Some servants will leave water in a basin for the person who next uses it to einpty. They don't put back what they take down. Their shelves are in a litter. Their pantry is without order. Their sleeping-room is left to take care of itself Their kitchen is always upside down. They take no proper pride in their own personal ap- pearance, thinking finery on a holiday and a clean show on a Sunday an offset for untidiness and slovenliness on week-days. If I have mentioned many faults of carelessness and stupidity in servants, it is because I esteem their calling to be one of the most respectable upon earth. In many countries the faithful servant is " UP-STAIRS, DOWN-STAIRS, IN MY LADV's CHAMBER." 85 provided for to the end of his or her hfe. They not only have com- forts which their relatives cannot obtain, such as better dwelling and food, but they have opportunities for self-improvement which other modes of living do not supply. It has been said that no man is a hero to his valet, because he is seen by his servants as he really is, not with his " quality manners " on. But every master and mistress should be able to bear this constant survey, and should win the re- spect and esteem of their servants by justice, kindness and noble living. The good and faithful master is one of nature's noblemen ; the kind mistress, who is ever ready to advise her servants and guide them in their duty, is a crown to her husband and her home; and the good servant, in the highest sense, is a masterpiece of Christian civilization. She is no slave, except as all of us are the slaves of circumstances to a certain extent. The position of a servant ought to come next in honor to that of a teacher. Indeed, servants arc for good or ill the teachers of chil- dren, who make them their confidants and take their vaews and im- pressions from their conversation and precepts. In this country good servants are very difficult to get, for reasons that have already been mentioned, but when they are found, they are highly valued and not lightly parted with. The biographies of old servants would make a very interesting volume of domestic literature. Few have such op- portunities for observing character and learning to sympathize with the trials of others. There are training schools for servants, as there are for teachers, but a quick and willing girl can learn more from a good mistress in her first place than from hearing lectures or learning rules. Some girls are " butter-fingered," as the saying is, by nature, and it is hard work and takes a rough experience to make them finger- sure, so that they can avoid breaking, slipping and spilling. There was a famous cook who had to prepare sumptuous dinners for his master's table. They were so numerous when his master gave a dinner-party that he found it difficult to avoid forgetting something. So he arranged a long row of pegs and hung upon each peg a paper cap, and before preparing each dish he put on one of the caps, and S6 THE HEARTHSTONE ; OR, LIFE AT HOME.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Some servants will leave water in a basin for the person who next uses it to empty. They don't put back what they take down. Their shelves are in a litter. Their pantry is without order. Their sleeping-room is left to take care of itself Their kitchen is always upside down. They take no proper pride in their own personal appearance, thinking finery on a holiday and a clean show on a Sunday an offset for untidiness and slovenliness on week-days. If I have mentioned many faults of carelessness and stupidity in servants, it is because I esteem their calling to be one of the most respectable upon earth. In many countries the faithful servant is " UP-STAIRS, DOWN-STAIRS, IN MY LADV's CHAMBER." 85 provided for to the end of his or her hfe. They not only have comforts which their relatives cannot obtain, such as better dwelling and food, but they have opportunities for self-improvement which other modes of living do not supply. It has been said that no man is a hero to his valet, because he is seen by his servants as he really is, not with his " quality manners " on. But every master and mistress should be able to bear this constant survey, and should win the respect and esteem of their servants by justice, kindness and noble living. The good and faithful master is one of nature's noblemen ; the kind mistress, who is ever ready to advise her servants and guide them in their duty, is a crown to her husband and her home; and the good servant, in the highest sense, is a masterpiece of Christian civilization. She is no slave, except as all of us are the slaves of circumstances to a certain extent. The position of a servant ought to come next in honor to that of a teacher. Indeed, servants arc for good or ill the teachers of children, who make them their confidants and take their vaews and impressions from their conversation and precepts. In this country good servants are very difficult to get, for reasons that have already been mentioned, but when they are found, they are highly valued and not lightly parted with. The biographies of old servants would make a very interesting volume of domestic literature. Few have such opportunities for observing character and learning to sympathize with the trials of others. There are training schools for servants, as there are for teachers, but a quick and willing girl can learn more from a good mistress in her first place than from hearing lectures or learning rules. Some girls are " butter-fingered," as the saying is, by nature, and it is hard work and takes a rough experience to make them fingersure, so that they can avoid breaking, slipping and spilling. There was a famous cook who had to prepare sumptuous dinners for his master's table. They were so numerous when his master gave a dinner-party that he found it difficult to avoid forgetting something. So he arranged a long row of pegs and hung upon each peg a paper cap, and before preparing each dish he put on one of the caps, and

The hearthstone; or, Life at home