Transcriber’s Notes:

The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

A complete list of corrections as well as other notes follows the text.

LETTERS TO PERSONS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC SERVICE.

BY MISS CATHERINE E. BEECHER.

NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY LEAVITT & TROW, 194 Broadway.

MDCCCXLII.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by JOHN F. TROW, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.

TO AMERICAN LADIES.

My Countrywomen:

Will you aid me in an attempt to benefit a most useful, a most important, and yet a much neglected portion of our fellow citizens? I can accomplish little without your aid; with it, I trust much may be done.

Have you ever heard any instructions from the pulpit addressed to the class for whom I now write? Have you ever read a printed sermon, or a tract suited and designed to instruct Americans of this class, on the topics presented in this book? Have you not felt how important it is that this class, who have so much influence on domestic enjoyment, and on the character of children, should be properly instructed in the duties of their station, and yet how difficult it is to address them acceptably, or to find books that answer for this purpose?

These things have been urged on my attention by benevolent ladies, who have felt these difficulties, and who complain that, while those they hire can find books enough which treat on the duties of their employers, they seldom find instructions in regard to the peculiar duties of their own station. I have made an attempt to remedy this deficiency, so far as my ability extends. But a great difficulty meets me. The persons for whom I write, have few opportunities to know what issues from the press, and seldom buy books. It is others, who, from a spirit of philanthropy and benevolence, must procure such advantages for them, or they will seldom be secured. I would therefore appeal to all benevolent and Christian ladies, whose eye may rest on this page, and ask if each will not secure the reading of this book to at least one of those for whom it is written. If housekeepers will supply those they hire, if travellers and visitors will use this, to present as a token of good will to those who serve them, where they temporarily sojourn, if on New-Years and Christmas, this may be remembered as a suitable present to those who do so much to aid on festive occasions, then, if this book is fit for the end designed, there will be many who will be joined, in the best of all fellowship, with their friend and countrywoman,

The Author.

CONTENTS.

LETTERS TO Persons engaged in Domestic Service.

LETTER I.

The station of domestics important, respectable, and advantageous to themselves. A story to illustrate the state of things in this country.

My Friends:

I have travelled a good deal in various parts of this country, and by visiting in a large number of families, I have been led to feel a great interest in the welfare of persons in your situation. And as my friends think that I could write something which might be useful and interesting to you, I have concluded to try, and have, therefore, prepared this small volume for your use. I trust you will find, that I have, at least, one good qualification for writing a book for you, and that is, a real interest in those I address, and a sincere desire to do all I can to promote their usefulness and happiness.

I think that much of the trouble felt by persons in your situation of life, would be very much lessened, if a right view were taken of the respectability, usefulness, and advantages of the station you occupy. I do not think you are aware either of the good you can do to others, or of the benefits you may receive yourselves, in your employment. And I do not think you understand the real respectability which belongs to your situation. I therefore wish to give you some views on these points, that I hope may tend to make you more useful, and more contented with your lot. This I think I can do in the most agreeable way by relating the following tale.

A Story.

Once there was a ship which sailed with a large company on board. There were the captain, the officers, and the sailors, and a company of soldiers. There was also a large number of gentlemen and ladies, and there were several families of children, returning from school to their parents, with the persons who had the care of them. There was also a number of servants to the gentlemen and ladies.

After they had been some time at sea, a dreadful storm came on, the ship sprung a leak, they all got into the ship’s boats, and then she sunk to the bottom with all their possessions. After a great deal of trouble, their boats succeeded in all reaching a neighbouring, unknown shore. Their misfortunes soon reached the ears of the king of that country, who was a very generous and kind man. His dominions had just been desolated by a pestilence, which in some cases had swept off whole families. The king had all these strangers conveyed to a large estate whose owner, with all his family, had perished in the pestilence. On this estate was a large and magnificent palace, with gardens, and orchards, and parks, and a great extent of fields for cultivation. Within the palace were fine furniture, and rich clothing, and a great quantity of food of all kinds. The out-houses, also, were supplied with fine horses and beautiful carriages. All this estate, with its palace and treasures, was given to these strangers, on two conditions; the first was, that they should never have any kind of intercourse with the people of the land, but take care of themselves and do all their own work. The second was, that all the company should consider and treat each other as “free and equal.” Children and servants, soldiers and sailors, were to have the same right to every thing in the palace, as any one else had, and no person was to be superior in rights to another, in any respect whatever. All were “free and equal;” all were equally entitled to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” in any way each thought best for himself. On these two conditions, this company took possession of this noble estate, and all its treasures.

Immediately on entering the palace, they commenced ransacking the whole establishment, and every one was trying to get the best of every thing. All wanted the pleasantest rooms, and the handsomest clothes, and the best articles of food. Each person claimed that he had as good a right to the best of every thing as any one else, and no one was willing to give up his rights. The children liked to use the nicest china and cut glass to play with, and the cakes and sweetmeats for their food; the servants liked the silks and satins for dress, and the sailors and soldiers liked the fine parlours with their light carpets and silk curtains and sofas, to smoke and eat in. And if any of the company tried to control them, insult and abuse were showered down, for thus taking away the rights and liberties of others. Very soon quarrels began, and these grew worse and worse, until they came to blows, and there was constant fighting for every thing. The result was this; the servants, the soldiers and the sailors were the strongest, and so they got possession of the best of every thing. The richest clothing, the finest rooms, and the best food were all taken by them. The captain, officers and gentlemen were the next strongest, and they got the next best. The women and children were the weakest, and so they were obliged to put up with the poorest of every thing.

But after they had thus divided their possessions, the question then was, who should do the work? All wanted to sit in the parlours, and walk in the gardens, and eat their meals, and ride in their carriages; but nobody wanted to cook, or wash, or sweep, or plough, or take care of horses. And yet all this work must be done, or they would be destitute of the necessaries and comforts of life. At first, the strongest tried to force the weakest to work for them, and for a while, it seemed as if the poor women and children, who had little strength to resist, would be made slaves to the strong.

But they declared that nobody had a right to make them work, and that they would go with their complaints to the king, if their rights were thus invaded.

Thus matters went on, till all the carpets were covered with filth, all the dishes were dirty, all the clothing was soiled and torn, and every thing about the estate was fast going to destruction.

Meantime the soldiers, sailors and servants, who had the most strength, were constantly domineering over the others, and quarrelling and fighting among themselves. The children were beaten and abused, the ladies insulted, and all kinds of oppression practised. There was universal contention, fear, distress and ill will. All the decent and well meaning persons declared, that they would gladly exchange this palace for a hovel, with nothing but potatoes to eat, and straw to sleep on, if they could thus gain quiet and peace. In this company was a venerable old clergyman, with white locks, a benevolent countenance, and kind and pleasant manners. Soon after the scenes of riot and abuse commenced, he retired to a hay loft for refuge; and here he was often visited for counsel and sympathy, by the suffering and sorrowful. One day a pale and sweet looking lady came to him, in great distress. Her little Ellen, her beautiful and only child, was sick. She told the minister she could not get a comfortable bed, nor a quiet room, that her servant whom she had hired to wait on her during the voyage would do nothing to help her, that she had watched by her child day and night till her strength was all gone, that when she tried to prepare suitable food for herself and her sick child, some rude sailor or soldier would come along and snatch it away, that she was sick, hopeless and exhausted, and that she and her child must perish for want of rest and food, unless she could get some pity and help.

This good minister had long been hoping that a time would arrive, when the whole company would be brought, by their own wants and the sufferings of all around them, to feel that they must adopt another course, and he now thought the time had probably come.