most instances kindness begets kindness. I seldom allow a week to pass when I am at home without asking the servant a few friendly questions about he/ family. I wish her to feel that we have an interest in her and all that belongs to her, and this is much better than sneers and faultfinding. If you find your efforts to engage the love of your servants of no avail, then you must separate. Never keep a servant who feels no interest in the family, or who would not rise in the middle of the night to serve you, or who per- forms her daily work without a smile. I like to hear a girl sing over her work ; it shows she is happy. In dress, which is a constant source of complaint and trouble in many families, let mistresses set an example of neatness and good taste. The vulgarity of rich people is, for the most part, far worse in its in- fluence on society than the vulgarity of poor people. Nothing conveys a better idea of a womans culture, whether a servant or a mistress, than what is called good taste in dress. “ Neat, trim, and tidy, there she stood. No finery of dress, But simple, modest, woman-like, And pretty not the less. “ No hoop to swing and knock about, The firm and well-starched skirt Sits well, and just was short enough To clear the dust and dirt. <c And round her pleasant, cheerful face No vulgar colours shone ; The neat white frill and well-brushed hair Had beauty of its own.” Mistresses and Servants. 47 If there is any tendency to vulgarity in the style or colour of the mistress’s dress or bonnet, any large display of electro-plated jewellery, these will be exag- gerated by less educated persons. Teach your servants good taste in dress, not by tracts, and sermons, and ill-natured words, but the more powerful example of a meek and quiet spirit ; and a mistress ought to feel rather complimented than angry when her example is followed by others. The love of ornament is no doubt instinctive in a woman, and those who have had a better education should guide and direct it among those who have not had the same opportunities. If your servant wants a brooch and deserves one, give her one on her birthday. A clean, neatly dressed, cheerful servant, is a perpetual charm in every house- hold. The only certain method of making good servants, is to make those dependent on you respect and love you. They cannot be made by fear to fulfil your wishes, but love and respect will command anything. The subject may appear too homely and common-place to require consideration ; it is however, in the present day, one of importance. We are all in some sense servants one of another ; the rich are as dependent on the poor as the poor are on the rich. There is a mutual servitude and a mutual obligation in every condition of life, and there is no sense in assuming high looks, and thinking and acting otherwise. The best servants are those who are best served ; and the goodwill and kindness which we show to others are by them ac- corded to us ; for it is a sin to suppose that domestic servants are by nature worse than their mistresses. 4-8 Buckmaster* 's Cookery .

AI-modernized reading of the original text

most instances kindness begets kindness. I seldom allow a week to pass when I am at home without asking the servant a few friendly questions about her family. I wish her to feel that we have an interest in her and all that belongs to her, and this is much better than sneers and faultfinding. If you find your efforts to engage the love of your servants of no avail, then you must separate. Never keep a servant who feels no interest in the family, or who would not rise in the middle of the night to serve you, or who performs her daily work without a smile. I like to hear a girl sing over her work ; it shows she is happy. In dress, which is a constant source of complaint and trouble in many families, let mistresses set an example of neatness and good taste. The vulgarity of rich people is, for the most part, far worse in its influence on society than the vulgarity of poor people. Nothing conveys a better idea of a womans culture, whether a servant or a mistress, than what is called good taste in dress. “ Neat, trim, and tidy, there she stood. No finery of dress, But simple, modest, woman-like, And pretty not the less. “ No hoop to swing and knock about, The firm and well-starched skirt Sits well, and just was short enough To clear the dust and dirt. <c And round her pleasant, cheerful face No vulgar colours shone ; The neat white frill and well-brushed hair Had beauty of its own.” Mistresses and Servants. If there is any tendency to vulgarity in the style or colour of the mistress’s dress or bonnet, any large display of electro-plated jewellery, these will be exaggerated by less educated persons. Teach your servants good taste in dress, not by tracts, and sermons, and ill-natured words, but the more powerful example of a meek and quiet spirit ; and a mistress ought to feel rather complimented than angry when her example is followed by others. The love of ornament is no doubt instinctive in a woman, and those who have had a better education should guide and direct it among those who have not had the same opportunities. If your servant wants a brooch and deserves one, give her one on her birthday. A clean, neatly dressed, cheerful servant, is a perpetual charm in every household. The only certain method of making good servants, is to make those dependent on you respect and love you. They cannot be made by fear to fulfil your wishes, but love and respect will command anything. The subject may appear too homely and common-place to require consideration ; it is however, in the present day, one of importance. We are all in some sense servants one of another ; the rich are as dependent on the poor as the poor are on the rich. There is a mutual servitude and a mutual obligation in every condition of life, and there is no sense in assuming high looks, and thinking and acting otherwise. The best servants are those who are best served ; and the goodwill and kindness which we show to others are by them accorded to us ; for it is a sin to suppose that domestic servants are by nature worse than their mistresses. 4-8 Buckmaster* 's Cookery .

Buckmaster's cookery