters were designed to 
 give you some general views of the state of 
 things in this country, and of the station which 
 you are called to occupy. I will now point out 
 reasons for regarding your station and employ- 
 ment as honourable and respectable. 
 
 It is sometimes the case that persons will 
 speak of the place of a domestic as the hum- 
 blest and least desirable of any ; and some 
 young girls will go into shops and manufac- 
 tories, and work much longer, and for lower 
 w^ages, because they fancy that it is more res- 
 pectable than the place of a domestic. And not 
 unfrequently " shop girls" and '' factory girls" 
 will show much pride and folly, in shunning 
 the society of domestics, and in treating them 
 with disrespect and contempt, as if they were 
 
52 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 very much below themselves. All these things 
 are owing to a w^ant of correct notions as to 
 the real usefulness and respectability of this 
 important station in life. And I will now 
 point out the reasons for considering your situ- 
 ation as far more honourable, desirable, and use- 
 ful than that of a sempstress, a shop girl, or a 
 factory girl ; and even as superior in respecta- 
 bility to that of many persons who consider 
 themselves as belonging to the " very first so- 
 ciety.'' 
 
 There are two things that make a station 
 honourable ; one is ihe power to do good, and the 
 other is using this power in the right manner. 
 
 Why is the office of a king or queen the most 
 honourable of any in the nation ? Because it 
 secures the most power to confer benefits and 
 enjoyment on others ? Why is the station of a 
 president, a governor, or a judge so honourable? 
 Because they have great power given them to 
 use for the happiness of others. Why is the 
 oflSce of a minister of the gospel honourable ? 
 Because his education, character and office give 
 him great powers to do good. Why are rich 
 men considered more honourable than poor ? 
 
ExXGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 53 
 
 Because their money gives them power to in- 
 crease the happiness of others. They can give 
 employment to the poor, can give custom to 
 the shopkeepers and tradesmen, can bestow 
 money on charitable objects, can secure a su- 
 perior education, and many other agreeable 
 things that make it pleasant to others to asso- 
 ciate with them. Why are persons of talent 
 and learning honourable ? Because their tal- 
 ents and knowledge give them power in va- 
 rious ways to promote their ow^n interest and 
 to do good to others. 
 
 The mere possession, then, of a power to 
 do good, is what makes one station more hon- 
 ourable than another. But another thing that 
 makes a station honourable, is the actual using 
 of this power in doing good. 
 
 If kings and queens are selfish and wacked, 
 and use their power to oppress their people, 
 they are never as much honoured as when they 
 use it to do good. 
 
 If presidents, governors, and judges use 
 their power to do evil, they are not honoured 
 like those who use it to do good. If a minis- 
 ter of the gospel uses his influence to do harm 
 
54 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 rather than good, he is more despised than he 
 is honoured. If rich people spend their wealth 
 in selfish indulgences, or in harmful vices, they 
 are not honoured as they would be, if they 
 spent it for useful and benevolent purposes. 
 If persons who have talents and learning, spend 
 their time and influence to do evil, they are not 
 honoured or respected as they w^ould be, if they 
 employed them to do good. 
 
 Now I think you clearly see, that the two 
 things which make a station honourable are, the 
 power to do good, and the use of this power 
 in a proper manner. If, then, I can show that 
 domestics have great power to do good given 
 them, and that they really use this power in 
 doing good, I shall prove that the station of a 
 domestic is an honourable and respectable one. 
 And if I can show that domestics have more 
 power, and actually do more good, than many 
 who think themselves above them, I shall 
 prove, too, that they have the more honourable 
 and respectable station. I will therefore point 
 out the power of doing good which is given to 
 domestics. In the first place, then, they do 
 more than any other class of persons to sustain 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 55 
 
 that most important institution of God, thefa- 
 raily state. How much benefit and comfort 
 mankind receive through this institution, few 
 of us can realize. To help you to do so, 
 just imagine the state of things in this country, 
 if all the homes in the land were broken up, 
 and all classes of persons herded together in 
 common, like flocks of animals. 
 
 In this case the father and husband would 
 have no quiet home to go to for comfort, and 
 the mother would have no house of her own 
 where she could train her children. Every 
 child, too, would be turned out into the com- 
 munity to take care of itself, w^ith no pa- 
 rents to w^atch over it by day and night, no 
 brothers and sisters to sleep and play with, no 
 regular meal to call all the children together 
 around their kind parents. 
 
 In a cold and selfish world, w^ithout guar- 
 dians, without a home, without parental res- 
 traint and tenderness, each young child w^ould 
 go into the common herd, to grow up selfish, 
 unhappy, unloving and unloved. 
 
 Instead of this, God ordains that parents 
 shall have a home of their own, where they can 
 
56 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 have their children to themselves, to train them 
 J up in love and peace and plenty. And one 
 main support of this blessed institution of fami- 
 ly and home is, those domestics who are hired 
 to do the chief labours of the family. Just 
 take away from this country all the cooks, 
 chambermaids, waiters, washers, and house 
 cleaners, and what would be the result ? The 
 fathers could not leave their business to do the 
 family work, the mothers would not have 
 strength to do it, and the family state would 
 be broken up. And thus unnumbered miseries 
 and crime would come in floods upon the land. 
 The position and the work of a domestic, 
 then, are among the most useful, the most im- 
 portant and the most honourable. They have 
 a powder given them to do good and to save 
 from evil, not surpassed by that of any other 
 class in the community. Let any one select 
 the class of persons that could be dispensed 
 with last of all^ and it would be found that 
 lawyers, merchants, doctors, and ministers 
 w^ould all be given up, before every family 
 would agree to give up all aid from cooks, 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 57 
 
 washers, nurses and every kind of hired service 
 in the family. 
 
 But, in addition to the power thus given to 
 domestics in sustaining the family state, they 
 have another most important position of useful- 
 ness. This relates to the power they exercise 
 in forming the characters of young children. 
 The period of life from infancy to twelve years 
 old, is the time in which the foundations of fu- 
 ture character are laid. During this time, chil- 
 dren are in the society of domestics almost as 
 much as they are with their parents, and in 
 many cases, they talk with those hired to take 
 care of them much more than they do with 
 their parents. Children are creatures of imi- 
 tation and sympathy, and they soon learn to 
 think, and feel and act like those around them. 
 Of course domestics are constantly exerting 
 a powerful influence in forming the opinions, 
 tastes, habits, and character of children, more 
 so, probably, than any other class in the com- 
 munity. To estimate this power properly, we 
 must remember that the happiness of children 
 depends almost entirely on the character they 
 form. If they learn to control their appetites, 
 
 6 
 
58 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 to be honest, truthful, benevolent, and indus- 
 trious, they will be useful and happy in future 
 life. If they do not learn to control their ap- 
 petites, if they learn to be deceitful, dishonest, 
 selfish and irritable, they certainly will be un- 
 happy and unprosperous. And our whole na- 
 tion is to be made up of children, whose happi- 
 ness and prosperity w^ill depend, to a great de- 
 gree, on the influences exerted over them by 
 domestics in early life. And the next genera- 
 tion is to depend, for happiness and prosperity, 
 on the manner in which the present generation 
 is trained. And the next after that, depends 
 in like manner, on the one before it, so that the 
 influence which domestics exert on one genera- 
 tion of children is to go down to generation 
 after generation, for hundreds of years. 
 
 And yet, this is not half of the mighty pow- 
 er, which is given to domestics to use, either 
 for good or for evil. All these children, who 
 from generation to generation are thus influ- 
 enced in character, by domestics who take care of 
 them, are to live forever^ and their happiness 
 for endless ages, is to depend on the character 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 59 
 
 which they form in this life ! Oh eternity ! 
 eternity ! who can estimate the power of those 
 who are doing so much, in forming the charac- 
 ter of beings who can never ^ never die ! 
 
 Another particular in which domestics have 
 great power is, the influence they exert in mak- 
 ing home pleasant to husbands and sons. In 
 a family where most of the work is done regu- 
 larly and well, by domestics, the mother has 
 time to take good care of her children, and her 
 mind is cheerful and free from excessive cares. 
 In this case, the husband and sons find a com- 
 fortable and pleasant home, and are not tempted 
 to resort to dangerous amusements abroad. 
 But when every thing is going wrong in the 
 kitchen and nursery, the wife and mother is per- 
 plexed and harassed, and often is low-spirited or 
 irritable. The father and sons, when they come 
 home, find the house in disorder, their food ill 
 cooked and served, their linen out of order, their 
 beds uncomfortable, the housekeeper gloomy,, 
 the children unregulated, and every thing seems 
 to drive them off to look for a more cheerful 
 and comfortable resort. Many and many a 
 
 / 
 
60 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 husband and son has thus been driven to temp- 
 tations and snares, that have drawn them and 
 their famihes to misery and ruin. 
 
 Another power for doing good given to 
 domestics is, their opportunities for comforting 
 and reheving the sick. Sickness always 
 makes a great deal of work, and w^ere it not 
 for domestics, the sick would suffer greatly for 
 want of nursing and many comforts. No per- 
 sons owe more to domestics than those who, by 
 sickness, are deprived of all power to take care 
 of thexselves. I might point out other parti- 
 culars in which domestics have it in their pow- 
 er to do great good, but surely enough has been 
 presented to show, that if great power to do good 
 is what entitles persons to be called honour- 
 able, then domestics have a pre-eminent claim. 
 
 But it has been shown, that it is not only 
 the power to do good, but the actual use of this 
 power that entitles a person to honour and res- 
 pect. Here, also, domestics will be found to 
 have a claim equal to that of any other class 
 of persons. It will be found, that there are indi- 
 viduals in every class of society, who do not use 
 their power well. There are bad kings and 
 
ENGAGED IN DOxHESTIC SERVICE. 61 
 
 bad governors, bad rich men and bad learned 
 men, and sometimes there are bad ministers of 
 the gospel. So, also, there are bad domestics. 
 But, as a class, I believe domestics use their 
 power for the benefit, rather than the injury of 
 society, as much so as any other class. Most 
 of the work, that is necessary to sustain the 
 family state, is actually done by them, the sick 
 are taken care of by their help, children are 
 nursed and taken care of by them, and the 
 comfort of a family is promoted by their ser- 
 vices, to a degree never realized till their help 
 is gone. 
 
 No class in the community do more in pro- 
 moting the comfort, health, and prosperity of so- 
 ciety than domestics. It thus appears, that they 
 are an honourable and respectable class In soci- 
 ety, not only because they have great power to 
 do good, but because they actually use this, 
 power beneficially, to a very great extent. 
 
62 
 
 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 LETTER Yl, 
 
 The reasons why the station of a domestic is not re- 
 garded as so honourable as it really is. 
 My Friends : 
 
 It is probable that, while reading the pre- 
 vious letter, you have thought to yourselves, but 
 why, if domestics are so honourable in station 
 and office, are they not regarded so ? Why are 
 they not treated with honour and respect ? 
 Why is their situation spoken of as one of the 
 lowest and least honourable ? 
 
 I will point out some of the reasons for this. 
 
 One reason is, the remains of aristocratic 
 notions in our country, which lead people to feel 
 that labour is degrading, and to honour persons, 
 rather for the kind of work they are em- 
 ployed in, than for their character. 
 
 I will first explain what 1 mean by aristo- 
 cratic notions. We are descended from the 
 English nation^ and their plan of government is 
 exactly opposite to ours. I have shown you 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 63 
 
 that our plan of government is like that adopted 
 by the shipwrecked company. Nobody is re- 
 quired to give up any thing, or to do any thing 
 but what is for the good of the whole commu- 
 nity. Though our lot in life is decided by the 
 God of Heaven, yet we make our own rules 
 and laws, choose our own rulers and overseers, 
 and nobody is obliged to do any thing, which 
 is not as necessary for his own good, as it is for 
 the good of all the rest. 
 
 But in aristocratic lands, it is very much as 
 it was in the story w^hen the strongest, by fight- 
 ing, got the best of every thing, while the w^eak- 
 est were obliged to take the poorest of every 
 thing. In England all the power is in the 
 hands of the queen, a few nobles, and a small 
 portion of the richest and best educated people, 
 and for age after age it has been so. In conse- 
 quence of this, the laws and customs of that na- 
 tion have been made to benefit this small por- 
 tion of the nation, so that most of the wealth 
 has been accumulated in their hands, while the 
 great body of the people are miserably poor. 
 
 The wealth is so unequally divided, that 
 while some receive incomes from their parents. 
 
64 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 or from the king or queen, large enough to 
 support whole villages, thousands around them, 
 though ever so industrious and virtuous, can- 
 not earn more than a few cents a day by twelve 
 orf ourteen hours of hard labour. 
 
 This has been the state of thing's in Eng- 
 land for hundreds of years. In consequence of 
 this, those who have had the most wealth have 
 lived in ease and indolence, and have consid- 
 ered labour as degrading* The rich and the 
 noble have felt as if it was the business of poor 
 and ignorant people to toil, and that living in 
 indolence w^as a privilege, and the mark to dis- 
 tinguish the gentleman and the lady, from the 
 vulgar and low born. 
 
 As we are descended from that nation, we 
 have inherited a good deal of this feeling, so 
 that even now, when a woman lives in perfect 
 idleness, it is very common to say, that she " is 
 Jiving like a lady, with nothing to do but enjoy 
 herself" So we often find that a lounging, ig- 
 norant coxcomb, if he happens to have money 
 to enable him to dress well, is called '' a gen- 
 tleman ;" while a man of ten times the sense, 
 education and usefulness is not so regarded. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 65 
 
 because he works with his hands for his own 
 support. But things are gradually altering in 
 this country, in regard to this matter, and it is 
 becoming more and more honourable to work, 
 and more and more discreditable to be useless 
 and idle. 
 
 Yet a great change is to be accomplish- 
 ed before all aristocratic notions are so shaken 
 off, that a man or woman will be honoured 
 for usefulness, good manners, good sense 
 and good principles, without any regard to the 
 kind of work by which a livelihood is earned. 
 When this time comes, if a woman has a re- 
 fined education, good manners, and good prin- 
 ciples, she will be as much honoured and re- 
 spected as a domestic, as she would be in any 
 other sphere of life. 
 
 Another reason why the station of a domes- 
 tic is not regarded as honourable is, because 
 most persons have wrong ideas about doing 
 good and being useful. 
 
 To understand this, you will observe that 
 w^hen ladies have a great deal of money and 
 leisure, they spend the greater part of their 
 time in dressing, visiting, reading, and enjoy- 
 
66 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 ing themselves in various ways. And yet if 
 they take one afternoon in a week to go around 
 and visit the poor and sick — if they distribute 
 tracts, and give a very small portion of their 
 income for benevolent purposes, they are spoken 
 of as remarkably useful persons, and are hon- 
 oured because they do so much good. 
 
 But if a woman goes around day after day 
 to help mothers make up clothes for their chil- 
 dren, or if a woman works from morning till 
 night in the kitchen, to make a family comfort- 
 able, this is not called doing good. Though 
 the sempstress and domestic spend the whole 
 of their time in earning their own support, and 
 at the same time, contribute more than almost 
 any class of persons to the comfort and enjoy- 
 ment of others, they are not spoken of as per- 
 sons who are living to do good. But if a wo- 
 man is supported by the labour of others, and 
 spends the most of her time in occupations that 
 merely gratify herself, and not one tenth part 
 of her time or money, in a way that benefits 
 others, still she is commended and admired as 
 one who is eminent for " doing good." 
 
 Now this is a mistaken mode of estimating 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 67 
 
 usefulness. Those who are constantly doing 
 something to promote the comfort of others 
 should feel that they are " doing ojood," as their 
 daily business ; while those who give only odd 
 intervals for the benefit of others, and seek 
 their own pleasure the rest of the time, should 
 feel that they are the least useful part of the 
 community. According to this, when the young 
 ladies of a family, who have wealth, education 
 and leisure, spend most of their time in seek- 
 ing their own amusement, then those domes- 
 tics, who toil all day in the kitchen for the 
 comfort of others, are the most useful persons ; 
 and if they perform their duties properly, de- 
 serve to be the most respected and esteemed. 
 
 The last reason why the station of domes- 
 tics is not regarded as honourable is, that the 
 persons who have been in this station have, or- 
 dinarily, been persons destitute of education and 
 good manners. This has been more their mis- 
 fortune than their fault, and it is a difficulty 
 not easily remedied. But it is very certain 
 that a person who has a good education and 
 good manners, is deserving of more respect, 
 and always will receive more respect, than one 
 
68 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 who is ignorant, rude, vulgar and ill-manner- 
 ed. And if all the domestics in this land were 
 suddenly changed into refined, well bred, well 
 educated persons, you would find that there 
 would be as sudden a change in public feeling, 
 and then the station of a domestic would be 
 regarded as genteel, honourable, and respect- 
 able, far more than it now is. 
 
 This is an advantage rather than an evil, 
 for it tends to influence domestics to improve 
 their minds and cultivate their manners, so that 
 they may be worthy of the respect and honour 
 which they would thus secure. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 69 
 
 LETTER VII, 
 
 Reasons why the station of a domestic is a desirable 
 one, and superior to that of a sempstress, a shop girl, 
 or a factory girl. 
 
 My Friends : 
 
 I WILL now point out some of the reasons 
 for considering your situation in life a desirable 
 onfe^ and far superior in advantages to many 
 employments usually regarded as more respect- 
 able. 
 
 To understand this properly, we must bear 
 in mind that our happiness, here and hereafter, 
 depends chiefly on the character which we 
 form. A woman that is selfish, irritable, proud, 
 indolent and ambitious, can never be happy. 
 Give her wealth and leisure, and beauty, and 
 high standing in society, and a superior educa- 
 tion, and all the comforts and luxuries that 
 wealth secures, and yet she will be discontent- 
 ed and unhappy. She will always find some 
 
 7 
 
y 
 
 70 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 one richer, or handsomer, or better educated, 
 or more admired than herself. She will al- 
 ways find something about her different from 
 what she wishes, that will make her fretful and 
 irritable. This, with her pride and selfishness, 
 will lead people to dislike and talk against her, 
 so that while she is longing for love and admi- 
 ration, she will receive dislike and detraction, 
 and this will mortify and vex her. She will 
 be too indolent to find employment to occupy 
 her mind, and thus time will hang heavy, and 
 life will become a burden — a constant scene 
 of disappointment and trouble. 
 
 But change this woman's character^ and 
 make her gentle, kind, and obliging to all 
 around her; make her active, industrious, neat 
 and orderly ; give her that piety which influ- 
 ences the mind to be self-denying and benevo- 
 lent to others, contented with our lot, and 
 cheerful and resigned to all that God appoints, 
 and such a woman will be happy in any cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 Let such a one become a domestic, and she 
 will go around, kindly and patiently minister- 
 ing to the wants of all in the house, keeping 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 71 
 
 every thing comfortable and in order, and giving \y 
 kind words, and tender sympathy to the trou- 
 bles of others. Such a one will be loved and 
 respected by all, and will constantly be re- 
 ceiving expressions of good will, esteem and 
 affection. Her time, filled up with useful and 
 benevolent deeds, will glide along, as on angels' 
 wings; while looking forward to Heaven as 
 her sure and happy home, all the little troubles 
 of Hfe will seem light, and all its comforts will 
 be doubled in value. 
 
 If, then, our happiness depends so much on / 
 the character we form, when we calculate the 
 advantages of any situation, we should take 
 into account the influence it w^ill have on our 
 character. Now there are some respects in 
 which I think the situation of domestics very 
 favourable to the formation of a good character. 
 
 In the first place, it is a situation in which 
 persons form a habit of submitting their will to 
 the will of another, with readiness and cheer- 
 fulness. You will always find that children 
 who are never governed, and who therefore 
 never learn to give up their wills readily and 
 cheerfully, generally grow up to be forward, 
 
72 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 imperious, headstrong and reckless. They go 
 out into a world where nobody will indulge 
 and humour them as their parents have done. 
 On the contrary every body is looking out for 
 their own rights and interests, and none are 
 disposed to put up with their imperious airs 
 and selfish demands. In consequence of this, 
 they are always getting into trouble, always 
 irritated, always discontented. If they had 
 been trained to give up their wills to others 
 cheerfully and readily, in early life, half these 
 troubles would have been escaped. 
 
 Besides this, we must remember that both 
 in this life and forever, we have got to learn 
 to be happy in giving up our wills to the Great 
 Maker and Father of all, and the more we are 
 trained to submission of the will, the easier this 
 first and greatest of all duties will become. 
 
 A person, then, who goes into a family and 
 agrees, for a suitable compensation, to do the 
 work, under the direction of those w^ho hire, 
 is in a state of constant training, which has 
 a most beneficial tendency in preparing for 
 future life, both here and in another world. 
 Such a person will find it far easier to give up 
 
EXGAGr.D IN P/OMr.STIC SERVICE- 
 
 73 
 
 to her fellow creatuies and sincerely to pray, 
 " Not n^y will but tbine be done," than one 
 who never has been subjected to any such 
 control. 
 
 It has often and truly been said, that those 
 only know how to command, who have learn- 
 ed to obey. In proof of this, we ahvays find 
 that none make such hard masters, or such 
 severe and unreasonable parents, as those who 
 have never practised the duty of subordination 
 themselves. In this happy country, domestics 
 have as fair a prospect as any class of persons 
 of becoming heads of a family, when ethers will 
 have to be controlled by them. And nothing 
 so efficiently prepares them for such a station, 
 as having been themselves placed in the posi- 
 tion which a domestic holds. 
 
 Another very great advantage gained in 
 domestic service is, learning how to perform 
 all the w^ork of a family in a proper manner. 
 A female domestic has a chance to observe how 
 the mother governs children, and to take warn- 
 ing by her mistakes, and profit by her good 
 example. She has a chance to be with chil- 
 
74 LITTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 dren, and to learn how to manage their little 
 faults, and bear with their foil es. 
 
 She learns the proper modes of cooking food, 
 of arranging a house, of taking care of furni- 
 ture, and of doing all the various kinds of work 
 which in future life she must either do herself, 
 or else direct others to do. 
 
 She learns various modes of economizing, 
 and of systematizing work. She acquires a 
 habit of taking care of others, and of providing 
 for their comforts and wants, so as to qualify 
 her for these benevolent services when she has 
 a family of her own. 
 
 She also has an employment that is health- 
 ful, because it demands a great deal of exercise, 
 most of it within doors, and not in any way in- 
 jurious. She also has regular daily business, 
 and is obliged to be industrious — and a habit 
 of industry is one of the truest sources of con- 
 tentment and happiness. 
 
 Besides this, a domestic is brought into con- 
 tact with a great variety of tempers, and learns 
 to accommodate, and to govern her temper and 
 tongue as she never could do without this kind 
 of trial. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 75 
 
 A domestic, too, is in a situation in which 
 she is, all the time, called on to give up her own 
 ease and time to promote the comfort of others, 
 and this tends to make the duty of self-denying 
 benevolence, more easy to learn. This is the 
 great duty which Jesus Christ came to teach 
 us by his precepts and example, and the more 
 we can imitate him in this, the more we shall 
 be prepared to serve and enjoy him in that 
 world where he has gone, and where he in- 
 vites us to prepare ourselves to come, by imita- 
 ting him. 
 
 It thus appears that if a domestic is ever 
 to be married, she is going through exactly 
 the best training possible, to prepare her to 
 conform her will and wishes to those of her 
 husband, to train up her children well, and 
 to beco le al^jeat, industrious and economical 
 housekeeper. If she is not to be married, she 
 is forming a character that is best calculated 
 to raise up around her, in the families where 
 she labours, sincere and valuable friends, who 
 will make her old age easy and respectable. 
 And whatever may be her future earthly lot, 
 she is under the best kind of training to make 
 
 y 
 
76 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 her a submissive^ benevolent and self denying 
 Christian, and thus to lit her for her eternal 
 home. 
 
 I will now show some of the reasons why 
 the employment of a sempstress, a shop girl, 
 and a factory girl are inferior in advantages 
 and respectability to that of a domestic. 
 
 In all of these employments, a young wo- 
 man has only one thing to do, from morning to 
 night, and the kind of work she does in no 
 way tends to improve her character, or to pre- 
 pare her for domestic life. She is not con- 
 stantly doing various kinds of w^ork, under the 
 direction of another, thus learning patience, 
 submission, diligence and faithfulness. She is 
 not learning how to economize, or keep house, 
 or take care of children. She is not acquirino; 
 a habit of ministering to the w^ants and com- 
 forts of others. In most cases she has a seden- 
 tary employment, that keeps her fi^om the exer- 
 cise and fresh air, so needful to good health. 
 She is thrown out of the circle of family fi^iend- 
 ships, and the safe asylum of domestic life, and 
 is often brought into contact with selfish and 
 vicious persons, w^hose influence tends to injure 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 77 
 
 her tastes and morals, and in many cases to 
 blast her reputation and character forever. In 
 general, she cannot have as much time as do- 
 mestics can gain, to take care of her clothes, 
 or to read, and thus improve her mind. 
 
 I have known cases, where young girls 
 have left the place of a domestic in a good 
 family, to go to shops or manufactories, who, 
 after the trial, have returned with broken down 
 health, to mourn over those influences, which 
 had done even more evil to the mind, than 
 had been inflicted on the body. 
 
 If I had a young sister, who must earn her 
 own support by the labor of her hands, I would 
 Jirst look for a place for her as a domestic in 
 a kind, well educated and Christian family, as 
 the safest, the happiest, the most useful place 
 I could find. 
 
 And I should consider the sedentary, home- 
 less employment of a sempstress, or the still 
 more dangerous and injurious employments, of 
 the shop or manufactory, as every way inferior 
 in advantages and respectability. And I trust 
 a time will come, when all those most inter- 
 ested in the matter, will view this subject in the 
 same light. 
 
7S LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 The importance of raising the respectability of the 
 station of a domestic, in public estimation, and the 
 mode by which it can be done. 
 
 My Friends : 
 
 I have in previous letters shown, that the 
 station of a domestic is honourable and respect- 
 able ; and that it is a far more desirable situa- 
 tion than that of many deemed superior to it. 
 I have also shown some of the reasons why it 
 is not regarded as so honourable and respecta- 
 ble as it ought to be. 
 
 I now wish to point out some of the reasons 
 why it is very important, both to employers and 
 to domestics, that this employment should be 
 raised, in general estimation, to that honour and 
 respectability which really belongs to it. 
 
 To understand the subject properly, you 
 must bear in mind these things. This nation 
 is now more prosperous than any other in the 
 w^orld, and almost any man of intellig-ence, 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 79 
 
 industry, and honesty, can. after a few years^ 
 gain so much wealth that he can afford to hire 
 a domestic to help his wife. Such men, when 
 young, are frequently marrying persons who 
 are domestics. In this w^ay it comes about, 
 that the number of domestics is diminish- 
 ing, and the number of those w^ho wish 
 to hire domestics is increasing. Domestics 
 are constantly changing to be the mistresses 
 of families, who w^ish to hire domestics them- 
 selves. 
 
 At the same time, women can be hired so 
 much cheaper than men, that it is becoming 
 more and more common to hire women to do 
 what in past times was done by men in shops, 
 stores, and manufactories. And though, in 
 many cases, no greater wages are gained than 
 domestics secure, yet as these places are con- 
 sidered superior in respectability, many w^ho 
 w^ould otherwise go to service in families, 
 pref r such places, even when hey work longer 
 and for less wages. But in some cases, women 
 have far higher wages offered than are ever 
 given to domestics. 
 
 These causes are operating constantly t'D 
 
80 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 diminish the number of domestics, until, in some 
 parts of the country, many ladies cannot hire 
 any person to do their family work on any 
 terms, and though they are very wealthy, they 
 are obliged to do all their own work. And 
 the more prosperous this country grows, the 
 more this scarcity of domestics will increase, 
 unless something is done to remedy the diffi- 
 culty. 
 
 And this will be the greater misfortune, be- 
 cause most young women, who have wealthy 
 parents, are brought up in such a way, that 
 they have a delicate constitution that cannot 
 bear hard labour. When, therefore, they are 
 married, not being able to hire domestics, their 
 health and strength fail under the care and la- 
 bours that come upon them ; they lose their 
 courage and spirits, life becomes a burden, and 
 often, they drag out a weary life, or sink to 
 an early grave. This brings anxiety, trouble, 
 and care on husbands and fathers, and when 
 the comforts of home are gone, the road to vice 
 is near, while children, turned off for want of 
 time, are still greater sufferers. Since I have 
 travelled so much in this nation, I have been 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 81 
 
 greatly distressed at the amount of care, anxie- 
 ty and sorrow that oppress so many thousands, 
 for want of proper aid from domestics. It is 
 therefore of the greatest consequence to em- 
 ployers, that the station of a domestic should 
 be so raised in comfort and respectability, 
 that it will be regarded as a desirable situation 
 by the thousands that are now employed in 
 work injurious to themselves. 
 
 It is quite as important to all who must 
 labour with their hands for a livelihood, that 
 the station of a domestic should be regarded as 
 a respectable and desirable one. I have shown 
 how much superior this situation is to that of 
 a shop or a manufactory, and it would be a 
 great blessing to the young women of this na- 
 tion, who earn their livelihood, if they so regard- 
 ed it. 
 
 It is a matter, then, that equally interests 
 all classes in society to inquire. How shall the 
 station and employment of a domestic be 
 raised in public estimation, so as to be regard- 
 ed honourable and respectable, as much so 
 as it deserves to be ? 
 
 Now this can be accomplished only by 
 8 
 
J 
 
 82 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 having hoth sides try to bring it about. On 
 the side of employers, pains must be taken to 
 render the situation of domestics agreeable and 
 comfortable, and to secure for them time and 
 means to gain a good education and a com- 
 fortable support. And many intelligent per- 
 sons are now feeling the importance of this. 
 I have heard many gentlemen say, '^ When we 
 get good domestics, we must pay them so well, 
 and treat them so well, that they will feel that 
 they cannot improve their condition by any 
 change.'' And I have seen many sensible 
 women acting according to this advice. 
 
 But as this book is not designed for em- 
 ployers, but for domestics, I will confine my- 
 self to pointing out the modes by which you 
 can contribute to raise the respectability of 
 your situation. 
 
 To give you my views more clearly, I will 
 describe a domestic who does the work in a 
 family where I have resided. 
 
 In the first place, she always dresses her- 
 self neatly, and yet n a style fitting the work 
 she has to do, while she keeps her chamber 
 and kitchen in such neat order, and there is 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 83 
 
 such a look of comfort and respectability about 
 her and all her concerns, that every one likes 
 to see her in her kitchen. Then she is intel- 
 ligent and well educated, at least enough so 
 to know that it is lady-like to be respectful 
 and polite to every body. If any person 
 comes into her kitchen, she offers a chair, and 
 treats them with the same politeness that is 
 shown by the lady of the bouse to ber visitors. 
 
 Then she always does all her work well. 
 Her bread is always the best, her meats are 
 well cooked, her vegetables served hot and in 
 the neatest order. She is economical and 
 careful, too, so that nothing is wasted by neg- 
 lect. She is not set in her own ways, but is 
 always ready to do any kind of work that her 
 employer wishes done, and to do it in the man- 
 ner requested. 
 
 When the children come into the kitchen, 
 if she has time and it is convenient, she makes 
 it pleasant to them, but if they give her trouble, 
 as she has authority given her to do this, she 
 decidedly, but kindly, requires their instant de- 
 parture. 
 
 She is so prudent, kind, and discreet, that 
 
84 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 the lady who employs her can, at any time, 
 leave the care of her family and her children 
 with her, and feel entirely at ease, knowing 
 that every thing will be done in the best man- 
 ner during her absence. And in times of sick- 
 ness, she always looks to her kitchen for the 
 tender sympathy and watchful care, which she 
 never fails to find. 
 
 In the evenings, this domestic employs her- 
 self in the care of her own wardrobe, and finds 
 some leisure time to read the books and papers 
 that are abundantly supplied. In this w^ay she 
 stores her mind with useful and entertaining 
 knowledge, so that this, with her native sense 
 and shrewdness, makes her society agreeable 
 and valued by the best educated persons. 
 
 It is true she has her frailties — for w^ho is 
 perfect ? But these excellencies seem so to 
 cover them over, that they are almost forgotten. 
 Now the consequence of all this is, that more 
 pains is taken in that family, to make this do- 
 mestic comfortable and contented than is given 
 to almost any other person. She is always treated 
 with respect and kindness, and as she is never 
 unreasonable in her requests, whatever she ex- 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 85 
 
 presses a desire for, is always secured for her, if 
 possible. Her chamber, her kitchen, and all 
 her comforts are carefully provided for, and 
 the children would no more invade her rights, 
 or treat her with disrespect, than they would 
 treat their parents thus. 
 
 Now, I believe there are hundreds in this 
 land, who, if they could get such a domestic as 
 this, would agree to pay her almost any thing 
 she, or any one would think of asking. Money, 
 if it could secure such a domestic, would be of 
 little account, w^ith the multitudes, w^ho now 
 find that w^ealth cannot secure for them the 
 services needed to make home comfortable. 
 
 You wall now understand w^hy I would 
 advise, as the surest way of raising the respect- 
 ablity of your employment, to raise the charac^ 
 ter of domestics. Whenever a time comes in 
 which such a domestic as the one I have de- 
 scribed, is a fair picture of the whole class, it is 
 very certain that the respect and regard that 
 should be given to this employment, never will 
 be witheld. 
 
 I have heard ladies of great good sense, 
 and in the highest circles in our land, talk in 
 
 8* 
 
86 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 this manner : " Now if I only could find do- 
 mestics who are intelligent, well-bred, neat in 
 dress and person, and who so understand the 
 proprieties of their station as to set a good ex- 
 ample to my children, I should not have the 
 least objection to their sitting in ray parlour, 
 or at my table, whenever it w^as convenient, 
 nor to treating them in all respects as the 
 friends and companions of my children. But 
 such domestics we cannot find.'^ 
 
 This single remark will show to you the 
 reason why there often is a necessity of making 
 so much difference between the situation of 
 employers and domestics, as is generally seen 
 in the most wealthy and intelhgent circles. 
 Parents, in the best society, wish to have their 
 children trained so as to appear properly in 
 the circles in w^hich they move. For this end 
 they strive to make them neat in dress and 
 person, polite and respectful in manners, par- 
 ticularly in the use of refined and grammatical 
 language, and careful to observe propriety in 
 their behaviour at table and in society. Now 
 if they could get domestics who would set a 
 good example before their children, in these 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 87 
 
 respects, it would be very agreeable to them 
 to have them in the parlour and at table with 
 the children, w^henever it w^as convenient. 
 But if domestics neglect their person, if their 
 dress is negligent and untidy, if they are rough 
 and coarse in their manners, and rude and dis- 
 respectful in address, if they use incorrect lan- 
 guage and neglect the rules of propriety at 
 table and in society, there is a very good rea- 
 son for excluding them from the table and par- 
 lour, where their example would injure children 
 and be offensive and disagreeable to visitors. 
 
 And it is a benefit to domestics that such 
 feelings exist, for it tends to encourage them 
 to try to be neat, tidy, well-bred and well ed- 
 ucated. If there were no advantages to be 
 gained by a good education and good manners, 
 no one would try to gain them. This is one 
 reason why God has appointed it, that the more 
 we improve in these respects, the more our es- 
 timation in society, and our comfort in all res- 
 pects will be increased. 
 
 On the subject of having domestics sit in 
 the parlour and eat with the family these things 
 must be taken into consideration. There are 
 
88 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 some families who live in such a way that it is 
 perfectly conve/nient for them, to have the one 
 who cooks and waits on table, eat and sit with 
 the family. And then, if the character and man- 
 ners of a domestic are suitable, there is no 
 reason why this practice should not be adopted. 
 But there is another class of persons, whose 
 style of living is such, that it would be very in- 
 convenient to have the one who cooks and 
 waits on table sit and eat wuth the family. In 
 such families one person is needed during meals 
 to attend to matters in the kitchen, and another 
 person to change dishes and carry food back 
 and forth, and if these persons sat at table 
 there would be constant disorder'and confusion 
 in jumping up from table to perform these ser- 
 vices, while a dress suitable for kitchen work 
 would not be suitable at a table where com- 
 pany is often entertained. Besides this, the 
 master of a family often is so engaged in busi- 
 ness that the only time he can see his wife 
 and children together is at meals, and then he 
 wishes to be at liberty to talk freely, as he could 
 not do, if every stranger he hires must come 
 to his family meal. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 89 
 
 For these reasons, even if domestics were 
 ever so well educated and well bred, there 
 are reasons why it would be more agree- 
 able and convenient to have the family eat 
 and sit by themselves, and domestics eat and 
 sit in the kitchen. And when domestics do 
 become intelHgent, and well educated, they 
 will have sense enough to feel, that the place 
 where they sit or eat, has nothing to do with 
 their respectability. They will see that it is 
 most convenient to sit and eat in the kitchen, 
 and they will choose to do so themselves, and 
 never think that it is any hardship, or any thing 
 that implies, that they are not as good and as 
 respectable as any other members of the family. 
 
 It is because domestics do not consider 
 these things, that they sometimes feel that it 
 is all owing to pride^ that their employers do 
 not have their domestics share the parlour and 
 family meal. Now I do not doubt that there 
 are some employers that have a foolish pride 
 of this sort, which is as unworthy of a Chris- 
 tian, as it is of a republican people. But so 
 far as I have observed, it is among those who 
 
90 
 
 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 have the least claims to be considered as well 
 bred and well educated. 
 
 The more education and good sense a per- 
 son has, the more it is seen that respectability 
 depends not on the employment, but on the 
 character of a person. And those who put on 
 the most airs of aristocracy and superiority, are 
 generally those who have risen from circum- 
 stances where they had no chance to gain the 
 education and good breeding, that would have 
 
 taught them better. 
 
 But in most cases, among well educated 
 
 and sensible persons, the great reason for hav- 
 ing domestics have a separate sitting-room and 
 tables is, that it is more convenient to the fam- 
 ily, and in most cases, it is also most convenient 
 and agreeable to domestics themselves. 
 
 When domestics cannot dress and appear 
 like the family, and when their education and 
 manners do not qualify them for the society 
 that visits the family, in most cases, they them- 
 selves would prefer to sit and to eat in the 
 kitchen, and would regard it as a great trial to 
 be obliged to sit and eat with the family. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 91 
 
 LETTER II, 
 
 On the duties of subordination. Rules of the Bible, 
 Kespectful manners the mark of a lady. 
 
 My Friends : 
 
 I have shown that the chief way in which 
 the station of a domestic is to be raised in pub- 
 lic estimation, is by raising the character of 
 those who occupy this situation. I have shown 
 also, that it is by the formation of a right 
 character, that we are to secure true happiness 
 both in this and in a future life. You w^ill there- 
 fore understand the propriety of my attempt- 
 ing to point out the course which you need to 
 take in order to form the right character, and 
 also the proper manner of performing your va- 
 rious duties in life. 
 
 In attempting this, I will first direct your 
 attention to what are called the duties of sub- 
 ordination. 
 
 By this I mean those duties owed by all 
 
92 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 persons to those who have authority^ or any 
 right to control and direct them. We all of 
 us know that no kind of work can be well done, 
 unless there are overseers to direct those who 
 work. For this reason, every kind of business 
 is managed by persons, who have authority to 
 control others. The rulers of a nation have a 
 right to direct others in all points w^here the 
 laws require them so to do. The captain of a 
 ship has authority to command all his hands. 
 The master of a store, or shop, has a right to 
 control all who work in his employ. The 
 teacher of a school has a right to command his 
 scholars in all matters pertaining to his school. 
 The master and mistress of a family, too, have 
 a right to control their children, and also all 
 those persons whom they hire to do their work, 
 in all matters relating to this work. 
 
 In all these cases, those who are entitled to 
 direct others should be treated with respect by 
 those who are under their control ; and in all 
 those matters where they have a right to com- 
 mand, they should be cheerfully and exactly 
 obeyed. 
 
 This duty is constantly, and often enjoined 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 93 
 
 by God in his Holy Word. " Submit yourselves 
 to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake." 
 " Obey those that have rule over you." " Ren- 
 der therefore to all their dues^ fear to whom 
 fear, and honour to whom honour is due." 
 
 It is because the duties of subordination are 
 so important to the happiness of those who are 
 to be controlled, as well as to society at large, 
 that God so often and so earnestly urges these 
 duties in the Bible. And we cannot fully 
 realize the force of these directions, unless w^e 
 bear in mind the state of things that existed 
 w4ien they were written. 
 
 In the first place, the kings and rulers over 
 the people, in those times when these directions 
 w^ere given, were not those appointed by them- 
 selves, who were to rule according to law^s 
 made by the people for their own good, as is 
 the case in this country. Instead of this, the 
 rulers w^ere bad men and cruel tyrants, w^ho by 
 the help of their soldiers gained powder and 
 authority by mere strength. And in the fam- 
 ily state, the domestics w^ere not, as in this 
 country, persons w^ho for a reward agree to 
 perform the work of the family. On the con- 
 
 9 
 
94 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 trary, they were white men and woraen, who 
 w^ere forced against their will into servitude, 
 and driven by stripes and cruelties to work for 
 their masters. Some of these white slaves, it 
 is probable^ were from England, the land of our 
 forefathers. 
 
 Now what were the directions given by God 
 to subjects, and to domestics, in these circum- 
 stances ? He did not tell them, that because 
 their rulers and masters were bad men, and 
 had gained power in a wrong way, that they 
 might refuse to obey. On the contrary, God 
 saw that it was best, whenever men gain the 
 power over others, that the weaker ones should 
 submit and obey. He teaches us that the power 
 which men gain over each other in this way, is 
 permitted by God. In Pi ov. 8 : 15, 16, God says, 
 " By me kings rule, and princes decree justice. 
 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the 
 judges of the earth." This teaches us, that in 
 w^hatever way it may be, that men gain power 
 to rule over others, so long as they really hold 
 this power, it is by the permission of God. 
 Though he may disapprove of the men, and of 
 the means they use to get power, yet so long 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 95 
 
 as they hold the power. He sees that it is best 
 for all they govern, to submit and obey. Thus 
 in Eccles. 5. 19, it is said : " Where the word 
 of a king is, there is power, and who may say 
 to him, what doest thou 1" Again, in Daniel 2: 
 20, it is written, " Blessed be the name of 
 God for ever and ever : for wisdom and might 
 are his : and he changeth the times and the 
 seasons; He removeth kings, and setteth up 
 kings. Dan. 4. 32, " The Most High ruleth in 
 the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whom- 
 soever he will.'^ Thus it appears that it is by 
 God's will and appointment, that even bad men 
 gain power to rule over others. And when 
 they have gained this power, the following 
 texts show what God requires in regard to the 
 honour and obedience to be rendered to them. 
 In Matt. 22 : 21, when some men came to 
 Christ asking him whether it was their duty to 
 pay tribute to Cassar, who was the cruel ty- 
 rant then ruling over them. To this, Christ^ 
 replied, after looking at the tribute money, 
 " Render unto Caesar the things that are 
 Caesar's, and unto God the things that are 
 God's." This means, render to Caesar what 
 
96 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 he has power to require, just as you render 
 your duties to God. 
 
 The Apostle Peter, by God's authority, also 
 teaches thus, 1 Peter 2 : 13, 14, " Submit your- 
 selves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's 
 sake, whether it be to kings as supreme, or 
 unto governors, as unto them that are sent by 
 him, for the punishment of evil doers. As free, 
 and not using your liberty for a cloak of ma- 
 liciousness, but as the servants of God." 
 
 This command teaches us that we are to 
 submit to every ordinance of xmnforthe Lord^s 
 sake. That is, w^hen men have power to make 
 laws, customs and ordinances, we must submit 
 to them for the Lord's sake — that is, in order 
 to please and obey God. The only cases where 
 it is right to resist is, w^hen we are commanded 
 to do what is sinful. It was on this principle 
 that our forefathers, for a long time, obeyed 
 the laws of the king of England ; even when 
 they were bad laws. But as soon as the people 
 found they had power to make their own laws, 
 they appointed rulers of their own, and then they 
 ceased to obey the king of England, who had 
 not power to force them to do it i and obeyed 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 97 
 
 their own rulers, who had power given them 
 to govern by the people. As soon, then, as it is 
 found, that men have power given them to 
 rule, God requires those under them to submit 
 and obey for the Lord's sake. This is the wisest 
 and safest way, for it saves from constant fight- 
 ing and quarrels. In the story of the ship- 
 WTecked company, we can see that it would have 
 been better for them all, to submit to be gov- 
 erned by one man, even if he was a bad man, 
 than to continue in the state of uproar, disor- 
 der and oppression that existed when there 
 was none to rule over them. 
 
 The same sort of directions also, were given 
 by God to domestics. 
 
 At the time these were written in the Bible, 
 men and women were made servants by force, 
 and their masters had power to whip, starve 
 and murder them without punishment. God 
 saw, that in this case, it was safest and best for 
 servants, as well as for the whole community, 
 that they should submit to those who had this 
 power. Accordingly the xA^postle Paul, by au- 
 thority from God, gives these directions, Eph. 
 6 : 5, " Servants, be obedient to them that are 
 
 9* 
 
98 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 your masters according to the flesh, with fear 
 and trembling, in singleness of heart, as unto 
 Christ, doincr the will of God from the heart. 
 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, 
 and not to men, knowing that whatsoever good 
 thing a man doeth, the same shall be received of 
 the Lord, w^hether he be bond or free." Here, 
 those who were held in the most cruel bondage, 
 w^ere required, so long as they were in the power 
 of their masters, to submit, and not only to 
 serve them, but to do service '* with good will,^^ 
 " as to the Lord." That means, feel kindly to 
 your masters, and do them good, for the sake 
 of obeying and pleasing Jesus Christ. 
 
 Again, the same apostle writes. Col. 3 : 22, 
 " Servants, obey in all things your masters 
 according to the flesh ; not with eye-service, 
 as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, 
 fearing God. And whatsoever ye do, do it 
 heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men, know- 
 ing that ye shall receive the reward of the in- 
 heritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ." 
 Again, Paul, when teaching Titus how to per- 
 form his duties as a minister of Christ, directs 
 thus, Titus 2:9,^' Exhort servants to be 
 
m 
 
 ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 99 
 
 obedient to their own masters, and to please 
 them well in all things ; not answering again ; 
 not purloining^ but showing all good fidelity ^ 
 that they may adorn the doctrine of God our 
 Saviour in all things." 
 
 Another Apostle thus commands, by the au- 
 thority of God, 1 Peter 2 : 18, 19, " Servants, 
 be subject to your masters with all fear, not 
 only to the good and gentle, hut also to the 
 Jroward. For this is thankworthy, if a man, 
 for conscience toward God, endure grief, suf- 
 fering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if 
 when ye be buffeted for your faults ye take it 
 patiently ? But, if when ye do well, and suf- 
 fer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable 
 to God. For even hereunto ye were called; 
 because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us 
 an example that ye should follow his steps : 
 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his 
 mouth : who, when he was reviled, reviled 
 not again ; when he suffered he threatened not, 
 but committed himself to Him that judgeth 
 righteously." 
 
 Now, consider that these directions were 
 given to persons, taken contrary to their own 
 
100 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 wishes and the wishes of their parents, and 
 subjected to the most degrading servitude, with- 
 out any compensation. Such were required by 
 God to " be obedient in all things," to '' please 
 their masters w^ell in all things ;" not to answer 
 again when reproved 3 not to purloin ; but to 
 show all good fidelity ; to do service with good 
 will, and not only to the good and gentle, but 
 also to the froward ; and to do all this, not for 
 the sake of pleasing men, but to please Christ. 
 Now, if all this was demanded of those who 
 were made to serve by force, what must be the 
 duty of those who by their own will, or by the 
 will of parents, go into a family to serve for a 
 fair compensation previously agreed upon ? 
 They go into a family, where the house and all 
 its furniture belong to their employers, who 
 therefore, not only have power but a perfect 
 right to direct how they shall be used. They 
 put themselves freely under the direction of 
 their employers, and agree to do their work as 
 they wish it to be done, and they receive a re- 
 ward for this service. Their employers are 
 appointed by God, as the rulers and overseers 
 of the family, and those they hire are under 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 101 
 
 obligation to obey, in all matters relating to 
 family work, just as a citizen is under obliga- 
 tions to obey rulers, when they administer the 
 laws of the state. The master and mistress 
 of a family are rulers of their house, just as 
 magistrates are rulers of the people. 
 
 A gentleman of the highest standing for 
 wealth, intelligence, and honour, obeys his ru- 
 lers in all points where they have a right to 
 direct, w^hether the laws are good or bad, 
 whether the rulers are wise or foolish. So 
 long as the people, who have the power, make 
 such laws and appoint such rulers, he submits 
 and obeys until he and others can get the laws 
 and rulers changed. And every intelligent 
 man feels that he is honoured in paying this 
 respect to laws and rulers. 
 
 It should be just so in the family state. 
 Whether the rulers of a family are wise or fool- 
 ish, whether they make good or bad rules 
 about their work, domestics, as long as they 
 agree to serve them, should submit to their di- 
 rections. If they do not like the rulers, or the 
 laws of the family, still they honour themselves 
 
102 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 in obeying, until they can have a chance to 
 change overseers and rules. 
 
 And all those directions, which were given 
 to persons forced to service against their own 
 wishes, are much more binding on those, who 
 of their own accord put themselves under the 
 direction of the rulers of a family. "Obey 
 them that have the rule over you" is the law of 
 God, given to domestics in the family state, as 
 much as it is to subjects in the political state. 
 And the only way to be freed from this obhga- 
 tion is, to give up your place and relation as a 
 domestic in a family. 
 
 There is another duty owed to those who 
 have rule over us, that in this country is not 
 properly realized by any, except it may be by 
 the most sensible and intelligent part of the 
 community. It is the duty of treating all who 
 are our superiors either in age, character, or 
 station with respect. The Bible requires us to 
 " honour our father and mother," whether they 
 are good or bad, wise or foolish. It requires 
 us to " render honour to whom honour is due." 
 It requires us ever to " be courteous" whatever 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 103 
 
 may be the situation of those we have to deal 
 
 wth. 
 
 Now the rulers and overseers of a family- 
 are placed in a situation where they are enti- 
 tled to respectful treatment from all in their 
 household, whatever may be their own char- 
 acter. It is of the utmost importance that 
 children be trained to treat their parents, and 
 all who have rule over them, or who are in any 
 w^ay their superiors, with respect, and this is the 
 chief reason why it is so important for domes- 
 tics to do the same, so as to set a proper exam- 
 ple to children. And all well educated and 
 intelligent persons so well understand the im- 
 portance of rendering respectful language and 
 manners to all who are tiieir superiors, either 
 in age, relationship, or station, thai they always 
 feel themselves AoT^ot^mi by doing it. 
 
 See that well bred gentleman! He is 
 the governor of the state, the most learned man 
 at the bar, the most wealthy man in the place, 
 one whom every one honours for his talents and 
 virtues. He is also the head and master of his 
 own family, in which resides his father, broken 
 down in mind by the decay of age. The aged 
 
104 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 father enters the room, and the learned and 
 wise politician, the master of the house and the 
 governor of the state, rises with respect, speaks 
 to him with the greatest reverence, gives him 
 the first place of honour and comfort, and ever 
 treats his opinions and wishes with deference 
 and respect. This is because this old man is 
 his superior in age and relationship, and every 
 one admires the son for his good breeding and 
 sense of propriety. This same governor goes 
 into the street and meets a worthy and respec- 
 table man, who supports himself by the labour 
 of his hands. The governor bows to him, and 
 addresses him with a respectful air and manner. 
 This is because the man has a character which 
 entitles him to respect, and all admire the go- 
 vernor, for his good breeding in rendering this 
 respect. 
 
 Take another case. This governor goes 
 out of office, and a person of small talents and 
 little worth, by popular arts, succeeds him. 
 There is a grand military parade, and the new 
 governor is reviewing the troops, while the 
 late governor is an officer under him. This 
 former governor steps out of his ranks to the 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC -SERVICE. 105 
 
 present governor and says, " Will your excel- 
 lency allow me to go away a short time on 
 some important business ?" The governor re- 
 plies, " Not at present, sir ; I am about to order 
 a manoeuvre and shall need your aid.'^ The 
 gentleman bows respectfully to the governor, 
 returns to his place, and instead of feeling de- 
 graded, he feels honoured in thus setting an ex- 
 ample of respectful obedience to one, Avho for 
 the time is his superior, and has rule over him. 
 And all observers honour him, far more than 
 they would if he had looked angry, or refused 
 to obey his superior in command. Real gen- 
 tlemen pride themselves on rendering strict 
 obedience, and respectful language and man- 
 ners to all, who are in any manner their supe- 
 riors in office or relationship. 
 
 In like manner, real well bred ladies, feel 
 it to be for their own credit to treat those wdth 
 courtesy or respect, who have any claims 
 either of character or relationship, or office. 
 See that wealthy, well educated and well bred 
 lady ! A worthy, respectable woman comes 
 into her house to bring home some work that 
 she was hired to do. The lady salutes her 
 
 10 
 
106 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 with courtesy and respect, offers her a seat, and 
 treats her with the same politeness of manner 
 as she would render to the highest lady in the 
 land. And every observer feels that this is one 
 mark of her good breeding, which entitles her 
 to the name of a '' real lady." 
 
 Look now at that young woman! Why 
 does every one call her vulgar and ill bred ? 
 It is because she goes up with a careless and 
 disrespectful air to all she meets, and her tone 
 and manner seem to say, " I am as good as you, 
 and I mean to let you know it." She tells just 
 what she thinks about them, and their conduct, 
 contradicts their opinions ilatly, and makes no 
 effort to show that she has any respect for them 
 or their notions. Look now at her young 
 companion, whom all admire for lady-like man- 
 ners. She always speaks in a modest and res- 
 pectful tone, treats all with courtesy and res- 
 pect, seems to be thinking of the convenience 
 and comfort of others as much as of her own, 
 and always avoids what will make those 
 around her feel uneasy or uncomf rtable. 
 These are the manners of a lady^ and if a do- 
 mestic feels any ambition to be thought a w^ell 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 107 
 
 bred lady, she can gain this character in no way 
 so surely as by adopting this style of manners. 
 
 On this point I would commend to your 
 notice that " golden rule" so good to direct 
 in all our pursuits : " Do unto others as you 
 would that others should do unto you." 
 
 Now if you ever have a family yourself, 
 and have persons to help you, would you not 
 think it right and proper that they should do 
 your work as you wished it done ? — and would 
 you not feel that it was proper that your chil- 
 dren should treat you with respect, and that 
 your domestics should set them a proper exam- 
 ple in this particular ? No doubt you would, and 
 therefore do unto your employers as you would 
 that others should do unto you, if your circum- 
 stances are changed and you become employer 
 instead of domestic. 
 
 There is an advantage to yourselves in 
 doing this, that you are not apt to realize. A 
 habit is the ease we acquire in doing any thing 
 by frequently practising it. Now, as one of 
 the chief indications of good breeding is polite 
 and respectful manners, if you practise this 
 mode of address to yom* employers, you are 
 
108 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 gradually forming a habit that will make such 
 a mode of address easy and natural. This will 
 be qualifying you to appear with advantage 
 among well bred and well educated people. 
 Now it very often happens, in this country, 
 that a woman who goes to service, marries a 
 sensible, industrious and business man, w^ho, 
 after some years, acquires that wealth and in- 
 fluence that bring him and his family to associate 
 with the best educated and best bred people in 
 the place where he lives. In this case, a person, 
 who in the capacity of a domestic, has cultiva- 
 ted the manners proper for a domestic, will find 
 that they are exactly the manners that fit her 
 to appear like a well bred lady, in the higher 
 sphere to which she has risen. 
 
 On the contrary, a domestic, who is rude 
 and disrespectful in her mode of address, and 
 unwilling to appear as if she honoured and res- 
 pected those who have the rule over a family, 
 never can appear otherwise than as a coarse 
 and vulgar person, however much her husband's 
 w^ealth and character may raise her in society. 
 It is therefore as much for your own advantage, 
 as it is for that of your employers and their chil- 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 109 
 
 dren, that you cultivate a habit of respectful 
 address, and of cheerful obedience to those who 
 hire your services. 
 
 10* 
 
110 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 LETTER X, 
 
 On Visiting, Company, and Religious Meetings. On 
 going out, and having company. Religious meet- 
 ings. A story to illustrate. 
 
 There are some particulars where domes- 
 tics feel that their employers have no right to 
 control them, and on these points I hope you 
 will allow me, as a friend, to offer a little ad- 
 vice. 
 
 You perhaps may feel that it is your own 
 concern w'hat company you visit, and who visit 
 you, and that, after your work is done, you have 
 a right to go where you please without asking 
 leave of your employers. 
 
 But here I wish you would try yourselves 
 by " the golden rule.'^ Suppose you to look 
 forward to a time when you are the mistress 
 of a family, and hire persons to help you do 
 the work, would you not in such a case feel 
 thus : I have hired these persons and pay them 
 for their time, and they have agreed to do my 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. Ill 
 
 family work at the time and in the way I wish. 
 Now they cannot know, without asking, when 
 I can spare them and when I shall need their 
 help. There are always times when, if the 
 regular work of the day is done up, some extra 
 work, or some sickness, or other causes, may 
 make it needful for them to stay at home. 
 Therefore, I think it right to expect that those I 
 hire will not either go out, or invite company 
 to come and see them, without first inquiring 
 of me whether it will be convenient. Do you 
 not think you should feel and think thus ? 
 Now, therefore, whatsoever ye would that others 
 should do unto you, do ye the same unto them. 
 In obedience, therefore, to this law of Christ, I 
 would advise you never to go out anywhere, 
 and never to invite persons to visit you, with- 
 out first inquiring of the mistress of the family 
 whether it will be convenient to her. 
 
 In regard to selecting your companions, re- 
 member the Word of God, " He that walketh 
 with the wise shall be wise, but the companion 
 of fools shall be destroyed.^' There is nothing 
 that so much influences our character and hap- 
 piness, as the companions we associate with, 
 
112 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 and therefore it is of the utmost consequence 
 that you find your associates among the most 
 respectable, amiable, and conscientious per- 
 sons, and that you shun the society of the gay, 
 thoughtless and unprincipled. 
 
 There is another point where domestics feel 
 that their employers have no right to control, 
 and this still more demands your attention, in 
 order that you may do what is right and best 
 for yourselves. I refer to the frequent attend- 
 ance on evening meetings, and the late hours 
 which are sometimes the consequence of this. 
 Now what I wish you to reflect on, in reference 
 to this, I can best exhibit by relating another 
 story. 
 
 A Story. 
 
 Once there was a very good king, and he 
 had a laro;e residence at some distance from his 
 court. At this residence there was a large 
 household of servants, w^hose business it was to 
 keep it in constant readiness, so that w^henever 
 the king wished, he could go there and find 
 every thing in order. 
 
 Now these servants were very apt to be 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 113 
 
 careless and negligent of their business, and 
 often became so engrossed in their own amuse- 
 ments, that they forgot entirely the business 
 they were placed there to do. In consequence 
 of this, the king used often to send messengers 
 to them, who would strive to keep them in 
 order, and who WTOte down in a book the rules 
 that should guide them in the performance of 
 every duty. But there still continued great 
 havoc, w^aste and misrule. At last the only 
 son of the king, who was a very tender-heart- 
 ed prince, and loved these servants very much, 
 came among them ; for he feared that unless 
 something was done, when his father arrived, 
 they w^ould all be turned away, and become 
 miserably poor and wretched. So this excel- 
 lent prince came and staid a long time with 
 these servants ; he worked with them himself, 
 and showed them by his own example, the 
 right way of doing every thing ; and then he 
 wrote down the rules in a book, and placed it 
 so that every one could go to it and learn their 
 duties. 
 
 But it was not a long time after the prince 
 returned to his father's court, before all the ser- 
 
114 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 vants were divided up into parties about the 
 proper way of doing the work. All agreed 
 that the prince told them that his father would 
 soon come, that he would come suddenly and 
 unexpectedly — and that it was his will that 
 every part of the house should be cleansed, and 
 every thing put in order. There was no dis- 
 pute about this. 
 
 But the parties w^ere divided in this man- 
 ner : A large portion of them maintained that 
 the most important thing to be done was to 
 have the water for cleaning house kept very 
 hot, and that it must be hot all the time — and 
 so they spent most of their time in getting fuel 
 and blowing the fire — and they would sit up 
 sometimes half the night to make fires and keep 
 the water hot. And they considered themselves 
 as the best servants in the house for their care 
 and diligence in this respect, and upbraided 
 their companions for allowing so much cold- 
 ness to get in the water they were to use. 
 
 Then there was another portion that were 
 very much excited about the manner in which 
 the water was to be used. 
 
 They seemed to think it was indispensable 
 
ENGAGED TN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 115 
 
 that it should be poured on all over the floor, so 
 as to cover every part of it, before commenc- 
 ing the use of the mop or floor cloth. They 
 insisted on it that this was the way the prince 
 directed them to use it — that he had it put on 
 in this manner himself, and that, in the book of 
 directions, he was very exact in stating that it 
 must be used thus. And they insisted upon it, 
 as one of the most important of all their duties, 
 that the water should be used in this particular 
 way, so that their thoughts and efforts were 
 much taken up with this matter. 
 
 Then there was another party, and they 
 thought that it was of the greatest consequence 
 that the servants should understand who were 
 to be their overseers to direct in the way the 
 work was to be done. They maintained that 
 the young prince had expressly directed who 
 should be overseers and who should not, so 
 that even if a man was well qualified to direct, 
 and his fellow servants were willing to be di- 
 rected by him, it would not do to go on so. 
 And they spent a great deal of time and labour 
 and feeling, in arguing with their fellow-ser- 
 vants to try to convince them that most of the 
 
116 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 overseers were not put in their place in the 
 proper way, and did not direct others in the 
 proper manner. 
 
 Then there was another large party, who 
 insisted that it was indispensable, that their fel- 
 low servants should believe every thing that was 
 written in the Book of Directions, exactly ac- 
 cording as they understood them. They main- 
 tained that if men did not believe right they 
 never could work right. They were sure that 
 they themselves did understand and believe the 
 Book of Directions, just as the prince intended, 
 and they spent a great deal of time in arguing 
 and contending about what was to be believed. 
 And they insisted, that before any man went to 
 work in their part of the house he should de- 
 clare what his belief was, and how he under- 
 stood the meaning of the directions in the 
 book. 
 
 Now all these things no doubt were impor- 
 tant. It certainly was needful to have the 
 water hot, and it was desirable that it should 
 be put on the floors in the way directed by the 
 prince, and it was important that the proper 
 overseers should direct the rest, and that they 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 117 
 
 should do it in the proper way, and it was very 
 important that the Book of Directions should 
 be understood and believed, in the sense intend- 
 ed by the young prince. 
 
 But the difficulty was, that they became so 
 much engrossed about the particular points 
 •where they differed, that they were in danger 
 of forgetting the great thing about which they 
 all agreed, viz. the cleaning of the house. And 
 some of them got into such contentions about 
 these matters, that instead of cleaning the house, 
 they really made it more disorderly and un- 
 clean. 
 
 But there was a considerable number in all 
 these parties, who looked at these things more 
 wisely. And they managed matters in this 
 way. They concluded, that as it was needful 
 to have the water hot, they would not hinder 
 those who were heating it, but get all the warm 
 water they could from them, or from any one 
 else, and go to cleaning the house with it. 
 They concluded that as they could not all agree 
 as to the proper w^ay of putting on the water, 
 that each should put it on in the way he be- 
 lieved the prince had taught, and not quarrel 
 
 11 
 
118 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 with the rest, who thought another way was 
 right. They thought it was important to have 
 the right overseers, and to have them direct 
 the rest in a proper manner, but as they could 
 not bring this about, they concluded to go to 
 any place where they could do the most work, 
 and put themselves under the overseer who was 
 there, and do as well as they could. 
 
 They also concluded, that though it was 
 exceedingly important that all should under- 
 stand and believe the directions written in the 
 Book, yet as all did not agree in every thing, 
 it was best to join together in the point where 
 they all did agree, viz. in cleaning the house. 
 And they comforted themselves in thinking of 
 the promise of the young prince, " If any man 
 will do his will he shall know of the doctrine J^ 
 So they concluded that the best way to satisfy 
 their own minds and to convince others of the 
 proper way of doing the work was, to do it so 
 diligently, so orderly, and so well, that others 
 would be convinced '* by seeing their good 
 works," and so wculd follow their example. 
 
 And it was these servants who really clean- 
 ed the house, and, so far as they could do it^ 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 119 
 
 liad every thing in readiness. And when their 
 Lord and King arrived, they met him without 
 fear, while he blessed them with a benignant 
 smile, and said unto them, " Well done, good 
 and faithful servants, enter ye into the joy of 
 your Lord." 
 
 Now, my friends, this story illustrates what 
 I wish to explain to you, about religion and re- 
 ligious meetings. 
 
 We are placed in this world to form a 
 character like that of God, to become holy as 
 he is holy, for this is the only way to be hap- 
 py. Jesus Christ is " God manifest in the 
 flesh," and " in him dwelleth all the fulness of 
 the Godhead bodily," and one great object he 
 had in coming into this world was, to show us 
 what the character of God is, that we may 
 know how to become like him. — And while 
 here, he set us an example of the way in which 
 we are to " cleanse our hearts" from all evil, 
 so that he and his Father can come and make 
 their abode with us. He did every thing which 
 we shall be called to do, as a perfect example 
 for us, and when he returned to his Father's 
 court, he left a Book of Instructions for us all 
 
120 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 to use, that we may learn how to cleanse our 
 hearts and lives from all sin. 
 
 Now, we find that there are many parties 
 among the servants of Christ, that differ a great 
 deal about the best way of doing this great 
 work. Some think it is very important to have 
 a great many meetings, and to read and pray 
 and sing a great deal, in order to keep our feel- 
 ings warm, and this they think is more impor- 
 tant than anything else. 
 
 Others think it is very important that we 
 should be baptized in the proper manner, and 
 at the proper time. Others think it very im- 
 portant, that those who are rulers and over- 
 seers in the church, should be ordained in the 
 proper manner, and that they should direct 
 their people aright, as to the forms and rites of 
 the church. 
 
 Others think it very important to believe in 
 the right doctrines of religion, and that it is 
 best to take great care, not to have any belong 
 to their particular church, who do not believe 
 the doctrines of the Bible as they do. 
 
 But they all agree, that the great work to 
 be done, after all, is to cleanse the heart and life^ 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 
 
 121 
 
 by following the example of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ— He taught us to live not for ourselves 
 but for Him— and to make it (as he did) our 
 meat and drink to do the will of our Father in 
 heaven. He taught us to deny ourselves daily, 
 by restraining all harmful passions and desires, 
 and, as he did, to go about doing good, in the 
 humblest sphere in which we may be placed. 
 Now, there is no dispute at all about this great 
 duty. And all agree, that the things they dif- 
 fer about, are of no importance, except as they 
 tend to promote a conformity of heart and life 
 to the character and example of Christ. Those 
 who spend the most time in rehgious exercises 
 and meetings, consider that it is important to do 
 so, only because it tends to make them more like 
 Christ— and those who think so much of bap- 
 tism, and ordination, and of beUeving the true 
 doctrines, suppose that these things are impor- 
 tant, only because they will lead us to become 
 like Christ. There is not any minister of any 
 denomination, who, if you ask him about these 
 things, will not tell you, that I am right in all I 
 have said about this matter. Now, if this is 
 true, then we have a rule for judging how 
 
 11* 
 
122 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 much it is proper to go to meetings and to at- 
 tend to religious exercises. 
 
 We go to such meetings, and attend 
 such exercises, to warm our feelings and excite 
 our minds, in order that we may do all our du- 
 ties better. There is no merit in reading and 
 singing and hearing, nor is there any use in 
 great enjoyment or great feeling, unless these 
 things tend to make us more gentle, meek, 
 humble, faithful and diligent in our duties to 
 God and men. And if we are baptized in the 
 right way, and have the right ministers, and the 
 right services, and the right doctrines preached, 
 it is all of no value to us, unless we improve 
 them so as to become more and more like 
 Christ. Remember, then, that your object in 
 reading and praying and in going to meetings 
 should be, that you may become more faithful, 
 kind, obhging, industrious, and exemplary in 
 all respects. 
 
 I fear a great many people pray, and read 
 the Bible, and go to meetings and try to get up 
 a great deal of feeling, and think that this is 
 being religious. But this is no more being re- 
 ligious than heating water is cleaning a house. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 123 
 
 It is only a course of means appointed by God 
 to enable us to accomplish the great object of 
 life; which is to form such a character as pre- 
 pares us for Heaven ; or in other words, to 6e- 
 come like Jesus Christ. 
 
 I would advise you, therefore, when you are 
 deciding whether you shall go to a meeting, 
 and how long you shall stay, to inquire, Will 
 this best prepare me to be patient, long-suifer- 
 ing, meek, industrious and faithful in all my 
 duties ? 
 
 And if you think, that by going, you shall 
 run the risk of injuring your health, and so of 
 lessening your usefulness, or that you shall stay 
 so late as to be tired and sleepy next morning, 
 or unfitted in any way to perform your duties 
 well, I pray you not to go. And if you think 
 that religious privileges do not tend to make 
 you more and more like Christ, I beseech you 
 remember the dreadful condemnation of those 
 who are exalted by privileges even to Heaven, 
 only to be thrust down to Hell. 
 
 Now I hope you will not misunderstand 
 what I have said. I do not say that you or any 
 body else go to meetings too much, or think 
 
124 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 too much of religious teachings, singing and 
 prayer. I am afraid that most of us do not 
 vahie these blessed means enough. But I am 
 afraid that there are many of you who look 
 upon these things as religion, when in reality 
 they are nothing but the means God has ap- 
 pointed, in order to lead us to become religious. 
 A true Christian, a really converted person, is 
 one who is making it the chief interest and 
 aim of life to become like Christ, and all these 
 religious means are of no use, except so far as 
 they tend to produce conformity of heart and 
 life to the precepts and example of Christ. 
 
 If this be the case, then persons who go to 
 meetings to meet companions, or to while 
 away time, or to get their feelings wrought up 
 to a high state, and do not use their religious 
 privileges as means to make them more humble, 
 submissive, gentle, kind, industrious and faithful 
 in every duty, are making their blessings a 
 curse. 
 
 And when you take time from your ordina- 
 ry employments, or time from the hours usually 
 given to sleep, I hope you will always ask your- 
 selves this question : " Am I going to this meet- 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 125 
 
 ing in order that I may come home and be 
 more and more like Jesus Christ V^ And if 
 you do not find that this is your reason for go- 
 ing, beware lest the awful condemnation that 
 awaits those who abuse and pervert religious 
 privileges, fall upon your guilty head. 
 
 And here I w^ould add, that no rule can be 
 given as to how much we ought to attend reli- 
 gious exercises. Some persons are reflective, 
 and serious, and remember and feel what they 
 hear a great w^hile. Others are light, trifling 
 and forgetful, and very soon lose any serious 
 impressions. The first class do not need such 
 frequent instructions and opportunities as. the 
 last class. And every person must judge for 
 herself, how much time and attention is needful 
 for her to give to religious duties, and not be 
 censorious on others, who think it best for them 
 to take another course. 
 
126 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 LETTER XI, 
 
 ON HEALTH. 
 
 Importance of health to domestics. Modes by which 
 they injure health. 
 
 My Friexds : 
 
 Much of the ill health among persons in 
 your employment is entirely needless. You 
 have employments, usually, that tend to 
 strengthen the constitution and maintain firm 
 health, and as a class you have far more health 
 and •strength than those who do not labour. 
 
 Now, good health is the greatest of all 
 blessings, for without it, no matter how many 
 other blessings w^e have, we cannot enjoy 
 life. Many and many a woman in this 
 land, who has wealth, and ease, and education, 
 and friends, and every thing that wealth can 
 purchase, goes about gloomy and sick at heart, 
 because disease has spread its dark shroud over 
 all the enjoyments of life. 
 
 But it is a far greater misfortune to persons 
 in your situation to lose health, than to per- 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 127 
 
 sons who have wealth and a comfortable 
 home. ' 
 
 When you are sick, you have no parents or 
 family friends around you, to nurse and sym- 
 pathize; you know that the family you live in 
 have not only lost your services, but are obliged 
 to wait upon you, and you feel that you are a 
 burden. You may have no home to go to, or 
 your home may be so comfortless that you had 
 rather stay among strangers ; your wages stop, 
 and if you have any little earnings laid up, 
 they must go to pay for medicines and a physi- 
 cian. 
 
 All these things make it of the utmost con- 
 sequence, that you take ^good care of your 
 health. And yet, I am sorry to say, that I 
 know of no class of persons who seem to be so 
 careless and imprudent in regard to health. 
 We see domestics go out from the wash-tub in 
 a profuse perspiration, to stand in the wind and 
 hang out wet clothes, and that too, without 
 any thing on the head, or any shawl or cloak 
 on. We see them go out in leaky shoes and 
 wet their feet, and then sit a whole evening in 
 
128 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 company, or a meeting, with their feet wet and 
 cold. 
 
 We see them sleeping in close chambers, or 
 sitting hour after hour in crowded rooms for 
 religious worship, breathing an atmosphere that 
 is absolutely poisonous, without knowmg that 
 they are thus injuring their health. And there 
 are many other ways in which they are wearing 
 down their constitutions, without being aware 
 of it. 
 
 I do not think I can possibly make you feel 
 the importance of the advice I am about to 
 offer, without your understanding more than 
 you do, about the construction of your own 
 bodies. And 1 wish I could get you to read a 
 few chapters in a book I have written called 
 " Domestic Economy," in which I have de- 
 scribed how the interior of your bodies is form- 
 ed, and drawn pictures to explain what I say, 
 so that I think you could easily understand the 
 matter. And if you ever come across that 
 work, I hope you will read the Chapter on the 
 Care of Health, and the five or six chapters that 
 follow it. 
 
EiXGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 129 
 
 But I will here tell you some things, which 
 I think you can understand without any pic- 
 tures. 
 
 You know that we take food and drink 
 into our stomach to support and continue life. 
 Now this food is changed into a soft mass in 
 the stomach, and then passes through long 
 winding intestines, that are folded up below the 
 stomach. As it passes through these intestines, 
 there are multitudes of little hollow tubes, small 
 as hairs, that pump out the nourishment and 
 carry it to a particular blood-vessel, when it is 
 emptied into the heart, and mixes with the 
 blood. This is the way the blood is constantly 
 renewed. Now it is the blood that thus conveys 
 strength and nourishment to every part of the 
 body. There is no part of the body, within or 
 without, that has not a vast many small blood- 
 vessels, running in every direction, that carry 
 the blood to nourish all parts. But there are 
 more blood-vessels in the skin than anywhere 
 else, so that the quantity of blood in our skin is 
 greater than all that is to be found, in all the 
 rest of the body put together. All the matter 
 received from our food which is nourishing and 
 
 12 
 
130 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 useful^ is taken up by the different parts of the 
 body, and the rest is thrown out by the lungs, 
 the bowels, the bladder and the skin. When 
 we draw air into our lungs, the noxious and 
 useless portions of the blood in the lungs, com- 
 bine with it, and are then sent out of our lungs. 
 The bowels and bladder also, eject a portion of 
 useless matter from the body. But the chief 
 labour of relieving the body from useless matter 
 in the blood, is done by the skin. 
 
 If you could look at the skin through a 
 microscope, you w^ould see the little mouths of 
 the blood-vessels all over the skin, which are 
 constantly pouring out this useless matter from 
 the blood. If, in a w^arm day, you bring a cool 
 mirror near your skin, yet not so as to touch it, 
 you will see a thin dew, or vapour, settle on the 
 mirror. This is the invisible exhalation, which 
 is constantly coming out from the mouths of the 
 small blood-vessels, all over the skin. Experi- 
 ments have often been made, to find out how 
 much matter is thus thrown out of the body by 
 the skin, and it is found that in a grow^n per- 
 son, it is never less than a pound and a quarter 
 in twenty-four hours, and most men that have 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 131 
 
 experimented say that it is much more. But all 
 agree, that the skin throws out more of the use- 
 less and noxious matter from the body, than the 
 luno;s, bladder and bowels all together. 
 
 You can now understand the evil done by 
 sitting with wet feet, or going into cold and 
 damp air without proper covering. Cold al- 
 ways operates to make the skin shrink up, and 
 the little mouths of the blood-vessels are thus 
 closed, so that the skin cannot perform its office 
 properly. In consequence of this, the blood is 
 not relieved of its noxious matter. The effect 
 of this, is sometimes one thing, and sometimes 
 another. Sometimes, stopping the action of 
 the skin produces a fever, and then the body 
 is tormented with restlessness, pain and heat. 
 Sometimes, when the skin stops its labours, the 
 other organs.try to do double duty, to relieve the 
 body. In this case, either the bowels or blad- 
 der become affected and discharge profusely, 
 or the lungs accumulate a great quantity of this 
 useless matter, which is coughed up in the form 
 of phlegm. Sometimes the head and throat 
 are affected, and water runs from the eyes and 
 nose, while the lungs also cough up phlegm. 
 
132 LETTEKS TO PERSONS 
 
 What is commorily called a cold in the 
 head, or a cold on the lungs, is caused by 
 the shutting up of the blood-vessels of the skin 
 by cold, so that the lungs, eyes, and head are 
 obliged to perform a part of the offices that 
 the skin ordinarily performs. 
 
 Now when a person is labouring by a fire, 
 or at washing or ironing, the blood is made to 
 circulate much faster, and the noxious matter 
 is thrown out more abundantly. At such times 
 the matter thrown out by the skin becomes 
 visible in the form of drops of sweat. Of 
 course the more of this matter is to be thrown 
 out by the skin, the more dangerous it is to 
 have the openings of the skin shrunk up by 
 cold. Therefore, it is very important for per- 
 sons who labour, to take very great care not to 
 allow themselves to be chilled when in a state 
 of perspiration. Wetting the feet often pro- 
 duces the same effect on the body, as chilling 
 the skin in a perspiration. You understand 
 now, why it is that I earnestly entreat you, 
 never to go out and stand in the cold, when you 
 are in a perspiration, and always to be careful to 
 dress warm whenever you go out doors for any 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 133 
 
 purpose, and never to sit with damp feet. One 
 single act of carelessness in these respects, may 
 bring on a fever, or a bowel complaint, or an 
 affection of the lungs, or liver, or eyes, or head, 
 that may lay you up for months, or even end 
 your life. What I have told you about the 
 construction of the skin, shows the importance 
 of another piece of advice I would give you. 
 Do you know, that we are almost the only 
 well-informed nation in the world, that do not 
 frequently wash the body all over 1 There were 
 some nations in old times, that knew that this 
 was so important to health and comfort, that 
 they always had public baths made, so that rich 
 and poor might bathe every day without ex- 
 pense. And in many countries, the best in- 
 formed people would not think of going two 
 days without washing the whole of their bodies, 
 any more than you would think of going so 
 long, without washing your face and hands. 
 And the reason of this is, that the skin is inter- 
 rupted in its duties by any accumulation of 
 matter upon it. The little mouths of the blood- 
 vessels must be kept open and i^^^^^ or they 
 cannot fully perform their offices. Now, as the 
 
 12* 
 
134 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 skin throws out at least a pound and a half a 
 day, of this useless and noxious matter, where 
 the clothing comes tight to the skin, it cannot 
 all pass off freely, and a part is deposited on 
 the skin. This ought to be w^ashed off every 
 day, or else the skin has its pores to some ex- 
 tent filled up, and its duties are impeded. In 
 consequence of this, humours on the skin, or in 
 the eyes, or some affection of the head, or 
 lungs, or liver, or bowels, or some other part of 
 the body, often ensue. Some people have 
 such strong constitutions, that they can bear to 
 go all their lives, and never wash their bodies 
 properly, and yet never seem to experience 
 any injury, but there is no doubt that many are 
 suffering painful and troublesome affections, 
 that never would have come upon them, if 
 they had taken proper care of their skin. For 
 this reason I advise you to keep a bowl and 
 pitcher of water in your room, and to sponge 
 your body all over when you go to bed, either in 
 lukewarm or cold water. It will not take you 
 more than ten minutes, and it may save you 
 from much trouble. 
 
 I have told you, that the lungs also are em- 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 135 
 
 ployed to help purify the blood. It is done in 
 this way. The air we breathe is made so, that 
 when it comes into the lungs, it combines with 
 the noxious portions of the blood in the lungs, 
 and then is returned again, w^hen we breathe 
 out the air. If, therefore, a person is shut up in 
 a small, close room for a long time, the air of 
 the room, after a while, is filled with this inju- 
 rious matter which is sent out of the lungs. In 
 this state it is unfit to breathe. Breathing itsome- 
 times produces drowsiness, weakness, stupidity 
 of feelings, and sometimes sickness at the stom- 
 ach, or fainting. Indeed, there is no suffering 
 so horrible as that produced by breathing air^ 
 which is entirely made of air breathed from the 
 lungs. To illustrate this, I will mention a case 
 of some gentlemen, who were once shut up by 
 a cruel tyrant in a very small room, with a very 
 little window in it. There w^ere so many that 
 they had not room to lie dow^n or even sit, and 
 in a few hours, so many breaths had filled the 
 room entirely, with this noxious vapor. The 
 distress thus produced was horrible. They 
 groaned and screamed for mercy to the guard of 
 soldiers. They begged them to shoot them and 
 
136 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 put and end to their torments. At length they 
 began to fight, to get at the only opening there 
 was for air, and struggled and fou2:ht for breath, 
 and tried to strangle each other, till all were dead 
 except the few, who could get their faces near 
 the window ; and these in the morning had not 
 strength to stand, and looked more like corpses 
 than like living men. 
 
 There is nothing, then, more pernicious to 
 health, than sitting, or sleeping in rooms where 
 the air is loaded with the air breathed out of 
 the lungs. For this reason, I advise you never 
 to go to bed, till you have secured a good sup- 
 ply of pure air. Open your door into an entry, 
 or make a crack in your window, or contrive 
 some other way to keep pure air in your room. 
 If you have an open fire-place, this is sufficient? 
 as then, the fresh air falls down the chimney 
 from out doors. But if you have a close stove 
 in your room, or have a room with no fire- 
 place, be sure always to have your door open, 
 or a small opening in your window. If you do 
 not take this precaution, though you may not 
 feel the evil, because it is so slow and gradual, 
 you may be sure that your constitution is grad- 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 137 
 
 ually growing weaker, so that diseases will 
 more easily be induced, and thus that your life 
 will be shortened. One other thing about the 
 lungs. Any person who wears clothing so 
 tight, that they cannot expand the chest as 
 easily as they can when undressed, is doing 
 the same sort of mischief When the waist is 
 constrained by tight clothing, some parts of the 
 lungs are so impeded and compressed, that the 
 air cannot enter the air vessels. The conse- 
 quence is, the blood is not properly purified, 
 and often, from this cause, ulcers form in the 
 lungs. Tight dressing is one of the most 
 frequent causes of consumption and dys- 
 pepsia, for dyspepsia is often brought on by 
 such tightness of dress, that the stomach and 
 the other organs around it, are impeded in their 
 duties. 
 
 It is very important for health, that persons 
 who labour should have enough sleep, and it is 
 also important that they do not sleep too much. 
 If they do not sleep enough, the strength and 
 health slowly decay, and if they sleep too 
 much, the same effect is produced. Seven or 
 eight hours, is the amount of sleep that is need- 
 
138 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 ed by persons who labour, and none ought to 
 sleep more than eight hours, unless they are 
 sick. 
 
 If you will take care of your teeth, by wash- 
 j ing them with fair water and a brush, when 
 you go to bed and <^et up, you probably will 
 save yourselves from teetl>-ache, and from the 
 early loss of teeth. Not that this care will 
 always prevent these evils. A disordered 
 stomach, or a weakness of the nerves, will often 
 induce pain and decay, for which there is no 
 prevention, or remedy. But your chances of 
 keeping your teeth, and of escaping tooth-ache, 
 are much increased by removing with a brush, 
 every night and morning, the tartar which the 
 spittle deposits on the teeth and gums, during 
 the night and through the day. This tartar 
 injures the gums, and tends to make the teeth 
 decay. 
 
 There are some other causes of ill health 
 that I will point out. One is, drinking strong 
 tea or coffee. These drinks always stimulate 
 the nervous system, in a way similar to the 
 effects of intoxicating drinks, and though they 
 are not so injurious or dangerous, yet, in many 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 139 
 
 cases, they produce weak nerves, indigestion, 
 teeth-ache, head-ache, and various nervous 
 complaints. If, then, you use these drinks, I 
 advise you to use them very weak. In my 
 youth I did not love them, but after I was 
 twenty, I learned to love them quite strong, and 
 did not love them weak. When I was con- 
 vinced that they were injurious, I began to 
 drink them very weak; and though at first 
 they seemed very flat, I persevered, until I 
 learned to love them weak, and now I do not 
 love them strong. I mention this to show that 
 our taste can be changed. I advise you there- 
 fore to try the experiment, and after you have 
 drank them a month or two very weak, I think 
 you will love them as well as you now love 
 them strong. At any rate, you will escape the 
 dano;ers that always attend the use of tea and 
 coffee, as most persons drink them. And I 
 believe that it is sinful to run any risk of injur- 
 ing one's health, for the sake of drinking what 
 we love best, when another drink is just as 
 good for us, and is far more safe. 
 
 In regard to eating, I believe a person in 
 health, who labours all day, may eat almost any 
 
140 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 thing with safety. But a person in delicate 
 health, or with a disordered stomach, ought to be 
 careful to notice what food produces uncom- 
 fortable feelings, and avoid it. For nothing 
 wears down health faster, than to eat food 
 that the stomach cannot digest, and when this 
 occurs a, warning is often given by unpleas- 
 ant feelings after eating. 
 
 Eating too often, is a frequent cause of dis- 
 ease. This is done, because people do not know- 
 how hard the stomach has to work, after food 
 is put into it. But if we could look within us 
 at all that is going on, we should see, that 
 as soon as any food is put into the stomach, its 
 muscles are all set to work to move the food 
 about and mix it with the gastric juice which is 
 to dissolve it, so that the stomach actually is 
 working as hard as the arms would w^ork, in 
 sweeping or in hammering at the anvil. Now 
 the stomach needs to rest awhile, after its work, 
 and therefore, four or five hours ought to elapse 
 after eating, before any more food is put into the 
 stomach. This gives time for the stomach to 
 do up its work, and have a little time to rest. 
 But a person, who is frequently putting food 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 141 
 
 into the stomach, keeps it at work all the time, 
 and thus it becomes weak and disordered from 
 over-working. For this reason, I advise you 
 not to eat except at your regular meals. 
 
 If you have weak eyes, always shade them 
 from the glare of the fire or candles in the 
 evening, and never use them before breakfast 
 either to read or sew. The eyes are weaker 
 before breakfast than at any other time. The 
 reason is, that they have been long shut up, so 
 as to be unused to the light, and sleep always 
 weakens the body to a certain extent, until a 
 new supply of food gives the blood the nourish- 
 ment it has lost, by the exhalations of the body 
 during the night. 
 
 Taking food or drink very warm, is injuri- 
 ous to the teeth and stomach. If you should 
 hold one of your fingers in hot water, half an 
 hour, three times a day, you would find that it 
 was very much weakened. The same effect is 
 produced on the nerves of the mouth, teeth, 
 and stomach, by the use of hot food and drinks. 
 Pepper, mustard, and spices also tend to injure 
 the health of the stomach, by stimulating it too 
 much. 
 
 13 
 
142 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 LETTER XIL 
 
 ON DRESS, MANNERS, AND LANGUAGE- 
 
 Dress should be conformed to means and to occupations. 
 Rules of good manners. 
 
 My Friends : 
 
 I have shown you, in a former letter, that 
 the chief reason why so much difference is made, 
 between domestics and other members of the 
 family, is their deficiencies in education, dress 
 and manners. If domestics were universally 
 well educated and well bred, and if they paid 
 a proper attention to their dress and persons, 
 then parents would feel that their example 
 would be useful instead of injurious to children, 
 w^hile their presence would be agreeable and 
 not offensive to visitors. 
 
 It is therefore very desirable, on your own 
 account, and that you may raise the respectabili- 
 ty of your station, (as well as on account of pa- 
 rents and children,) that you pay great atten- 
 tion to these particulars. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 143 
 
 I will therefore point out some of those res- 
 pects, in which you need to attend to your nnan- 
 ners, in order to be a good example to children, 
 and to be fitted to appear well in any society in 
 which in after life you may appear. 
 
 Good manners are the outward expression 
 oj* kindness and good will, by which we endea- 
 vour to promote the enjoyment of others, and to 
 avoid all that gives needless pain. Good man- 
 ners lead us to avoid every thing that offends 
 the taste of others, and to regard all the rules 
 of politeness and propriety. Good manners lead 
 us to avoid all rude and coarse language or ac- 
 tions, and to refrain from all remarks that 
 would trouble those about us in any way. 
 
 I will now point out some particulars. In 
 the first place, there are rules of good manners 
 in regard to our superiors in age, character, sta- 
 tion or office, which demand attention. In ad- 
 dressing such, it is proper to speak in a respect- 
 ful tone and manner, and to add " sir" and 
 " ma'am" to " yes" and " no" when we reply 
 to them. This should be done by young per- 
 sons to older ones, by children to parents, by 
 scholars to teachers, and by domestics to their 
 
144 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 employers, and to visitors in the family. At 
 the same time, it is proper to offer the best ac- 
 commodations of all kinds to one who is thus 
 to be treated as a superior. 
 
 Another rule of good manners is, to return 
 thanks to any person who does us any kindness. 
 It is deemed very ill bred to receive a present, 
 or any little act of attention, without any man- 
 ifestation of pleasure or gratitude. 
 
 Another rule is, never to use what belongs 
 to another without asking leave, and never to 
 ask questions about the business or dress, or 
 concerns of other people, unless w^e are on in- 
 timate terms with them. Another rule of 
 good breeding is, never to make remarks to 
 others on their personal defects, or dress, or 
 faults, and never to speak in such a way of 
 their opinions, or their friends, as to vex or 
 mortify them. 
 
 Always, when persons speak to you, look 
 them in the face, and reply in a courteous man- 
 ner. Never laugh or whisper in company 
 so that others cannot hear, lest they may 
 imagine that you are ridicuhng them, or 
 speaking against them. Loud laughing and 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 145 
 
 talking in company, and whispering, and smil- 
 ing at church, are deemed rude and vulgar. 
 Interrupting a person when talking, and flatly 
 contradicting, are considered rude. 
 
 There are some personal tricks which should 
 be avoided, as vclgar and offensive, such as 
 fingering the hair, picking the teeth, or clean- 
 ing the nails, picking the nose, spitting on the 
 floor, snufling, instead of using the handker- 
 chief, or using the handkerchief in a disgusting 
 manner, fingering the shoes, throwing about the 
 feet, lolling on chairs, tipping chairs back- 
 ward, staring at people, calling persons by 
 nicknames, running out bareheaded into the 
 street, calling to persons in the street, running 
 in the street, and eating in the street, or in a 
 public assembly. 
 
 Another branch of good breeding relates to 
 table manners. When at table, avoid all these 
 things : reaching over the plates of others ; 
 standing up to reach articles ; instead of asking 
 to have them passed to you ; using your own 
 knife for butter or salt, when it is the custom 
 of the family to use a butter knife and salt 
 spoon ; setting dripping cups on the table cloth 
 
 13* 
 
i 
 
 146 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 A\'hen cup mats, or plates, are provided ; using 
 the table cloth instead of your handkerchief; 
 eating fast, and in a noisy manner ; putting 
 large pieces in the mouth ; looking, and eating 
 as if you were very hungry, or very anxious to 
 get at certain dishes ; sitting too far from the ta- 
 ble, or too near to it ; projecting your elbows 
 when using the knife and fork ; dropping food 
 in your lap ; laying the knife and fork on the 
 table cloth, instead of on the bread, or your 
 plate ; putting your own knife or fork into the 
 dishes, instead of asking to be helped ; taking 
 too large a share of some favourite article ; 
 making a noise in sipping tea, or eating soups ; 
 leaning on the table with your elbows ; lolling 
 back in your chair at table, and taking food 
 with your own fork from the dishes, instead of 
 asking to be helped. 
 
 In regard to dress, the great rule of propriety 
 and good taste is, always to dress clean and tidy, 
 and always to have your dress suited to your 
 means, and your employment. 
 
 This is the rule that regulates persons of 
 good sense and good taste, in all classes and 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 147 
 
 ranks. If a woman wears ever so elegant and 
 expensive clothing, and yet her hair is in dis- 
 order and her dress untidy, every one feels that 
 she is dressed in bad taste. If a woman has a 
 small income, and yet appears in dresses and 
 ornaments that are suitable only for persons of 
 great wealth, every one pities or laughs at her 
 for her want of taste and propriety. 
 
 If a woman puts on expensive and hand- 
 some dresses to woik in, no matter how rich 
 she is, every one feels that it looks vulgar and 
 improper. There is nothing that more surely 
 marks the well bred, well educated woman, 
 than the style of her dress. If she has small 
 means she will dress simply and economically, 
 if she is very wealthy, she will wear rich and 
 handsome clothing, but not tawdry finery or 
 loads of ornaments. If she is doing work that 
 soils clothing, she puts on dark and cheap ar- 
 ticles, if she is going on a journey, she puts on 
 a dress that dust will not injure, and leaves off 
 all her ornaments. If she is going out in the 
 cold and wet, she puts on stout and warm cov- 
 ering for her feet and person 
 
 Now there is no point where domestics so 
 
148 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 often show their want of good education and 
 good taste, as in the choice of their dress. 
 Every one knows that the income of a domestic 
 is very small, and that they are daily employed 
 in work that soils a dress. When, therefore, 
 domestics appear in dresses suitable only for 
 persons who have wealth, and employments 
 that do not soil dresses, every one feels, that for 
 want of a good education, they are deficient in 
 good taste and a sense of propriety. The same 
 opinion is formed of all persons who have small 
 means, and who labour for a support, when 
 they rig out in showy and expensive dresses. 
 
 A domestic who has good sense and good 
 taste, will always dress neatly, plainly, and in 
 materials suitable to the work she performs. 
 
 There are few things more annoying to vis- 
 itors, or to the master and mistress of a family, 
 than to have food served at table, by domestics 
 whose hands, hair, and dress are untidy. I have 
 repeatedly known the gentleman of the house 
 whisper to his wife to send the person waiting 
 on table out of the room, because he had rather 
 wait on himself, than to have such a disgusting 
 object before his eyes. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 149 
 
 I would therefore earnestly recommend, that 
 always before you come down in the morning, 
 you put your hair in neat order, and that you 
 so braid or tie it up, that it will not get out of 
 order while you are at work. Also, that you 
 take pains to have dark clothing for your work 
 and that it always be kept neat and tidy. It is a 
 good plan, also, to keep a supply of large, clean 
 aprons, to slip on when you cannot change 
 your dress, and yet wish to go into the parlour. 
 
 And I pray you not to spend all your earn- 
 ings in showy dresses, that, to all sensible peo- 
 ple, make you appear foolish and ignorant of 
 all propriety. It is far better to buy strong, 
 and plain dresses, and lay up your earnings to 
 buy furniture, if you ever become a house- 
 keeper, or to support you in sickness, or old 
 age, if you never marry. There are Savings 
 Banks in almost all our cities, where you can 
 lay up small earnings, and receive interest for 
 them, so as to increase their value every year; 
 and there is less risk in putting money into these 
 banks, than in any other way, because their 
 business is arranged for the purpose of making 
 them safe. 
 
150 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 There is another point, to which I would 
 especially urge attention, and thatjs, to the m- 
 provement of your mind by reading, and when 
 you can do so, by study. 
 
 The greatest disadvantages domestics have 
 to meet, are caused by their want of a good 
 education. It is owing to the want of such ad- 
 vantages, that they are so apt to be untidy in 
 appearance, rude and disrespectful in manner, 
 and vulgar in their pronunciation and language. 
 Now, though you may be in such a situation that 
 you cannot go to a school, yet if you will be 
 diligent and economical in time and dress, you 
 can do a great deal to improve your education. 
 There are few families where there is not 
 some lady, who w^ould be willing to hear you 
 read, or recite a lesson for half an hour every 
 day, if you expressed a wish so to do. And 
 you would also be provided with books to read 
 and study, at little or no expense, if you ap- 
 peared to be anxious to learn, and were faith- 
 ful and diligent, in order to gain time. 
 
 And the more you read and study, the more 
 your character, manners, and habits will be 
 likely to improve. Some persons imagine that 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 151 
 
 '^ good education injures persons in your station, 
 by making them proud and discontented. But 
 this is a great mistake. The most faithful, 
 diligent, agreeable, and respectable domestics 
 I ever saw, were those who had the best edu- 
 cation, while those who are ignorant, have not 
 sense and information enough, to see the pro- 
 priety of conforming to their situation and 
 duties. 
 
 If this country were thrown into the 
 situation in w^hich the shipwrecked company 
 were, and every one had to draw lots to de- 
 cide who should be employers and who do- 
 mestics, there would be some well educated 
 and some very ignorant persons put together 
 in the class of domestics. In this case I should 
 much prefer to hire a well educated person, for 
 I should expect that such a one would be far 
 more likely to have respectful and courteous 
 manners, and that she would conform to the 
 duties of her lot with far more propriety than 
 an ignorant and vulgar person. 
 
 I hope, therefore, that you will improve 
 every opportunity you can gain to read and 
 study, and I would advise you also to notice 
 
152 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 how well educated persons pronounce, and try- 
 to acquire a similar way of speaking. 
 
 In selecting books to read, get some 
 judicious friend to choose for you, and in study- 
 ing, never be so foolish as to study French, or 
 Latin, or try to play the piano, or any such ac- 
 complishment, which is suitable only for per- 
 sons who have wealth and leisure. 
 
 By following this advice about your man- 
 ners, dress and language, and by faithfully en- 
 deavouring to perform all your duties to God and 
 your fellow creatures, you will find, that every 
 day, you will gain in the esteem and good will 
 of all around you, and that few will be found 
 with that silly pride which will make them 
 shun your society because you are a domestic. 
 On the contrary, your employers and their 
 children, will love and respect you, and be 
 pleased to procure for you all the comforts and 
 advantages they can secure, consistently with 
 the convenience and prosperity of the family. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 153 
 
 LETTER XIII, 
 
 Trials of domestics and remedy for these trials. Fault- 
 finding. Want of comforts and convenienceSj &c. 
 
 My Friends : 
 
 Every situation in life has its peculiar trials, 
 and it is wise beforehand, to understand what 
 our trials must be, and what is the best way of 
 meeting them. God did not put us into this 
 world to find enjoyment by gratifying all our 
 desires, but he intended that w^e should ybrm 
 such a character^ as w^ill enable us iofeel happy 
 in giving up our will and w^ishes to him and to 
 others, whenever it is needful. 
 
 Those, therefore, are not the most fortunate, 
 who have the fewest trials to meet, but those 
 rather, who best learn to be patient and 
 cheerful, whatever may be their lot, or the 
 trials which it involves. Many are apt to sup* 
 pose, that when people have beautiful houses, 
 and fine clothes, and a plenty of money, and 
 opportunities to read, and visit, and see the 
 
 14 
 
154 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 world, that they must be happy. But the most 
 miserable persons I have known, were persons 
 who had all these things ; while some of the 
 happiest persons I ever saw^, were those whom 
 the world call poor, and who had none of these 
 advantages. 
 
 The rich have as many wishes and wants 
 ungratified as the poor, for the more they get 
 the more they want. At the same time, as they 
 often have nothing to do but to amuse and gratify 
 themselves, they are not so likely to form those 
 habits of self-denial, patience, and benevolence, 
 which are the true source of enjoyment. This 
 is the reason why the Saviour says, " How 
 hardly shall they that have riches, enter the 
 kingdom of Heaven." The kingdom of Heav- 
 en consists, not in meat and drink and costly 
 raiment, nor in any earthly goods, but in 
 " righteousness and peace." And this righteous- 
 ness and peace are much more easily found 
 in humble life, than among the rich, the 
 proud and the gay. It is true that it is a bless- 
 ing to be rich, if we only use riches in the 
 proper w^ay. But riches bring such temptations, 
 that few have strength and wisdom sufficient 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 155 
 
 to stand, so that it is often that riches are a 
 curse rather than a blessing. 
 
 Why is it so common to see the children of 
 rich parents growing poor and vicious, while 
 the children of the poor grow up industrious, vir- 
 tuous and rich ? It is because the children of the 
 rich are brought up in ease and indulgence, 
 while the children of the poor are brought up 
 to industry and self-denial. If any person will 
 count up the rich men in our country, he will 
 find, that not one in ten had rich parents. And 
 then if he will look at the descendants of rich 
 families he will find, that probably mor€ than 
 half are very poor, and a great many are mis- 
 erable vagabonds in society. 
 
 I mention these things to lead you to real- 
 ize, that your happiness in this life consists not 
 in being rich, or well dressed, or in any out- 
 ward advantage, but rather in such a character 
 as enables you to meet the duties and trials of 
 your lot with patient cheerfulness, and faithful 
 diligence. 
 
 I will now mention some of the trials which 
 domestics are most frequently called to endure, 
 and point out the proper way of meeting them- 
 
156 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 One of the greatest and most frequent trials 
 of domestics is, ihe fault-finding to which they 
 are constantly exposed. Now, whether a per- 
 son deserves to be blamed or not, this is a great 
 trial to the patience. If wx are to blame, we 
 not only are pained to see the mischief w^e 
 have done, but we are pained to be reproached 
 by others, and at the same time to feel that it 
 is indeed our own fault, and that w^e deserve 
 it. If we are not to blame, it seems very hard 
 to be upbraided, but in many cases this is not 
 half so hard to bear, as to be blamed when we 
 know we deserve it. 
 
 Now there are two dangers to which we 
 are exposed from this cause. If we live with 
 a person who finds fault a great deal, the first 
 danger is, that w'e shall grow sullen, or irrita- 
 ble, and then show a bad temper, by disrespect- 
 ful and angry words and deportment. The 
 other danger is, that we shall become so used 
 to it as not to care any thing about it. I have 
 seen the children and domestics of women who 
 find fault a great deal, look and act as if they 
 did not care one cent about what was said to 
 them, and sometimes they look as if they were 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 157 
 
 more amused than pained at the anger and im- 
 patience displayed by those who rule over 
 them. 
 
 Now, it is our duty, if we really have by 
 forgetfulness, or ignorance, neglected or illy 
 performed our duty, not only to be sorry, but 
 to show those whom we have thus troubled, 
 that we feel sorry. Nothing so soon ends such 
 troubles, as for the person who has done wrong to 
 appear as if she was really sorry for it. When- 
 ever therefore you have your mistakes or faults 
 pointed out, do not seek to justify yourself, and 
 do not, if possible, show any anger. If you 
 feel irritated, do not speak till you can speak 
 w^ithout anger, and then say, " I am sorry," 
 or something else of the kind, that shows 
 regret on your part for the trouble you have 
 caused. After you have said this, then is the 
 proper time to tell your excuses. If you begin 
 to justify or excuse before you have expressed 
 any regret, in nine cases out of ten, it does 
 more harm than good. Another thing will 
 very much aid you in bearing this evil, and that 
 is, trying to imagine yourself in the situation 
 of the one you have displeased, and thinking 
 
 14* 
 
158 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 whether you should do any differently yourself. 
 How do you behave when you depend on some 
 child or connpanion to do something, and by 
 io:norance or carelessness the thino; is left 
 undone or is spoilt? Do you shut up your 
 mouth and utter not a word of complaint, or 
 fault-finding ? Try for one week to go with- 
 out finding fault with any body, or any thing 
 that crosses your plans or wishes, and see how 
 hard it is to refrain ! 
 
 Now a housekeeper is constantly having 
 things done WTong, or not done at all, which 
 she feels anxious to have accomplished proper- 
 ly, and it is one of the most difficult duties in 
 the world to bear silently and patiently all 
 these vexations and disappointments. You 
 should therefore try to feel kindly for these 
 troubles of your employer, and when you see 
 her patience fails, think how many cares and 
 perplexities she meets, and how difficult you 
 would find it, if you were in her place, to bear 
 them patiently. 
 
 There is another thing you must consider, and 
 that is, that many women think it is their duty 
 always to tell the persons whom they employ 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 159 
 
 whenever they do wrong, and they do not 
 suppose that it is wrong to show anger and 
 impatience at such trials. At least, they talk 
 as if it was right for them to manifest anger 
 and impatience, if there is just cause for dis- 
 pleasure. 
 
 Very few persons are aware how much 
 better it is not to speak at all, when they are 
 angry, and how much more good it does to 
 talk with children and domestics about their 
 faults or mistakes, in a kind way, when neither 
 side feels out of humour. There are a great 
 many women who would be more considerate 
 and careful in this matter, if they only supposed 
 it Vvas their duty so to do. And here you 
 should inquire of yourselves too, " Do I feel it 
 to be a duty not to complain, or find fault 
 when I feel angry ? Can 1 command my tem- 
 per and tongue so as not to reply in angry and 
 disrespectful tones when others blame me? 
 Do I set a guard on my lips, that I sin not with 
 my tongue ? Do I every day pray to God to 
 enable me to be patient at the faults of others, 
 and meek in receiving rebuke for my own ? 
 Do I, when I have sinned by angry tones and 
 
160 
 
 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 language, confess my sin to Christ, and ask for 
 his strength to enable me to follow his exam- 
 ple of meekness and patience ?" Let any of us 
 try ourselves with these questions, and we shall 
 be much more meek and patient, when hearing 
 the complaints or upbraidings of those whom 
 w^e have troubled. 
 
 There is another method, which, in many 
 cases, will be of great service. Many amiable 
 and excellent women, really do not know how 
 much they do find fault, nor how severe and 
 unpleasant are their tones and manner. If, 
 therefore, you find yourself very much tried 
 in this way, seek some opportunity of convers- 
 ing with your employer, when both feel kindly 
 to each other. And then, in a respectful man- 
 ner tell her, that if she will not find fault quite 
 so often, or will tell your faults to you, at times 
 when neither you or she feel disturbed in mind, 
 that it will be a great deal pleasanter to you to 
 serve her, and that you shall be much more likely 
 to try to do your duties well. Such a measure 
 as this, will be far better than to speak out 
 your mind at times when she is reproving you, 
 when both feel angry or impatient. I think a 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 161 
 
 time will come, when both parents and em- 
 ployers will feel it to be a duty to refrain from 
 finding fault when they are angry, and make 
 it an object to wait, until by calm reflection 
 they can say the most judicious things in the 
 most judicious manner. And if you wish to 
 have this period arrive, remember you can do 
 something towards hastening it, by trying to 
 form such a habit yourself. And then, if you 
 ever become the employer of a domestic, you 
 w^ill be prepared for this most important part 
 of your duty. 
 
 Another trial, to which domestics are ex- 
 posed, is a neglect of their comfort and con- 
 venience by their employers. 
 
 Sometimes domestics have not comfortable 
 rooms and beds ; sometimes, the proper con- 
 veniences for work are not provided ; sometimes 
 they have so much required that they have not 
 time for rest, and for taking care of their clothes; 
 sometimes they are obliged to leave their meals 
 before they have done, to wait on the family ; 
 sometimes the children of the family vex and 
 incommode them ; sometimes they are treated 
 harshly and rudely ; sometimes the mistress of 
 
162 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 the family does not know how to plan work, 
 and more is exacted than they can perform, or 
 needless trouble and work are caused. Now 
 there are two ways of preventing these evils, to 
 a certain extent. One is, by making proper 
 terms with an employer beforehand. It is a 
 good plan for a domestic, always to inquire of 
 an employer, before she agrees to come, res- 
 pecting all these matters. It is always proper, 
 to inquire about the conveniences in the kitchen, 
 and to ask how much time you probably can 
 have to do your own sewing, and whether you 
 shall be allowed to sit undisturbed at your meals, 
 and whether you shall be allowed to send the 
 children out of the kitchen when they trouble 
 you, and finally, to find out as much as you can 
 beforehand, as to the kind of work that will be 
 expected. Let these things all be talked over 
 and understood beforehand, and many occasions 
 for hard feeling and discontent will be saved 
 on both sides. 
 
 After you come into a family, you will, in 
 most cases, find some inconveniences and an- 
 noyances that you did not expect. In such 
 cases, do not be angry or out of patience, but 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 163 
 
 bear them quietly, till you have a good chance 
 to talk with your employer about them. Then 
 simply state the trouble you experience, and if 
 it can be remedied consistently, she probably 
 will do it, and if it cannot, then make up your 
 mind to bear it patiently and good humouredly. 
 I have seen domestics go on, day after day, 
 complaining and fretting about troubles, that of- 
 ten would be entirely removed, if they would go, 
 in a pleasant and respectful way, to their em- 
 ployers and state their wishes. It is always 
 best to take it for granted, that your employers 
 are kind and reasonable people, for if they are 
 not, it is the surest way to lead them to become 
 so. 
 
 A keeper of a prison once asked a man 
 who had been removed from his care to another 
 prison, what the reason was that he behaved so 
 much better with his new keeper. His reply 
 was, " He treats m^e like a man, and so I behave 
 like a man ; but you treated me like a dog, and 
 sol behaved like a dog." 
 
 Now this prisoner was a fair picture of us 
 all in this respect. If people treat us as if they 
 think that we wish and intend to do all that 
 
164 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 is generous and right, it is a strong influence to 
 lead us to do so. But if we are treated as if 
 it was expected that we should act unreasona- 
 bly and wrong, it is a strong temptation to lead 
 us to do so. And this anecdote contains a very 
 important truth, that it would be wise for do- 
 mestics, as well as employers, to bear in mind. 
 There is another trial that domestics often 
 feel, which I have before alluded to. It is the 
 fact that they are called " servants," and are 
 liable to be treated with disrespect or con- 
 tempt, by persons who fancy themselves a little 
 above them in rank. But my friends, this is a 
 trouble which all classes have to experience, 
 and some almost or quite as much as you. The 
 mechanic's daughter, or the sempstress, may 
 call you servants, and feel above you, but some 
 rich men's daughters call them " only me- 
 chanics' daughters," or *^ only sempstresses," and 
 feel as much above them. And these rich men's 
 daughters find persons who will call them " vuU 
 gar richfolks^'^ and feel very much above them, 
 because they themselves have some advantages 
 of family or education, that those they look 
 down upon do not possess. We find ihat it is 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 165 
 
 common to call persons who have wealth and 
 edncation, " ladies,^^ and persons who have no 
 education, and labour for a support, " women.^^ 
 And if a person who considered herself among 
 the first, should hear a person say, " there is a 
 woman in the parlour," instead of saying, 
 " there is ^lady in the parlour," she would in 
 some cases feel offended. What is the reason 
 of this ? She is a woman, why is she not 
 pleased to be called so ? Why simply because 
 persons whom she regards as below herself are 
 so called. Now this is exactly the case with 
 you. You do not like to be called by the same 
 name as is given to slaves in this land, and to the 
 degraded servants of other countries. And it 
 is probable every body would have something 
 of this feeling, and therefore every well-bred 
 person, who knew, that this name of servant 
 was disagreeable to you, would not use it, un- 
 less from long habit it was difficult to remem- 
 ber to call you by another name. But you 
 must not allow yourselves to be offended be- 
 cause people do not always know your feelings 
 on this point, or do not always remember to 
 regard your wishes. 
 
 15 
 
166 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 Try to be polite yourselves to the poor 
 Africans whom you regard as below you, and 
 then you will find that you sometimes fail in 
 this duty yoursekes, and will learn not to 
 judge so severely of those who fail towards you. 
 True politeness and good breeding will lead 
 every body to avoid whatever needlessly 
 troubles others, however humble in life. 
 
 On this point I have felt some perplexity 
 myself. Probably if I were in your place, 1 
 might not wish to be called a servant/]\}^{ as 
 many persons I associate with, choose to be 
 called " ladies'' instead of '^ women." 
 
 As we must have some name to give to 
 persons in your station, I have inquired what 
 one is suitable. Now I cannot tell what would 
 be agreeable to you all. But I know what I 
 should like myself. The word domits signifies 
 home, which is one of the dearest and pleasant- 
 est words in the world. 
 
 The word '' domestic," is made from this 
 word dom.us, and it signifies, one employed in 
 doing the work at home, and therefore it has a 
 very pleasant idea connected with it. I can- 
 not find any word in the dictionary to use for 
 
(C 
 
 ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 167 
 
 this purpose, that T should like so much myself, 
 and therefore I have used the word in writing 
 to you. But if there was any other that I 
 thought you would like better, I certainly would 
 use it. 
 
 But remember, my friends, that Jesus Christ, 
 the Lord of Glory, " took upon him the form of 
 ascrvant^^'' and he it was that washed his dis- 
 ciples' feet, to show them that they must not 
 feel above doing the humblest of all duties. 
 And the word " minister,^^ means the same as 
 servanty^^ and this was the name taken by the 
 Apostles of Christ. 
 
 % And we shall never be fully prepared for 
 Heaven, till we have that humble spirit, which 
 can be contented to see others raised above us, 
 and to take whatever name and place belongs to 
 us. The Bible teaches, that even in Heaven, 
 there are different grades of intellect and great- 
 ness, and this is the time of probation, when we 
 are to learn that submissive and humble spirit, 
 which will prepare us to go to a world, where 
 forever, there must be many far above us in 
 knowledge, honour and power. Do not there- 
 fore indulge such feelings of pride about the 
 
168 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 name, and duties of your station, but honour 
 yourselves by walking in the footsteps of Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 In regard to all the trials that are to be met 
 in your situation in life, it is wisest to look at 
 the matter in this light. There is no situation 
 where you can go, in which you will not find 
 some disagreeable things to try your patience, 
 and tempt you to complain and be discontented. 
 Therefore, it is best to make up your mind, that 
 you will first do all you can to remedy what 
 troubles you meet, and after that, determine to 
 be quiet and content with your lot. 
 
 It is very unwise to be roving from one 
 family to another. It is very much for your 
 interest to stay in one place and become inter- 
 ested in the family, and to make them all feel that 
 you are a steady, and tried, and faithful friend. 
 I know many domestics, who have become so 
 much attached to the family where they have 
 long lived, that no money would tempt them 
 to leave. They seem to feel that all that in- 
 terests the family belongs to them. They 
 share the joys, the sorrows, and the hopes of 
 the family, and are loved and trusted by all, as 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 
 
 169 
 
 kind and faithful friends, while every thing rea- 
 sonable is done to make them comfortable and 
 contented. 
 
 And I would advise every domestic to seek 
 a place where she will be willing to stay 
 for life, if she does not get a home of her own- 
 And when she has found such a place, she 
 should try, by her faithful services, and affec- 
 tionate kindness, to make herself so necessary 
 to the comfort of the family, that they will all 
 feel that they cannot part with her, and will 
 do all in their power to make her comfortable 
 and happy. 
 
 There is one word of advice I would off'er 
 to domestics who do change their places, and 
 that is, never to retail the private concerns of 
 the family they leave. A great deal of trouble 
 and ill will in society, is made by the scandal 
 that is propagated by domestics, v^hogo from 
 one family to another. This ought not so to be. 
 We have no right to talk about the faults of 
 other persons, unless we can do some good by 
 it. This the golden rule forbids ; for w^e know 
 w^e should not be willing to have our faults re- 
 tailed about and talked over to strangers, and 
 
 15* 
 
170 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 what we are not willing to have done to us, 
 w^e should not do to others. 
 
 I beseech you, therefore, to make it a rule 
 never to retail the faults of those with whom you 
 have lived. And if you find persons question- 
 ing you, to find out matters relating to the fam- 
 ily in which you have worked, just tell them that 
 you do not think it is right to speak of the faults 
 of those with whom you have lived. Do this, 
 and every body will respect you for your sense 
 of propriety, and feel reproved if they have 
 tempted you, by questions, to so ungenerous and 
 wrong a course. The only case when it would 
 be right to tell the faults of those you have 
 lived with, is when a person comes to you for 
 information and advice about going to Hve in 
 that place. In this case, it would be'proper to 
 let them know both the good and the evil of 
 the situation they inquire about. 
 
 There is one frequent cause of difficulty be- 
 tween employers and domestics, that ought to 
 be taken care of, when first making an agree- 
 ment. Employers always wish to hire the time 
 of domestics, instead of hiring them to do some 
 particular parts of family work. — But some 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE* 171 
 
 domestics feel that they are hired to do some 
 particular part of the work, and when this is 
 done, that their time is their own. Now this 
 matter ought to be understood beforehand, for 
 all employers would prefer to hire the timej 
 even if they have to pay more wages. It is a 
 great inconvenience to have domestics who feel 
 that their time is their own, except when they 
 are doing certain jobs they agreed to do. It is 
 much the best for the comfort of a family, to 
 have domestics who can be called on to help 
 whenever they are needed. Of course there 
 must be an understanding, in such cases, that 
 domestics shall have time enough to do their 
 own sewing and mending, and also for meetings 
 and visiting to a suitable extent. All these 
 things should be talked over beforehand, and 
 it will save much trouble. 
 
172 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 LETTER XIY, 
 
 ON ECONOMY. 
 
 Economy a duty of all. Modes of economizing. 
 My Friends : 
 
 It is the duty of all persons, in every station 
 of life, to practise that economy, which saves 
 from waste, all the bounties of Providence, and 
 which contrives to make every thing useful 
 last as long as possible. The rich have a right 
 to buy more expensive, and more numerous 
 articles, than the poor, but they have no right 
 to w^aste any thing ; for what they do not use 
 themselves they should save for the comfort 
 and enjoyment of others. 
 
 And I think, generally, persons who are 
 w^ell off in the world, economize much better 
 than the poor; because they have more know- 
 ledge to aid them in the choice and use of ar- 
 ticles. And I think that per:sons w^ho go to 
 service, often practise very little good economy. 
 I wull point out some of the ways in which 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 173 
 
 they waste much money. In the first place, 
 they do not buy suitable dresses to work in. 
 Dresses for w^ork ought to be very strong and 
 of fast colours, so that a working frock may 
 last a great while, and yet retain a good colour. 
 Now instead of this, they often buy common 
 cheap calicoes, which cost as much time and 
 money to have made up as any, and yet in a 
 few weeks the colours will be w^ashed out, and 
 the stuff also soon be gone. 
 
 In buying a working dress, look for strong 
 articles, w^hich are of a dark colour and which 
 will not fade badly. 
 
 In purchasing articles for dresses to wear to 
 church, or for visiting, do not get light and 
 expensive silks w'hich soon soil, and become 
 useless. In choosing a silk dress, especially a 
 black one, which is apt to be injured by the 
 dye, get several samples first. Then take 
 these pieces and double them up and rub the 
 edges of the creases against a carpet. You will 
 find that some wear off much sooner than the 
 rest, and the one that bears this trial best, will 
 wear the longest. 
 
 You may be sure that every person of good 
 
174 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 taste and good judgment will admire and respect 
 you a great deal more, if you dress neat and 
 plain, than if you put on fine and showy arti- 
 cles, that are suitable only for persons who have 
 wealth. It is only persons of weak minds, or 
 great ignorance of propriety, who would ad- 
 mire such extravagant and showy articles, as I 
 am soiry to see, often worn by persons who 
 earn a dollar or two a week by the labour of 
 their hands. 
 
 There is often much want of economy too, 
 in regard to the making and mending of dress- 
 es. It is no difficult matter to learn to make 
 a frock, and it saves a great deal of expense. 
 To do this, get a mantuamaker to fit and baste 
 a frock for you, and not to sew it. Then take 
 this, and first rip out a sleeve, and iron it out, 
 and cut out a newspaper pattern of it. Then 
 baste up the sleeve and fit it just as it w^as be- 
 fore, except do not set it into the arm-hole. 
 
 Then rip out one half the back, and one 
 half the fore body, iron them out, and cut out 
 patterns. If the fore body has the outside 
 gathered or pleated on to the liningj cut out a 
 pattern, both of the outside and lining. Notice 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 175 
 
 how deep the seams are, and prick them into 
 the pattern, or make a crease to show where 
 they should be. Restore the back and fore body 
 to their places, and baste in the sleeve. Then 
 take some cheap stuff, and cut out the sleeves 
 and waist by these patterns, and fit them like 
 the dress you are imitating, and make the skirt 
 by the pattern also. 
 
 After this, you wnll find little trouble in 
 making another dress by these patterns. 
 
 When sleeves begin to wear out, they are 
 made to last much longer, by ripping out and 
 changing them. So the skirt of a silk frock, 
 will last much longer by ripping it from the 
 waist, and moving it so that the front breadth 
 goes to one side, and the places of all the 
 breadths are changed. In doing this, the slit be- 
 hind must be sewed up, and a new one made. 
 
 For under garments, buy unbleached cotton, 
 which will gradually whiten, and lasts a quar- 
 ter longer than the whitened. The best petti- 
 coats, for winter, are made by taking two old 
 dresses and making a quilt. Never buy white 
 flannel for common wear, unless you mean to 
 colour it. This you can do very easily thus. 
 
176 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 Take a pound of cheap black tea, and a bit 
 of copperas as big as a large hen's egg. Put 
 them to two gallons of water, and boil them 
 three quarters of an hour in an iron kettle. 
 Then strain it off, and clean the kettle tho- 
 roughly. Then put the strained dye into it 
 again, and after wetting the flannel in warm 
 water, put it in and boil it fifteen minutes, lift- 
 ing it up and stirring it often. Then rinse it 
 several times in cold w^ater, and it will be a 
 dark lead colour. You can make a dove col- 
 our by adding water to this dye. Home-made 
 flannel coloured thus, is good for under petti- 
 coats. Cotton and woollen stockings, coloured 
 thus, are good for common w^ear. I advise you 
 to knit coarse cotton for common wear in sum- 
 mer and woollen for winter. Coarse knit stock- 
 ings last four times as long as any you can 
 buy, and this saves much mending. When 
 stockings are worn in the feet, they can be cut 
 down and made over. Strong double-soled 
 shoes should be worn, except in warm weather, 
 and if you will be careful to change your shoes 
 often, so as not to wear them long on the same 
 foot, they will last much longer. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 177 
 
 It is a good plan to have a particalar eve- 
 ning every week for taking care of your 
 clothes. 
 
 Those who cook w^ould do well to wear 
 either a cap, or a square muslin handkerchief, 
 put on for a turban, while cooking. The neat- 
 est persons in the world are liable to have hairs 
 and dandruff fall from their heads, and this is 
 the only sure way to keep such disgusting mat- 
 ters out of the food. 
 
 1 think it probable that some of you for 
 whom I write, will not like the advice I give 
 about the quality of your dress. But I can as- 
 sure you it is what I should do myself were I 
 under the necessity of labouring for a support. 
 And if I had a sister, or any friend in your situa- 
 tion, I should wish to have her follow this course. 
 Good taste in dress is shown by accommodating 
 our style of dress to our income, and when a 
 domestic, who has not a hundred dollars a year, 
 dresses like persons who have large incomes, 
 every sensible and judicious person thinks it is 
 foolish and in very bad taste. 
 
 Moreover, by using strong and durable ar- 
 ticles you save money that you can lay up to 
 
 16 
 
178 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 provide for your wants, if you should have a 
 family of your ow^n, or if you should be sick or 
 aged, and unabled to work. 
 
 Besides all this, it is the duty of every "per- 
 son to give something of their possessions to 
 promote the comfort and welfare of others. 
 
 When our Saviour saw a poor widow cast- 
 ing two mites into the treasury which was to 
 support religion, he commended her, even 
 though it was the whole of her living. 
 
 The reason of this was that a benevolent 
 spirit is of more value to us than treasures of 
 silver and gold, and none are so poor as not to 
 need to cultivate this spirit. Now a person 
 w^ho spends all she gets on herself, loses one 
 chance to cultivate this generous and benevo- 
 lent spirit, which is so precious in God's sight, 
 and so needful to our own best good. 
 
 I hope, therefore, you will feel a pleasure in 
 economizing, that you may thus increase your 
 means, not only of providing for your own fu- 
 ture independence and comfort, but also that 
 you may have something to give to relieve 
 many, who are suffering for the want of the 
 comforts of this life, and still more for want of 
 
^ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 179 
 
 good hope of a better life to come. Give 
 something then, every year, to promote both 
 the temporal and spiritual good of your fellow 
 creatures, and thus also secure the great bene- 
 fit to yourself, which results from the exercise 
 of a generous and benevolent spirit. 
 
ISO LETTERS TO PERSON'S 
 
 LETTER XV, 
 
 ON THE CARE OF CHILDREN. 
 
 Patience very needful. Offering rewards. Never 
 shame children for their faults. Never deceive them. 
 Set an example of honesty and modesty. 
 
 My Friends : 
 
 I wish you could realize the great influence 
 which you always must exert over the charac- 
 ter and wx^fare of children, for then what I am 
 now going to write, would secure a deep inter- 
 est in your minds. 
 
 Children are creatures of imitation and 
 sympathy, and they always feel and act very 
 much as those do about them. Thus they are 
 daily forming their tastes, habits and character 
 from the pattern of those who are most with 
 them. And their happiness, for time and eter- 
 nity, is decided by the good or evil that thus 
 surrounds them. 
 
 Almost all domestics have more or less to 
 do wuth the children of a family, so that though 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 18 
 
 what I write is most important to those who 
 nurse and take care of children, it should be 
 deeply pondered by all. 
 
 The greatest and most important requisite 
 in all who have the care of children is patience. 
 Children have come into a world where every 
 thing is new to them — where they cannot un- 
 derstand the mischief they make, — and more 
 than all this, they are so thoughtless and for- 
 getful, that they cannot remember when they 
 do discover what is dangerous or wrong, as 
 older minds can do. 
 
 Suppose you were suddenly put in a vast 
 kitchen, with ten thousand new utensils to work 
 with, and new sorts of work to do, and all the 
 time in danger of doing something wrong — or 
 forgetting something you were told. You 
 would feel puzzled, and sometimes out of pa- 
 tience, and you would think it very hard if those 
 who employed you had no patience, and no 
 sympathy for you, in such ditficult circumstan- 
 ces. You would think that you were more to 
 be pitied than blamed, when you forgot, or 
 made mistakes. And if your employers spoke 
 kindly to you, and always seemed to feel for 
 
 16* 
 
182 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 your difficulties, and to be patient with your 
 forgetfulness, you would find it much easier to 
 do your duty. 
 
 Now children are in just such a situation. 
 Just observe young children for one day, and 
 see how many times they have to be told that 
 they are doing wrong ! Poor things ! — they 
 are ignorant, and forgetful, and have a thou- 
 sand things to learn and to remember. And 
 they often are blamed and found fault with for 
 something every hour, and a great deal more 
 than grown persons could bear. Have pa- 
 tience with them, and as much as possible keep 
 from speaking in cross and angry tones. 
 
 I know persons who make it a rule never 
 to speak cross to children. Instead of this, 
 they wait till their own feelings are calm, and 
 then kindly speak to them of their faults. And 
 when they see a child doing mischief, instead 
 of calling out in sharp and angry tones, they 
 go up and take hold of the child and stop its 
 mischief — or set it up in a chair — and take care 
 not to speak till it can be done in a calm and 
 gentle way. Children who are managed by 
 such persons, have an example of patience, gen- 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 183 
 
 tieness and kindness before them that has a 
 great influence. 
 
 And when such persons tell children that 
 they must not act angry and speak cross, when 
 any thing troubles them, it does far more good 
 than it could do, if they see their advisers set 
 them an example just contrary to their instruc- 
 tions. 
 
 One of the most successful ways of making 
 children behave well is, to keep them good 
 natured and happy. Very often, when children 
 feel peevish, and when they get into conten- 
 tions, some amusing story, or play, will make 
 them good natured, and then all will go smooth 
 again. Whereas, if those wJio take care of them 
 fret at them, and tell them they are naughty 
 and disagreeable, it only adds to their trouble 
 and vexation, and makes them act worse rather 
 than better. I have seen a person taking care 
 of children, manage in this way. 
 
 A little boy is out of humour — he goes sul- 
 lenly about, and if any one speaks to him an- 
 swers in cross tones — and then he teazes some 
 one — or strikes, or kicks some one who teazes 
 him. 
 
184 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 The nurse sees that the difficulty is, that the 
 child feels irritable and unhappy, and that fault- 
 finding will only make him feel worse. So she 
 goes and takes him in her lap, and says, " Come 
 here, children, and hear this story— or see this 
 pretty thing — or hear me read something pretty 
 to you" — so she contrives to amuse Ihem a few 
 minutes till all feel pleasant, and then she says 
 to the offender, " Now, my dear little boy, you 
 have been feeling cross and unhappy and have 
 done wTong, but if you will try to be pleasant 
 and speak kind for a whole hour, I will do so 
 and so ; — and you other children too, must try 
 to make your little brother feel comfortable 
 and happy, and not trouble him in any way." 
 Try such a method, and you w^ill find it much 
 better than fretting at the child yourself. 
 
 A person who takes care of children should 
 economize her favors and kindnesses, and keep 
 them to use for such occasions. If there are 
 httle enjoyments she can procure, or favours 
 she can bestow^, instead of giving them with- 
 out any effort to gain them by the children — 
 she should save them to use as rewards for 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 185 
 
 their endeavours to be patient^ kind and obe- 
 dient. 
 
 And in all the management of children, it 
 should be a maxim to regulate them by love 
 and hope^ rather than by fault-finding and other 
 penalties. 
 
 If you tell a child " If you try to do so and 
 so, yru shall have such an enjoyment," then 
 the child has something pleasant to think of 
 whenever he is tempted to do wrong, and he 
 is pleased in trying. But if you tell him " If 
 you do so and so, you shall be punished," or if 
 he feels that he shall get a scolding if he does 
 what he wants to do— then there is nothing plea- 
 sant before the mind, while trying to do right. 
 He sees punishment coming if he does one 
 way — and no good comes if he does the other 
 way, and so he has no pleasurable feeling at all 
 to lead him to do right. There are some faults 
 that must be cured by punishment, but these a 
 parent must manage and not the domestics who 
 take care of children. Let me advise you then, 
 to manage children as much as possible by 
 keeping them happy, and by offering them re- 
 rewards for efforts to be good. 
 
186 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 And in offering these rewards, always have 
 some particular thing that the child can try to do 
 or not to do. Do not tell the child, '' If you will 
 he good all day I will do so and so." For " being 
 good" is so indefinite that the child cannot tell 
 %vhat he is to aim at. — But tell a child, " Now 
 if you will go a whole hour without speaking 
 one unkind word, or if you will do such and 
 such a thing, you shall have a favour," and then 
 the child has some definite thing to try to do. 
 And be careful not to have the time of trial too 
 long, for an hour to a child is as long as a day 
 to older persons, and if you can get a child to 
 govern itself a short time, it is learning to do it 
 easier and longer the next time. 
 
 When children have faults never try to 
 shame them out of them. Nothing hardens a 
 child so much as this practice. Telling other 
 people a child's faults, for the purpose of curing 
 the fault, is a sad, sad mistake. Suppose, in 
 order to cure you of some bad habit, your em- 
 ployer should take visitors into the kitchen to 
 shame you by telling them of your faults. Do 
 you think it would be a good way to cure you 1 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 187 
 
 Surely not, and it is no better to treat chil- 
 dren thus. 
 
 Instead of this, always treat children as if 
 you thought they wished and intended to do 
 right, and when they do wrong show sympa- 
 thy and pity towards thera, and try to conceal 
 their faults from others as much as you can. 
 This will make children love you, and try the 
 more to do as you advise. When you have 
 done wrong, if a person says, " It is always ]ust 
 ^0 — I always expect you will forget, and do the 
 wrong thing — I never can put any confidence 
 in you" — does it not make you ke\ discouraged, 
 as if there was no use in trying, and as if you 
 were unjustly dealt with ? But suppose your 
 employer says, " Oh, I see you forgot this thing 
 — or did that thing wrong — but I suppose you 
 did not mean to. We all forget sometimes 
 — I think you will remember better next 
 time." Does not such treatment make you 
 feel as if you should try not to to forget next 
 time — far more than the first mode ? 
 
 Take this same way with children. Al- 
 ways encourage them to try again, and make 
 all the allowances and excuses you can, and 
 
188 LETTEKS TO PERSONS 
 
 then they will feel that you are sorry for them, 
 and they will wish and intend to do better next 
 time. 
 
 And the worse children are, the more 
 danger there is of their losing all hope of im- 
 proving, and all sense of shame, and all desire 
 to gain a good character. I have had young 
 persons come to my care, who I saw had acted 
 so badly and been found fault with so much, 
 that they did not expect any thing else, and so 
 they never tried. And when they saw I ex- 
 pected that they would do well, and pitied or 
 excused their defects, and praised them for 
 every thing that was at all commendable, they 
 began to grow encouraged. And finding how 
 pleasant it was to be praised, and to have some 
 one that did not dislike them all the time for 
 doing wrong, they made very great exertions, 
 till they really became all that they saw I ex- 
 pected. 
 
 I have seen great changes made in very 
 bad children, by merely stopping finding fault, 
 and encouraging and praising as much as truth 
 would allow. I advise you try the same 
 method, when you have to deal with very bad 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 189 
 
 children. Stop finding fault ; try to palliate 
 and excuse as much as you can ; try to con- 
 vince them, you feel kindly to them ; try to make 
 them feel happy ; act as if you expected they 
 would try to do well ; and every chance you 
 can find, when they do well, commend them 
 for it, and report their good conduct to their 
 friends. Try this, and you will often find it 
 will w^ork wonders in improving bad children. 
 
 Be very careful, in talking with children, 
 never to set an example of deceit. It often is 
 as bad to deceive as it is to tell a direct lie, 
 and a deceitful character is one of the worst 
 and most disagreeable. For this reason never 
 deceive children in any way, or for any purpose 
 — and always express disgust if you see any 
 deceitful tricks in them. Children soon learn 
 to despise and dislike what others do, and 
 if deceit is always spoken of as hateful and 
 mean, they soon learn to feel so about it them- 
 selves. 
 
 Be careful to cherish feehngs of strict hon- 
 esty in children. Always advise them to ask 
 leave to use each other's things, and talk to 
 them about the meanness and the danger of 
 
 17 
 
190 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 taking or using what belongs to others without 
 knowing that the owners are willing. Remem- 
 ber that " stealings is using what belongs to 
 others y without proper evidence that the owner 
 is willing.^' And the evil is not so much in the 
 thing done, as in the want of an honest charac- 
 ter in the person who does it. And this want of 
 honesty can be shown, as much in little matters 
 as it is in great ones. If a child sees you go and 
 get a needle, or thread, or a bit of tape from 
 its mother's work basket, and knows that 
 its mother would not be willing, your ex- 
 ample leads it to steal also. — Remember these 
 things, and beware lest you are the guilty 
 cause of training children to deceit and disho- 
 nesty. 
 
 Always endeavour to make young chil- 
 dren modest and delicate. Avoid vulgar and 
 indelicate words and actions, and express great 
 disgust when you see or hear any thing im- 
 modest or indelicate in them. Nothing saves 
 children from future dangers so much as great 
 care in this respect. 
 
 Try to cultivate in children a habit of in- 
 dustry. This is a great preservative from bad 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 191 
 
 tempers, and from mischief. Children love to 
 be active, and they can easily be induced to be 
 useful in one way or another. Try to contrive 
 useful employment for them, and if you cannot 
 secure it any other way, offer some reward for 
 their services. But always try first, to get them 
 to do useful things, for the pleasure of helping 
 others, and of thus doing good. A great deal 
 can be done in this w^ay by trying, and thus 
 you are helping to form habits both of industry 
 and benevolence. 
 
 Never allow yourselves to tell young chil- 
 dren frightful stories. Sometimes children suffer 
 agonies of fear, from having their imaginations 
 filled with frightful images, that haunt them in 
 the dark, or when they go to bed. "When I 
 was very young I was told by a young girl, 
 w^ho did not like to stay by me, that if I cried, 
 or made any noise, the " hull beggars^^ would 
 come down chimney and carry me off. And 
 many a night I lay with my head covered up, 
 sweatino; with fear and distress that I shall 
 never forget. Probably there is no distress of 
 childhood so great as that of jTear, and domes- 
 tics should be very careful not to excite it, and 
 
192 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 should be patient and kind to little children 
 when they suffer from it. 
 
 Another thing I hope you will avoid, and 
 that is, giving children good things to eat in 
 order to coax or reward them. Remember 
 that every time any thing is put into the sto- 
 mach, all its muscles begin to work in moving 
 it about, for an hour or two; for the stomach, in 
 digesting food, works as hard as the hands work 
 in kneading bread. The stomach needs time 
 to rest after this effort, and children ought 
 never to eat more than once between meals, 
 and then they ought to have bread, or some 
 other simple food. 
 
 Those, therefore, who give them cake, or 
 candy, or nuts, and allow them to keep eating 
 them every time they like, take a course which, 
 unless the stomach is very strong, is sure to 
 weaken and injure it. When children have 
 nuts, apples, candy, or cakes, persuade them to 
 eat them, either at their meals as a part, or else 
 half way between a meal as a luncheon, and do 
 not let them keep nibbling and tasting through 
 several successive hours, thus keeping the sto- 
 mach all the time labouring, and wearing out 
 ts strength. 
 
ENGAGED IN UOMESTIC SERVICE. 193 
 
 LETTER XYI, 
 
 on cooking. 
 My Friends : 
 
 There are plenty of receipt books in this 
 country, that direct as to the kind of ingredients 
 for food, and as to the proper quantities ; but 
 no knowledge of receipts can ever make a good 
 cook. 
 
 The great art of good cooking is taking care. 
 Take care that your fire is not too hot, nor too low 
 — that your oven is not too hot, nor too cold — 
 that your bread is not too much raised, nor too 
 little; that your mixtures have not too much? 
 nor too little of any particular ingredient. — It is 
 care^ care, watch, watch, that alone can secure 
 the art of cooking well. And there are few 
 persons whose business it is to cook, who view 
 their duty on this subject in a proper light. 
 To illustrate my meaning, I will give an exam- 
 ple. The domestic of a family in which I have 
 
 17* 
 
194 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 resided, was remarkable for always having 
 good bread, at all seasons, even when the hot 
 weather spoiled all other yeast but bers. 
 
 And such light, such sweet, such beautiful 
 looking bread rarely is seen. Now the amount of 
 pleasure and comfort given to this family by 
 this one thing, few would appreciate. The 
 master of the house always seemed to rejoice 
 at every new baking, in seeing his family 
 so well supplied. His wife always seemed 
 pleased when her husband, children, and visit- 
 ors praised the bread, and every member of the 
 family, at every meal, felt a sort of satisfaction 
 every time they looked at the bread plate. 
 Now multiply these comfortable feelings at each 
 meal, by the number of all the family, and 
 then by the number of meals in a year, and 
 v/hat a large amount of enjoyment was thus 
 made, simply by taking care always to have 
 good bread ! Change this bread to merely tol- 
 erable bread, and how much enjoyment would 
 be lost ! — Turn it to heavy and sour bread, and 
 then how much discomfort would take the place 
 of enjoyment ! 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 195 
 
 Now is it not God who gives us all the 
 common comforts of hfe, and do we not thank 
 and praise him for them ? And is it not worthy 
 the aim of his creatures to follow^ his example, 
 in contributing to the daily enjoyment of a 
 family l And ought we not to dignify and 
 ennoble all the common cares of life, by regard- 
 ing ourselves, as co-workers with God in pro- 
 viding for the comfort and enjoyment of his 
 creatures ? 
 
 This view of the subject teaches us the true 
 meaning of the direction : " Whether there- 
 fore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all 
 to the glory of GodJ^^ Now the glory of God 
 consists in that ^perfect benevolence of his char- 
 acter, which leads him always to find pleasure in 
 providing for the comfort, and caring for the hap- 
 piness of his creatures. And the more happiness 
 is made, the more his glory is promoted. And 
 the more we labour to promote the comfort and 
 enjoyment of others, the more we are becoming 
 like him, and are promoting his glory. Thus, in 
 the humblest of all positions, every one of us 
 can do something to add to the stock of happi- 
 ness, which exhibits the glory of God, as the 
 
196 LETTERS TO PERSOiNS 
 
 author of all being, and the source of all enjoy- 
 ment. 
 
 Now it is much to be lamented, that people 
 should fancy that there are some particular 
 ways of doing good, that are especially ac- 
 ceptable to God. This is not so. It is the 
 temper of mind, that God looks at and approves, 
 and not the particular thing done. — A woman 
 may go about'and visit the poor, and give mo- 
 ney to send education and the gospel to others, 
 with very little self-denial, and perhaps from 
 the mere love of the credit thus gained. And 
 in this case, in God's sight, the offering is of 
 little value. But the domestic, who in her hum- 
 blest employments, goes about trying to do 
 every thing in the best manner, aiming thus 
 to serve God, by promoting the comfort of 
 his creatures — she is the one who receives his 
 approving smile — she is the one who, whatever 
 she does, is doing all " for the glory of 
 God." I wish all who read this would thus 
 regard their daily pursuits in the kitchen, 
 and then they will not feel, as too many in 
 humble circumstances are apt to do, that they 
 have no way in which they can serve God, or 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 197 
 
 do much good in the world. None of us can 
 tell who does the most, or the least good. God 
 appoints each one of us our lot, and requires 
 all to do what they can, to complete the great 
 sum of enjoyment, which He designs to secure. 
 And the great thing for each to aim at is, not 
 to have some great thing to do, but to possess 
 that benevolent and submissive temper of mind 
 that will rejoice to do good, wherever God ap- 
 points the place. 
 
 In the first of Corinthians, you will find a 
 chapter in which " charity^^ is described. Now 
 when the Bible w^as translated from the Greek 
 200 years ago, this word " charity" meant 
 what the word benevolence means now, and we 
 should so understand it. In this chapter you 
 find it thus written : " And though I have theo;ift 
 of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all 
 knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I 
 could remove mountains, and have not charity, 
 (that is, benevolence,) I am nothing. And 
 though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, 
 and though I give my body to be burned, and 
 have not charity — it profiteth me nothing.'' 
 
 Now this is the very thing I have been ex- 
 
198 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 plaining. A person may be the most learned 
 person in the world, and may give all he has 
 to feed the the poor, and even suffer martyrdom 
 for the sake of religion, and yet be destitute of that 
 temper of true benevolence {\i?it makes him hke 
 God. All these great things may be done from 
 a mere love of show, or the desire of applause, 
 and then they are nothing in the sight of God. 
 
 But that patient, humble, kind, gentle, be- 
 nevolent temper of mind, that lovej to serve 
 God and do good to man, in all circumstances, 
 and at all times, this is precious in the sight of 
 God. And this temper of mind can be cherish- 
 ed and exhibited, as much in the kitchen as it 
 can in the pulpit. — It can be show^n, as much 
 in providing food for a family, as it can in those 
 schemes of benevolence which send missionaries 
 and Bibles to heathen lands. 
 
 And though it is the duty of all Christians 
 to feel an interest in the spread of that blessed 
 religion, which brings so much hope and comfort 
 to us, and though we ou^ht all of us to contribute 
 something from our stock for this merciful and 
 heavenly object, yet we ought to feel that this 
 is only one way of showing our benevolent 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 199 
 
 feeling's, and that we can have but a few 
 chances of this kind in a year. But it is in 
 every day life that we can alltlie time be show- 
 ing forth the temper of benevolence. And here 
 it is that Jesus Christ looks to see, whether or 
 not, we are gaining that self-denying, benevo- 
 lent, and submissive spirit, that alone can pre- 
 pare us for His heavenly kingdom. 
 
 I will now point out some particulars in 
 your every day duties, that demand special at- 
 tention. 
 
 There is no one article of cooking, that is 
 
 so important as good bread, for this is the chief 
 dependence for food in most families, and the 
 health of a family very much depends upon it. 
 Poor bread is always unhealthy. There are 
 three things that are requisite to secure good 
 bread, viz. good flour, good yeast, and good 
 care. The best kind of flour has a very white 
 or a yellowish tinge, and the poorest looks 
 as if ashes were mixed with it. Good flour 
 too packs closely, and does not fly about easily. 
 Grown flour makes bread that runs, and will 
 not rise well. It is best always to try flour 
 
200 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 in one or two batches, before getting a whole 
 barrel. 
 
 Many persons secure good yeast the year 
 round, by making yeast cakes. There are others 
 who have tried them and do not like them. 
 These are made by mixing Indian meal in a 
 quart or two of the best yeast, till it is thick 
 enough to work up into round cakes about three 
 quarters of an inch thick, and two or three 
 inches in diameter. These are dried in the 
 sun, or what is better, in a drying wind. They 
 are then kept in a bag, in a place where it is 
 not damp, and where they will not freeze. 
 
 In usinor them, take one cake for a laro;e 
 batch of bread, and soak it in milk and v/ater 
 throup^h the nio-ht, and then use it like common 
 yeast. This yeast is good for hot weather 
 when yeast spoils so often. The best time for 
 making yeast cakes is in May and October, and 
 they w^ill keep six months or more. Success 
 all depends on having the best of yeast for ma- 
 king the cakes. 
 
 Those who have most success in making 
 bread; are very particular in heating their oven 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 201 
 
 exactly right. For this purpose they have 
 oven wood kept in a pile by itself, and the 
 sticks of nearly equal size. They then find 
 out by trial, how many sticks heat the oven 
 just right. Afterwards, they always use this 
 number, and thus they are saved from much 
 watching, and from many mistakes in bak- 
 ing. 
 
 Great care is needful also to put the bread 
 in at just the right time. If the bread does 
 not stand to rise long enough^ it is too solid, 
 either for health, or pleasure in eating. If it 
 stands too long, it loses much of its sweetness, 
 even if it does not become sour. A great deal 
 of light and nice looking bread is not good, be- 
 cause it has lost its sweetness by being raised 
 too much. The exactly right notch can only 
 be found by trying, and after a while a cook 
 will learn to know by the looks of the dough 
 when it is just right. 
 
 Always smell of the dough, and if there is 
 the least sourness, knead some dissolved pearl- 
 ash in, and it will remove it. Nothing is w^orse 
 than sour bread, and it can always be remedied 
 by pearlash. To discover sourness, open a 
 
 18 
 
202 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 place suddenly, and smell quickly before the 
 gas escapes. 
 
 The following is the mode of making yeast 
 and bread, practised by the domestic I have lived 
 with, who makes as good bread as I ever saw. 
 
 For yeasty take a handful of hops, boil them 
 in two quarts of water twenty minutes, strain 
 off and mix in about three pints of flour, to- 
 gether with half a pint of distillery yeast, or a 
 pint and a half of homemade yeast. Some mo- 
 lasses or sugar added, hides the bitter taste 
 of the yeast, that sometimes is perceived in 
 bread. 
 
 For hread^ take a peck of flour, sift it, make 
 a hole in the centre, and put in half a pint of 
 distillery yeast, or nearly a pint of homemade 
 yeast. Then wet up the flour wdth warm milk. 
 The bread must then be kneaded for half an 
 hour, until it is so thick and w^ell mixed as to 
 cleave from the hands without sticking at all. 
 Raise it till it has cracks on the top and looks 
 light and feathery. If sour at all, knead in a 
 great spoonful of pearlash dissoked in a tea- 
 cupful of milk. When the bread is baked, 
 set the loaves on their ends, so that the hot- 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 203 
 
 torn may not steam, and cover it with a cloth. 
 Some persons dampen the cloth to make the 
 crust soft. Some persons put salt in bread, 
 others do not. When bread is not wet with 
 milk it needs salt, and a bit of butter is also an 
 improvement. 
 
 In cooking vegetables^ much depends upon 
 boiling them the right length of time. This 
 is especially the case with potatoes, which next 
 after bread are the most important item in fami- 
 ly cooking. Success in boiling potatoes well, 
 depends almost entirely on taking them out of 
 the water just as soon as they are done so as to 
 be soft. If they remain after this point, they 
 become water soaked. Therefore select the 
 potatoes all nearly of one size, and try them 
 often with a fork. As soon as it runs in easily, 
 pour off the water, and hang them where they 
 will be kept hot, keeping the cover off, to let 
 off the steam. Even when potatoes are cook- 
 ed in steam, they become water soaked, if they 
 are kept steaming after they are cooked. 
 
 A very nice way to cook potatoes for a 
 morning dish, is to pare them raw, and cut 
 them in thin slices into a small quantity of 
 
204 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 boiling water, so that when they are cooked, 
 most of the water will be evaporated. Then 
 salt them and add some cream. If no cream is 
 at hand, use sotne butter. Cold boiled potatoes 
 are very nice cut in slices, and fried on a grid- 
 dle in drippings. The common way of roast- 
 ing potatoes is improved by peeling them when 
 raw, and then roasting them in a Dutch oven 
 or cooking stove. It gives the outside a fine 
 crisp, of which many are fond. 
 
 In boiling all vegetables, first put salt in 
 the water, say a great spoonful to a gallon. It 
 is important to select all of a similar size that 
 all may cook alike. Never let your pot stop 
 boiling till they are done, as it makes them 
 water soaked. 
 
 The following may serve as some guide as 
 to time for boihng. Potatoes require from half 
 to three quarters of an hour, according to the 
 size. Cabbage requires from an hour and a 
 half to two hours ; turnips one hour ; carrots one 
 hour; if quite old still more time ; parsnips one 
 hour and a half; squash, when cut up, half an 
 hour; pumpkins cut up one hour; green corn one 
 hour; beets from two to three hours; Lima 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 205 
 
 beans one hour; peas three quarters of an hour ; 
 if old, sugar and a Httle pearlash improve thena ; 
 onions three quarters of an hour ; asparagus 
 half an hour ; rice three quarters of an hour, 
 pour off the water in thirty minutes and add 
 some milk, and be sure and salt it enough. 
 Hommony requires two quarts of water to one 
 quart of hommony, and it must be boiled five 
 hours. Eggs require three minutes when there 
 are few eggs and much water, and four or five 
 minutes when there are many eggs and little 
 water. Eggs cook, in a tin boiler, in five or six 
 minutes after the boiling w^ater is poured on 
 them, if the boiler is first scalded. Vegetables 
 boil much sooner when young and tender, and 
 judgment must be used in varying time. Al- 
 ways try all vegetables with a fork to see 
 when they are done. 
 
 Coffee should boil not more than ten min- 
 utes. In making tea, first scald the teapot, then 
 put in one teaspoonful of tea for each person, 
 and be sure that the water boils when poured 
 on. Tea is injured by standing long to draw\ 
 
 In preparing vegetables for the table, al- 
 ways have the dishes to receive them warmed, 
 
 18* 
 
206 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 and never let any water remain in the bottom of 
 the dish, and always wipe the edge of the dish 
 clean with a damp cloth before carrying it 
 to the table. Always contrive to have vege- 
 tables hot when carried to the table. If pota- 
 toes are old and watery, peel them before boil- 
 ing ; the moment they are done, pour off the 
 water and hang them to dry a few minutes. 
 Then empty them into a clean brown towel 
 and shake them about in it. This makes them 
 dry and mealy, as the towel absorbs much 
 moisture from them. Potatoes are improved 
 by mashing, putting in milk and butter and 
 then baking them. Turnips when old and not 
 sweet, are very much improved by mashing 
 and squeezing the water out, and then adding 
 a little white sugar. Be sure and squeeze the 
 water thoroughly out of cabbage. Put your 
 vegetables in nice order in the dishes, and set 
 them on the table in a regular way. 
 
 In regard to cooking meats, very much 
 depends, in roasting, on the size of the fire, on 
 the heat of the weather, and on whether the 
 meat is fresh killed or not ; for meat cooks fas- 
 ter in warm than in cold weather, and fresh 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 207 
 
 killed meat is longer cooking than meat that 
 has been kept. Of course much depends on the 
 care and judgment of a cook, but as some cal- 
 culation must be made beforehand, as to how 
 much time each article will require, the follow- 
 ing may be of service as a guide. Boil a 
 chicken twenty-five minutes ; a hen forty min- 
 utes ; a small turkey an hour and a half; a large 
 one two hours ; a leg of mutton of nine lbs. two 
 hours and a half; a neck two hours; apiece of 
 lamb weighing five lbs. two hours ; a half round 
 of salt beef three hours ; pickled pork, soak six 
 hours, and boil a piece weighing seven or eight 
 lbs. three hours and a half. Boil two pounds of 
 bacon one hour and a half. To cook ham, 
 soak it through the night, then put it in cold 
 water, heat it slowly for an hour, then let it 
 simmer gently four or five hours, if it weighs as 
 much as fifteen pounds. Soak tongues over 
 night, put them in cold water and boil them 
 slowly four or five hours. Try with a fork to 
 see when they are done. 
 
 All boiling of meats should be done hysim- 
 mering^ for a galloping boil takes out both 
 
208 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 sweetness and tenderness. Leaving cooked meat 
 in the water lessens its flavour and sweetness. 
 
 Roasting may be regulated somewhat by 
 the following directions. Roast a sirloin of fif- 
 teen lbs. three hours and a half. Ribs of beef 
 the same. 
 
 Mution is very much improved by long 
 keeping, and all meat is better when not fresh 
 killed. Roast a leo* of mutton of eio;ht lbs. two 
 hours ; the chine, or saddle weighing ten lbs. 
 two and a half hours; a shoulder of seven lbs* 
 one and a half hours ; a loin, one and three quar- 
 ter hours; the breast one hour and fifteen min- 
 utes ; a leg and part of the loin weighing fif- 
 teen lbs. three and a half. 
 
 Veal. Roast the fillet weighing sixteen lbs. 
 five hours ; a stuffed loin three hours ; a shoul- 
 der three hours ; a neck two hours ; the breast 
 two hours. 
 
 Lamb, Hind quarter of eight lbs. one and 
 three quarter hours ; fore quarter of ten lbs. two 
 hours ; a leg of five lbs. one and a half hours ; 
 a shoulder one hour; ribs one and a quarter . 
 neck one hour ; breast three quarters of an 
 hour. 
 
 m 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 209 
 
 Pork. Leg of eight lbs. three hours ; spare- 
 rib of nih.^ lbs. three hours ; a thin sparerib one 
 and a quarter; a loin of five lbs. two hours. 
 A three weeks old pig one and three quarter 
 hours. 
 
 Fowls. A turkey — let it warm for half 
 an hour, then roast a large one three hours, 
 a middle size two hours ; a small one, one and 
 a half hours. A large hen one and a quarter 
 hours ; a middle size hen one hour ; small chick- 
 en forty minutes. A goose, from one and a half, 
 to one and three quarters. 
 
 A duck from one half to three quarters of 
 an hour. The more you baste in roasting the 
 more you improve the flavour of the meat. 
 
 In broiling, cut the slices three quarters of 
 and inch thick. If cut thicker they brown too 
 much before the inside is cooked. Broiling is 
 best, done quick, and eaten soon. 
 
 A cook has great opportunities for practi- 
 sing economy. For this end she should visit 
 the cellar and pantry every day, to see that all 
 the food is safely preserved, and that all spoilt 
 articles are removed. She should save all 
 small bits of butter, all drippings that can be 
 
210 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 used in cooking:, and all o^rease that can be 
 used for soap. She should preserve all good 
 bits of bread, which can, when dry, be boiled 
 in water or milk, to eat with butter and sugar 
 — a favourite dish for children. Dry bread is 
 also good for rusk puddings, and for stuffings. 
 
 Always use the dry bread before it becomes 
 mouldy. 
 
 A cook also should practise economy in the 
 use of fuel. Domestics are very apt to burn 
 out far more fuel than is needful to keep them- 
 selves comfortable, or to do the cooking pro- 
 perly. This is very wrong, for we have no 
 right to waste even our own things, far less to 
 waste what belongs to another. 
 
 Remember that when our Saviour had 
 power, by one w^ord, to supply five thousand 
 with bread, .still he commanded his disciples, 
 '^ Gather up the fragments, that nothing be 
 lost." This was done for the instruction of all 
 w^ho have the charge of food, or any of the 
 bounties of his providence. Remember then, 
 that in taking care of fragments of food you 
 are following the example of him w^ho thinks 
 nothing is too small for his care and attention* 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SEKVICE. 211 
 
 In hot weather be careful always to cover meat 
 from the flies. In preserving fresh meat, cut 
 out all kernels, and fill the holes with salt, then 
 rub salt all over. Always keep cheese covered 
 closely. Cake, bread and cheese are best kept 
 in tin boxes with tight covers. 
 
 The grand maxim for kitchen w^ork, as w^ell 
 as all other work is, " A place for every thing, 
 and every thing in its place." Much is gained 
 by forming a habit of putting up things and 
 cleaning things as fast as they are used. You 
 wall see some domestics get a kitchen in fine 
 order, and in a couple of hours every thing will 
 be in disorder again. This is because, when 
 they make a slop they do not wipe it, when 
 they dirty the hearth they do not sweep it, 
 w^hen they use articles they never put them in 
 their places. Instead of this a neat and orderly 
 person not only puts things in order, but kee'ps 
 them so. 
 
 I have heard some housekeepers express 
 the opinion that it was out of the question to 
 get a domestic that was neat and orderly, and 
 yet good tempered. It seems to be taken for 
 
212 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 granted that neat habits and a sharp temper go 
 together. 
 
 Now this is owing to the fact, that when 
 persons are neat and orderly, it troubles them 
 far more than it does untidy persons, to have 
 any matters of theirs disarranged, and so they 
 gradually acquire a habit of fretting, or scold- 
 ing. 
 
 This ought to be carefully avoided, and I 
 hope all who read this will try and see if there 
 cannot be at least a few^ who can be neat, or- 
 derly, and yet good tempered domestics, so that 
 it will not be said of them, as I have often 
 heard of others, " Yes, she is very neat and or- 
 derly, but her temper is as sharp as a steel- 
 trap." 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 213 
 
 LETTER XVII. 
 
 On setting tables. "Washing and ironing, and other 
 house work. 
 
 My Friends : 
 
 Those who are good housekeepers are 
 generally very desirous to have their tables set 
 neatly, and in a proper manner. Few things 
 are more annoying to such persons, than to see 
 the table set askew, the table cloth tumbled 
 and put on awry, the knives, tumblers, plates, 
 and dishes put on without any order; the 
 pitchers soiled outside and in, the butter pitch- 
 ed on the plate without any care, the bread 
 cut w^ith a mixture of junks and thin slices and 
 thrown on the plate carelessly, and all other 
 matters in similar disorder. Nothing will give 
 more satisfaction to employers than carefulness 
 and order in this particular. The following 
 rules will serve as a guide in this duty. 
 
 19 
 
214 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 Rules for setting Tables. 
 
 1. Lay the table rug square with the 
 roora ; the right side up, and smooth and even. 
 
 2. Set the table square with the room, and 
 see that the leaves and legs are properly fixed, 
 so that all will stand firm, and then put on the 
 table cloth smooth and even, so that the creases 
 will run straight across the table. 
 
 3. For breakfast and tea, set the waiter on 
 square, put the cups and saucers in front, and 
 the sugar and slop bowls, and cream cup the 
 back side. Put a sugar spoon, or tongs, by the 
 sugar bowl. Then set the plates around the 
 table at regular distances with a knife in front, 
 and a napkin on one side and a cup mat 
 the back side of it. Put mats for dishes of 
 food in a regular manner, and set these dishes 
 on, square and orderly. Set the tea or coffee 
 either on the waiter, or on a mat at the right 
 hand. 
 
 4. For dinner, set the caster exactly in 
 the middle of the table, and put the salts at 
 two oblique corners of the table between tw^o 
 large spoons crossed. If more spoons are 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 215 
 
 needed lay them each side the caster. Lay the 
 salt spoons across the salt dishes, and the mustard 
 spoon beside its cup. Place the knives and 
 forks at regular distances, so that the knife 
 will be at the right hand and the fork at the 
 left. Place a tumbler and napkin so that they 
 will be at the right hand side of each plate. 
 In cool weather, set the plates to warm till 
 dinner is ready. Place the two largest mats 
 opposite the master and mistress of the family, 
 and the others in regular order. Put the two 
 principal dishes on these largest mats. Set the 
 bread on a side table, or with a fork lay a piece 
 on the napkin by each plate. 
 
 On clearing Tables. 
 
 Always wipe the salt spoons and lay them 
 beside the salt dishes in the cupboard. Also 
 cleanse the mustard spoon. Fold the napkins 
 neatly and lay them up in good order. When 
 all the dishes are removed, fold up the table 
 cloth so that it shall double in the same creases 
 as were ironed in, and lay it away smoothly. 
 
216 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 On waitins: (it Table. 
 
 Always have a clean apron on, and your 
 hands clean, and your hair in order, when 
 waiting on table. Stand on the left side of the 
 lady of the house, and always go to the left 
 side of a person waited on. 
 
 In removing covers, be careful to turn 
 them wrong side up before bearing them away, 
 so as not to spill the steam on the table cloth, 
 or on the dresses of those at table. In pour- 
 ing out water, never fill the tumbler higher than 
 an inch from the top. It is not considered 
 good manners when w^aiting on table, to address 
 persons at table, or join in the conversation at 
 all, unless you are addressed by persons at the 
 table. 
 
 On Washing and Ironing. 
 
 Success in washing well, depends very 
 much on the abundant use of water, and it is 
 very important to employers, w^ho are anxious 
 to have their clothes w^ell washed, that they 
 provide easy modes of getting water and of 
 heathig it. In the work of mine on Domestic 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 217 
 
 Economy, which I have before alluded to, is a 
 plan by which, at a trifling expense, water can 
 be raised, conducted about, and heated with 
 far less labor than is commonly used. 
 
 Common mode of Washing. 
 
 Assort the clothes and put the white ones 
 in soak over night, as it loosens the dirt. Next 
 day, w^ash the fine clothes first, and then rub 
 them again in a second suds, turning all wrong 
 side out. Put them in a bag and boil them 
 half an hour, and no more. Then rinse them 
 in a plenty of water and throw them into the 
 bluing water. The nicest washers use two 
 rinse waters before the bluing w^ater. Starch 
 those to be stiffened, and hang them out. Then 
 wash the common white clothes, then the cal- 
 icoes, then the flannels. 
 
 Never leave calicoes long damp, or standing 
 in water ; do not wash them in very hot water, 
 and when the water looks dingy, change it or 
 they will look dirty. Never rub on soap, but mix 
 it in the water so as not to have any lumps, and 
 use hard soap. Never let calicoes freeze in dry- 
 
 19* 
 
218 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 ing, and dry them wrong side out and in a shady 
 place. All these cautions are needful to preserve 
 the colours. Wash flannels in two suds, as hot 
 as the hand can bear, and rinse in a hot suds. 
 If not very dirty, two hot suds will answer. 
 
 If they are to be blued, then the rinse water 
 must not be suds, as it makes the bluing go on 
 in specks. Never put flannels in any but very 
 hot water. Starch and shake them before 
 hanging out. 
 
 Soda Washing. 
 
 This mode saves just one half the work 
 done by the common mode. 
 
 Make the soap thus : Boil six pounds of 
 common soda with six pounds of bar soap in 
 thirty quarts of water two hours. Then let it 
 grow cool, and set it away for use. 
 
 In washing, put one pound of this soap to 
 each pailful of water. After soaking the white 
 clothes in lukewarm water over night, boil 
 them in this mixture one hour and no more, or 
 they will be injured. Then take them into a 
 tub of cold w^ater, and proceed just as you do 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 219 
 
 in the common mode after you take them out 
 of the boil. That is, rinse them in one or two 
 waters and put them in blue water. The boiling 
 in this mixture saves the rubbing in two suds, 
 which is the common mode. If there are spots 
 very much soiled, put on soap and rub them in 
 the first rinse water. Flannels and cahcoes 
 cannot be washed thus. The mixture can be 
 used twice or thrice, and then is good to wash 
 floors with. Always wring clothes very dry 
 the last time. 
 
 0)1 Sprinkling, Folding and Ironing. 
 
 Wipe the dust from the ironing board or 
 table. Take lukewarm water and sprinkle all 
 the articles, laying the coloured ones separately 
 and the fine ones by themselves. Turn each 
 article right side out. Fold and roll each 
 piece separately, putting the fine ones in a 
 towel and laying all in a basket, separating the 
 white and coloured ones by a towel. Do not 
 let the coloured clothes be damp long, but 
 wait till you can iron them as soon after 
 folding as will answer. Shake, stretch and 
 
220 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 fold the sheets and table linen. Iron all lace 
 and needle work on the wrong side. Iron cal- 
 icoes with an iron not very hot. Frocks are 
 to be ironed thus; first the waist, then the 
 sleeves, and then hang them on a chair, and 
 iron the skirt. Keep the skirt rolled, while 
 ironing the waist and sleeves. 
 
 Shirts are ironed thus ; first the back, then 
 the sleeves^ then the collar and bosom, then 
 the front. Iron stockings on the wrong side. 
 Wipe the dust from the clothes frame be- 
 fore putting on the clothes, and remove the 
 clothes as soon as aired, to save them from 
 smoke or flies. 
 
 Other Kitchen Work. 
 
 Be careful to keep your sink in order by 
 frequent scalding. Keep a slop pail at hand 
 to receive all refuse matter. Always keep a 
 kettle of warm soft water over the fire. 
 
 Be very careful to wash dishes properly, as 
 this is a matter very often done amiss. I will 
 tell you how those persons do this kind of 
 work, who are ranked as the best domestics. 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 221 
 
 In the first place, they always keep a good 
 supply of dish cloths. They have at least 
 three in daily use, one for dishes that are not 
 greasy, one for greasy dishes, and one for pots 
 and kettles. These are put in the wash every 
 week, and clean ones taken in their place. 
 This prevents the musty, greasy smell that dish 
 water so often leaves on dishes and dish towels. 
 
 When a large number of dishes are to be 
 washed, they have two dish pans, one for hot 
 suds and one for rinsing ; also an old waiter, 
 on which to drain the dishes when taken out 
 of the rinsing water. 
 
 They also keep their suds hot and change 
 it often. Before washing the dishes, they scrape 
 all the plates and dishes clean and set them in 
 regular piles, the largest at the bottom. Then 
 they wash the glass, silver and other metal 
 dishes first, wiping them while hot and rubbing 
 them till bright and clear. Then they wash 
 the dishes not greasy ; and then take another 
 dish cloth and wash the greasy dishes, rinsing 
 them before putting them to drain. They 
 keep two or three towels in use, so as to lay 
 one aside when it becomes wet. One towel is 
 
222 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 usually kept for the dishes that are not greasy. 
 Last of all, they take another dish cloth, and get- 
 ting fresh water, wash the roasters, gridiron, pots 
 and kettles. The metals they dry by the fire 
 before setting away. For the nicest dishes, a 
 sw^ab made of stripes of linen tied to a stick like 
 a small mop, is very convenient, and saves the 
 hands from the hot water. 
 
 Be very careful to keep the cellar clean. 
 Decayed vegetables in a cellar always endan- 
 ger the health of a family. Many terrible 
 fevers and epidemics have been caused by 
 storino; veg-etables in cellars and leavino: them 
 to send out the poisonous gas that is always 
 exhaled when they decay. Always remove 
 any vegetables when they begin to decay* 
 Watch the barrels of salt food to see that the 
 meat keeps under the brine. 
 
 Care of Lamps. 
 
 This matter demands far more care and 
 neatness than is generally bestowed. This is 
 the w^ay I have seen it managed by these most 
 neat and careful. An old waiter is provided to 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 223 
 
 hold all the articles used, the oil pot has a 
 small turned-up nose that will not drip and is 
 set on a plate, the wick yam is kept in a bas- 
 ket and sharp scissors are kept for trimming. 
 Great pains is taken to keep all the articles free 
 from oil, and the rags and towels used are fre- 
 quently washed and changed. After all the lamps 
 are done, each lamp is carefully examined to 
 see if it is secured properly, and zciped entirely 
 clean. Then every article used is made so cleaii 
 and nice that no smell of oil will be caused by 
 using them next time. Some housekeepers 
 always do this job themselves, because they 
 cannot get persons who will do it carefully. 
 
 Nothing makes work go off so easily as hav- 
 hig sofi^e system in doing it. Where the mis- 
 ress of the family does not arrange your work, 
 alwaystry to have some plan yourself. For ex- 
 ample, have a particular day of the week for 
 doing particular kinds of work, and go by the 
 clock as much as you can. 
 
 On Friday or Saturday, see that your cel- 
 lar, closets, pantry, are all in order. See also 
 that you have a supply of holders, dish cloths, 
 and all the articles you need for w^ashing and 
 
224 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 ironing. If you Avill devote one day each 
 week to examining every department and put- 
 ting all in order, you will save much time and 
 trouble. 
 
 On the Care of Parlours and Chambers. 
 
 In sweeping the nicest parlours, it is com- 
 mon to cover the tables, books, sofas and chim- 
 ney ornaments with old sheets. Then cleanse 
 the fireplace and hearth and jambs. Then 
 sweep the carpet. It saves a carpet very much 
 to have a very large flat tin dust pan, with a 
 handle a yard long, fixed straight up, so it will 
 stand alone. This can be moved about with- 
 out stooping, and much of the dirt swept into 
 it with the broom, instead of sweeping all 
 across the carpet. This saves much dust as 
 well as wearing of the carpet. 
 
 After the dust settles, dust the articles with 
 old silk handkerchiefs and feather brushes. Use 
 a painter's brush for dusting ledges. Shake and 
 wash your dust cloths often, or they get filled 
 with dust and soil the walls and furniture. 
 
 In dusting, be careful not to rub your 
 
ENGAGED IN DOJVIESTIC SERVICE. 225 
 
 duster against the wall. Set all the furniture 
 straight and in regular order — never leave the 
 chairs standing awry, as if dancing a jig with 
 each other. Make them square with the wall. 
 "When doing chamber work, observe the fol- 
 lowing directions about making a bed. 
 
 To make a led. 
 
 Open the windows, lay off the bed covering 
 on two chairs at the foot, and let the bed air 
 some time before making it. Vv^hen ready to 
 make it, shake the feathers from each corner 
 into the middle, then take up the middle part 
 and shake it well, then push about the feathers 
 and turn the bed over. Then push the feathers 
 so as to make the head a little higher than the 
 foot, and the sides as high as the middle part. 
 Then put on the bolster, and then the undersheet 
 so that the mar/a/ig* shall be at the head, and the 
 right side of the sheet upward^ tucking in all 
 around. Then place the pillows so that the 
 open ends shall be at the sides of the bed. 
 Then spread on the upper sheet so that the 
 marking shall be at the head, and the right side 
 
 20 
 
 ff 
 
226 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 downward. This arrangement of the sheets is 
 designed to prevent the part where the feet lie 
 from being turned so as to come to the face, 
 and to prevent also the parts soiled by the body 
 from touching the bed tick and blankets. Then 
 put on the other covering, tucking in all ex- 
 cept the outside one. Then smooth the cover 
 and draw the hand along the side of the pil- 
 lows, to make an even indentation. When the 
 pillow cases are smooth and clean, hem over 
 the upper sheet, and put them on the outside. 
 
 Sweep clean under beds, and remove all 
 articles that can be moved, so as to sweep be- 
 hind them. Wash the bowl and pitcher and 
 tumbler on the wash stand every day. Once 
 a week, scald all the vessels used in a chamber. 
 Dust the doors, ledges, w^indow sashes, and 
 every article of furniture. 
 
 Never allow yourself to look in boxes or 
 drawers, as it is a temptation to honesty, be- 
 sides, being contrary to the wish of employers. 
 Never allow" yourself to take the most trifling 
 article that belongs to another. Nothing is 
 more important to a domestic than a character 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 227 
 
 for honesty^ and nothing grows so fast as habits 
 of dishonesty. If you will steal needles, thread, 
 pins, cord, or tapes, you will soon take more 
 valuable things. And it is not the value o 
 the thing taken which makes it an act of theft. 
 Stealing is " taking or using any thing that 
 belongs to another^ ivithoiit evidence that the 
 owner is willing,^^ And no matter how small 
 the thing is, it is theft, as much as if it were 
 greater. And it is not the harm done to another 
 that is most to be feared, it is the injury done 
 to yourself in forming a habit of dishonesty, 
 and thus searing your conscience, and ruining 
 your character. Always remember that you 
 are committing a sin, when you are handling 
 or using any thing that belongs to another, if 
 you would be unwilling to have the owner 
 suddenly appear and see you doing it. 
 
228 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 LETTER XYIII, 
 
 The Way to be Happy. 
 My Friends: 
 
 Before concluding this little book, I will 
 attempt to make one thing plain to you, which 
 often puzzles many minds. From the pulpit, 
 and in many other ways, you are often urged 
 to become religious. And this duty is spoken 
 of in a great variety of ways, so that there is 
 a perplexity and difficulty in knowing exactly 
 what it is that you are urged to do. You are 
 sometimes urged " to become religious," to '' be- 
 come pious," to "become Christians ;" at other 
 times you are told, that you must " repent ;" 
 that you must "be converted;" must "sub- 
 mit to God ;" must be " born again ;" must 
 have " a new heart ;" must " believe in the Lord 
 Jesus Christ ;" must have " faith in Christ." I 
 have no doubt but that you sometimes feel, that 
 you do not exactly understand what you are 
 required to do, and that if any one would ex- 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 229 
 
 plain the matter so that you knew exactly what 
 to do, you should be willing to do it. Now 
 this is what I am going to attempt, and I think 
 I can make it clear by a simple illustration. 
 
 Suppose a long and lingering sickness 
 should suddenly appear in the place where you 
 live, and the nurses and physicians could find 
 no cure for it. At length a man appears who 
 claims, that all who will come to him and obey 
 his prescriptions, will be cured. Some say they 
 believe in him, and some say they do not. — 
 Some say they have faith in him, and some say 
 they have not. Some come to him and get 
 his directions, and obey them exactly ; some do 
 not even ask his advice; others ask for it, and 
 when it is written out, lay it up in a drawer 
 and never use it. Now, in this case, who are 
 the persons who really believe in him, and real- 
 ly have faith in him ? Surely it is not those 
 who say they believe in him, it is only those w^ho 
 go to him, take his advice, and to the best of 
 their understanding, obey it. 
 
 Now, suppose all who really obeyed his ad- 
 vice w^ere healed, and then others who had ne- 
 glected and despised him, should come to them, 
 
 20* 
 
230 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 and ask what they should do, to be cured of 
 that sickness. A variety of answers would be 
 given. It would be said, you must " turn and 
 repent" of your past neglect — you must " sub- 
 mit" to this physician — you must " believe" in 
 this physician — you must " have faith" in this 
 physician. 
 
 All these directions mean the same thing, 
 that is, you must come to the physician for his 
 directions, and then you must obey them. Mere- 
 ly believing that his prescriptions are good, or 
 going to get them, without obeying them, is 
 " faith without works, which is dead, being 
 alone." 
 
 Now this illustrates exactly the state of 
 things in this world. God has created us to he 
 happy ^ and this is the great aim of all his deal- 
 ings with us. But the only way for us to be 
 happy is, to form that holy, benevolent, self- 
 denying character which Christ came to ex- 
 hibit on earth. Such a character as this, none 
 of us have, when we are born. On the contra- 
 ry, we all form habits of living m.erely to seek 
 our own selfish enjoyments. Young children 
 find it hard to practise any self-denial, even for 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 231 
 
 their own good, and we all find it hard to 
 practise self-denial for the good of others. And 
 yet, submission of the will to God, and self-deni- 
 al in securing our own good, and in doing good 
 to others, are habits that are indispensable to 
 our present and eternal happiness. 
 
 Now, Jesus Christ came into the world to 
 save it from that long, hngering disease, which 
 will certainly end in eternal death, if not reme- 
 died before we leave this world. And he 
 comes to creatures, who have long been living 
 in entire neglect of his advice and requirements, 
 and in his holy word, he teaches them how to 
 be healed. 
 
 You now can understand that all the direc- 
 tions given, mean one and the same thing. We 
 become Christians when we submit to Christ 
 as our Lord, and set out to obey his commands. 
 And the terms "to become pious'' and ''to 
 become religious," mean the same thing. We 
 " repent" when we are sorry for past neglect, 
 and show that we are sorry by our future obe- 
 dience. To be " converted" means to be 
 " turned about," and this is done when we 
 cease to neglect the directions of Christ and 
 
232 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 begin to obey tbern. To be ** born again" 
 means, to come into a new state of being, and 
 this is true of us, when we cease to live for our- 
 selves and begin to live for Christ. We " sub- 
 mit to God" when we take Jesus Christ as our 
 Lord and Master, and submit our will in all 
 things to his. When we are much engaged in 
 any thing, we say we " give our lohole heart to 
 it," and when we cease to give the feelings of 
 our hearts to our own pleasures, and become most 
 interested in pleasing Christ, then we have "a 
 new heart," that is, our chief interest is entirely 
 changed. We were most interested in pleasing 
 ourselves, but now we are most interested in 
 doing the will of Christ. So we " believe in 
 Christ," and '^ have faith" in him, when we not 
 only seek to know his will, but earnestly en- 
 deavor to do it. 
 
 So you perceive, my friends, there is no real 
 confusion or difficulty in this matter. You can 
 all of you begin, this very day, to be the follow- 
 ers of Jesus Christ, and thus to walk in that 
 path, which secures true peace in this life, and 
 eternal happiness beyond the grave. I hope, 
 therefore, if you have not done it before, that 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 233 
 
 you will, this very day, take the Bible, which 
 contains the directions of Christ, and go to your 
 room and resolve to begin immediately to serve 
 Christ, and pray to him to help you to perse- 
 vere. And then every day, go alone and read 
 in this blessed book, and pray for help in trying 
 to conform all your conduct to it. This is the 
 way to begin to be a Christian, and keeping 
 on thus, and improving every day more and 
 more, is the way " to grow in grace.'^ 
 
 But you will ask, perhaps, Can I convert 
 myself? Is it not the Holy Spirit that chan- 
 ges the heart ? To this I reply : No, you can- 
 not convert yourselves, and it is the Spirit of 
 God that changes the heart. All your deter- 
 minations, and good resolutions, and continued 
 efforts would be of no avail, without the help of 
 God's Spirit. But you have got one part to do, 
 and the Bible teaches us thus, on this point : 
 ii Work out your oivn salvation with fear and 
 trembling, for it is God that worketh in you to 
 will and to do, of his own good pleasure." 
 
 This then is our great encouragement to 
 begin to do our part, and to keep on in our ef- 
 forts to obey Christ. We are not left to our 
 
234 LETTERS TO PERSONS 
 
 own unaided efforts. — While we are working 
 out our own salvation, God is working in us" to 
 will and to do," and this is our grand hope for 
 success in our efforts. But perhaps you will 
 think, that you nnust wait till you feel some 
 great distress of mind, and have convictions of 
 sin, and such other feelings as you do not find 
 in your own mind. But, my friends, there is 
 no need of waiting for any thing. Many per- 
 sons begin to be Christians, without any such 
 previous anxiety and distress. Begin, then, this 
 very day to serve Christ by " denying all un- 
 godUness." If you are inclined to be careless, 
 or to be fretful, or to be indolent, or to be 
 heedless and forgetful, these are the points 
 where you are to begin to '' take up your cross" 
 and follow after Christ. It costs us a good 
 deal of self-denial, when we have careless ha- 
 bits, to cure them, or when we are irritable and 
 fretful, to become meek and patient, or when 
 we are indolent, to become industrious, or 
 when we are negligent and forgetful, to become 
 thoughtful and attentive. And it is in all such 
 matters that Jesus Christ prescribes to us, " Deny 
 
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE. 235 
 
 thyself daily ^ and take up thy cross and follow 
 
 me.'' 
 
 And we are very apt to undervalue our op- 
 portunities of doing good to others, and to for- 
 get that we can imitate Christ by " going 
 about doing good.^^ The domestic who sets a 
 good example to young children, and by words 
 and acts helps to form their character aright, or 
 who by her labours in the kitchen is contribu- 
 ting to the daily comfort of a household, and aid- 
 ing the wife and mother to make a happy home 
 to her husband, and to train up her children 
 aright, she surely has a right to feel that she 
 can imitate Christ by " going about doing good." 
 
 Let us then, my friends, set about the duties 
 of the lot our Saviour has appointed us, daily 
 " looking unto him" as our pattern, our guide, 
 and our Lord ; daily praying to him for his 
 help and protection, and then when he, who is 
 Master of all the famihes of earth, shall appear, 
 each of us shall hear his voice saying, " Well 
 done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into 
 the joy of thy Lord." 
 

I