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Classic
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page 369
well as the family, and the mistress who has accomplished this may well
congratulate herself on having escaped the worst and most perplexing ills of the
life of the American housewife. In her efforts to bring about such a result, she
may confidently count on meeting many cases of incompetence, stupidity, and even
ingratitude, but the experiment itself is in the right direction, and if it
fails of complete success can not be wholly without good results.
HINTS TO "HIRED HELP."
Be neat in person and dress.
Keep your hands clean and hair tidy.
Do not waste time in gadding about and gossip.
Be quiet, polite and respectful in your manners.
Tell the truth always, but especially to children.
Do not spend your money foolishly in gewgaws of dress.
Always follow your mistress' plan of work, or explain why you do not.
Keep your room neat and orderly, and make it as attractive as possible.
Do not waste any thing. To waste carelessly is almost as wrong as to steal.
Never tell tales out of the family, or repeat in one what you have seen in
another.
Never break a promise to children, and do not frighten them with stories, or
help them to conceal wrong-doing.
Remember that there is nothing gained by slighting work. Doing every thing as
well as possible always saves labor in housekeeping.
Remember that the best and most faithful girls command the highest wages, get
the easiest and best places, and never are out of employment.
In engaging a new place, have a clear understanding as to wages, work, and the
evenings and time you are to have. It may save trouble afterwards.
Learn from books or from those who have had more experience, the best way of
doing work, and plan to do it, with as much system and few steps as possible.
Don't change employers. There are trials in every place, and it is better to
put up with them, and make them as light as possible, than to change to new
ones.
If your mistress scolds and loses her temper, be sure and control yours. If
you feel that you are wronged, talk quietly and kindly after the storm has
blown over.
Instead of trying, as many do, to see how little you can do and get your wages,
try to see how pleasant and useful you can be as a member of the family. Work
for its interests and happiness, lighten its burdens, be ready to give help when
it is needed, even if it is out of your own line of work, and try to win the
esteem and love of all by cheerfulness, kindness, truthfulness, and the practice
every day of the golden rule.
Above all, do not think your work degrading. No work is more honorable. The
happiness and health of the family depends on you, and no lady or gentleman will
"slight" you or "look down" on you because you work. You need not be on the
lookout for slights unless you are vain, or lazy, or slovenly, or dishonest.
Whoever looks down on you because you do honest work conscientiously and well,
is a fool, and not worth minding.
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