maid; and, being without the last, a young wench came to hire
herself. The man was gone out, and my sister above stairs, so I
opened the door myself; and this person presented herself to my
view, dressed completely, more like a visitor than a servant-maid;
she, not knowing me, asked for my sister; pray, madam, said I, be
pleased to walk into the parlour, she shall wait on you presently.
Accordingly I handed madam in, who took it very cordially. After
some apology, I left her alone for a minute or two; while I, stupid
wretch! ran up to my sister, and told her there was a gentlewoman
below come to visit her. Dear brother, said she, don’t leave her
alone, go down and entertain her while I dress myself.
Accordingly, down I went, and talked of indifferent affairs;
meanwhile my sister dressed herself all over again, not being
willing to be seen in an undress. At last she came down dressed as
clean as her visitor; but how great was my surprise when I found my
fine lady a common servant-wench.
My sister understanding what she was, began to inquire what wages
she expected? She modestly asked but eight pounds a year. The
next question was, what work she could do to deserve such wages? to
which she answered, she could clean a house, or dress a common
family dinner. But cannot you wash, replied my sister, or get up
linen? she answered in the negative, and said, she would undertake
neither, nor would she go into a family that did not put out their
linen to wash, and hire a charwoman to scour. She desired to see
the house, and having carefully surveyed it, said, the work was too
hard for her, nor could she undertake it. This put my sister
beyond all patience, and me into the greatest admiration. Young
woman, said she, you have made a mistake, I want a housemaid, and
you are a chambermaid. No, madam, replied she, I am not
needlewoman enough for that. And yet you ask eight pounds a year,
replied my sister. Yes, madam, said she, nor shall I bate a
farthing. Then get you gone for a lazy impudent baggage, said I,
you want to be a boarder not a servant; have you a fortune or
estate that you dress at that rate? No, sir, said she, but I hope
I may wear what I work for without offence. What you work,
interrupted my sister, why you do not seem willing to undertake any
work; you will not wash nor scour; you cannot dress a dinner for
company; you are no needlewoman; and our little house of two rooms
on a floor, is too much for you. For God’s sake what can you do?
Madam, replied she pertly; I know my business; and do not fear a
service; there are more places than parish churches; if you wash at
home, you should have a laundrymaid; if you give entertainments,
you must have a cookmaid; if you have any needlework, you should
have a chambermaid; and such a house as this is enough for a
housemaid in all conscience.
I was pleased at the wit, and astonished at the impudence of the
girl, so dismissed her with thanks for her instructions, assuring
her that when I kept four maids she should be housemaid if she
pleased.
Were a servant to do my business with cheerfulness, I should not
grudge at five or six pounds per annum; nor would I be so
unchristian to put more upon any one than they can bear; but to
pray and pay too is the devil. It is very hard, that I must keep
four servants or none.
In great families, indeed, where many servants are required, those
distinctions of chambermaid, housemaid, cookmaid, laundrymaid,
nurserymaid, &c., are requisite, to the end that each may take her
particular business, and many hands may make the work light; but
for a private gentleman, of a small fortune, to be obliged to keep
so many idle jades, when one might do the business, is intolerable,
and matter of great grievance.
I cannot close this discourse without a gentle admonition and