HOW TO HAVE A GOOD SERVANT.
A WRITER in the Boston Transcript gives a long list of rules tending to the elucidation of this subject, from which a few of the most significant are culled:— Give her as good wages as you can; pay her regularly, or give her reasons why she should wait. Do not expect her to be a mind reader, but tell her just what you want done. Give her as pleasant a room as possible, and let her have time to keep it in order. Do not talk as if your own way was the only right way to do things. Never allow the children to treat her with disrespect or make her unnecessary work. Never reprimand her before children or strangers. Always say “good-morning” and “good-night.” Always say “please” and “thank you” when you ask her to do anything for you, and insist upon the children doing the same. A command given in an abrupt, disagreeable tone will often make her angry or unhappy. If you like her, tell her so sometimes. If she is cross or irritable, be patient with her. She may be suffering acutely, mentally or physically. Above all things, do not scold, blame, or find fault with her any more than you can possibly help. Nothing will discourage her so much. She needs encouragement a thousand times more than she needs discouragement. To sum up, be as kind, patient, sympathetic, reasonable, considerate, and respectful to her as you would wish other women to be to your own daughter if she is ever obliged to do housework for a living.