The new home cook book

In making a contract with a girl for any position in the family, the mistress of the house should very carefully explain the rules by which she regulates the time and labors of those she employs, stating definitely in what part of the Sabbath each girl can go to church, or if they go on alternate Sundays, as must often be the case in large families. Then define exactly what privileges each may expect — how often they can visit their friends, and how late they may remain out. Give every privilege that can be allowed consistently with the duties to be performed, and for the girl's own best interests. These rules having been so distinctly stated that there can be no misapprehension, let it be as clearly understood that from these rules and regulations there can be allowed no deviation, except with the knowledge and consent of the mistress. One afternoon and evening of leisure each week is all tha time that can be spared conveniently from household duties, and as much as the servant can have, and attend faithfully to her own sewing and keep her clothes in repair. All the other evenings, after the ordinary work is over, will be needed for this important attention to her own garments. Except in extreme cases, such leisure evenings as they can command should be scrupulously reserved for their social enjoyment and their personal affairs. To allow them more time would lead to idle habits, which those who must labor for their living can ill afford ; while to give them less time would be unjust. When two, three, or more girls are needed in one house, the question of how much company they can be allowed at the house is important. If one girl has the privilege of allowing her friends to call when they choose, the others will expect the same privilege, and justly. This will cause confusion and disorder in their regular duties. We think it should be settled, that visits cannot be permitted till after the day's important work is over, and that by ten o'clock visitors must leave, the kitchen and range be put in order, and the girls all in and ready to retire to their needed rest. Nor should a kitchen full of visitors be allowed at any time, nor the dining room be used for their guests. Their friends can easily be made to understand this. The kitchen ought to be in order before friends begin their calls, and the dining room carefully arranged for the morning's meal, the windows fastened and the doors closed. We do not approve the policy which permits the many visitors that naturally call where there are two or three girls, to be invited or expected to take their meals with them. On the contrary, it should be distinctly forbidden. If one feels at liberty to ask her friends to stop to meals, the others have good grounds for expecting the same privilege. If they may ask one, they must ask others, or act with great partiality. At first sight it seems mean and miserly to refuse this privilege to servants, but it is easy to see to what it leads, — a room full every night. Simply in view of the expense of this kind of hospitality, it is a matter of grave consideration. It is also a bad custom — a real injury — for the employees, as well as the employer. We have been through a long experience of this kind of open hospitality, and confess