The complete Indian housekeeper & cook

As soon as her mistress has left the room, the ayah should open the windows and put everything in thorough oi’der, making the bed last of all. Not till everything save dusting is finished should the room be swept, especially if she has to call in another servant with a broom. Once a week a more elaborate cleaning should take place, boxes, &c., be moved, lest vermin of any soi't should lurk behind them, and both windows and doors receive a polish. Her mistress s room done, the ayah will see that the bathroom is set in order, squeeze out the sponge, dry and fold the towels, &c. If there are no children, she has little else to do during the day, except to lay out walking things, boots, parasols, &c., as may be required. To ensure these being ready, she should come with the other servants after breakfast to take her orders ; and if she desires to please, will take her recess between breakfast and twelve o’clock, so as to be on the spot when her mistress is most likely to require her. When the order is given for luncheon, she will take hot water to her mistress’s room, and at the same time ask what dress she proposes wearing in the afternoon and evening. At dusk she will go to the bearer for candle and lamp, draw the curtains, if necessary light the fire, and be ready on her mis- tress’s return from her evening drive to take her wraps While her mistress is dressing for dinner, the ayah sliould arrange everything for the night ; turn down the be , »-’c., see that fresh water is in the carafe, and lay dressing-gown and slippers ready for use. She must not forget to see that there are matches at hand, and that anything likely to be required is in its place. If a lady guest comes to the house without a servant, the ayah of the house should attend to hei wants exactly as if she were a mistress, and any neglect in this iioint should be punished at once. , , , i Where there are no children, an ayah should always have time to hem dusters, give out the khilmulgars cloths, and tlo Housekeeper and Cook 87 many little odd jobs about the house. Indeed, a really good woman will be an immense help, and put her hand to any- thing, from arranging flowers to sewing on buttons. Being the only woman-servant in the house, the ayah should be treated with consideration and respect. Whether she be a SAveeper or not, it should be generally understood that you hold her to be the equal of any other servant in the house. If she has charge of children, this point must be still more insisted upon, and you should endeavour to instil into her a sense of her great responsibility, and the confidence you have in her. To treat, however, of the ayah as a nurse would involve a chapter on the management of children, and lead us into controversial waters.