the mistress must be keenly exercised. There are some respectable
registry-offices, where good servants may sometimes be hired; but the
plan rather to be recommended is, for the mistress to make inquiry
amongst her circle of friends and acquaintances, and her tradespeople.
The latter generally know those in their neighbourhood, who are wanting
situations, and will communicate with them, when a personal interview
with some of them will enable the mistress to form some idea of the
characters of the applicants, and to suit herself accordingly.
We would here point out an error--and a grave one it is--into
which some mistresses fall. They do not, when engaging a
servant, expressly tell her all the duties which she will be
expected to perform. This is an act of omission severely to be
reprehended. Every portion of work which the maid will have to
do, should be plainly stated by the mistress, and understood by
the servant. If this plan is not carefully adhered to, domestic
contention is almost certain to ensue, and this may not be
easily settled; so that a change of servants, which is so much
to be deprecated, is continually occurring.