What is the tincture of the finest skin, Cleanliness is another qualification that requires the particular attention of every female servant, but more espe cially of those who are employed in the character of cooks. These should be very careful to keep all the utensils in the kitchen free from any kind of dirt or rust; and to be always clean in their persons. Be careful to avoid tale-bearing, for that is a vice of the most pernicious nature, and generally, in the end, turns to the disadvantage of those who practise it. Many things, if heard from the mouth that first speaks them, would be wholly inoffensive; but they carry a different meaning when repeated by another. Those who cannot help telling all they hear, are very apt (at least are supposed by those who know them) to tell more than they hear. Neither ought you to interfere with what is not properly your province; do your duty and leave others to take care of theirs: by this means you will preserve peace, and acquire the love of all your fellow-servants, without running any danger of disobliging your master and mistress, who, however they may appear to countenance the tales you bring, will not, in their hearts, approve of your conduct. It Those who are entrusted with children should be very careful of them, as there is no negligence you can be guilty of that is likely to produce more disagreeable consequences. If you happen to live in a family where there are infants, part of the duty of a nurse will fall to your share; and to use the little innocents with any harshness, or omit any necessary attendance, is a barbarity which nothing can excuse. was by diligence and tenderness you yourselves were reared to what you are: and it is by the same dispositions you must bring up your own children when you come to have them. Practise, therefore, if it falls in your way, those lessons, which it will behove you to be perfect in when you come to be mothers. Let an attachment to the words of truth be ever impressed on your minds. If at any time you are accused of a fault which you are conscious of having committed, never attempt to screen it with a falsehood: for the last fault is an addition to the former, and renders it more inexcusable. To acknowledge you have been to blame is the surest way both to merit and obtain forgiveness; and it will establish an opinion that you will be careful to avoid the like trespass for the future. Humility and a modest deportment should be also observed, as they are not only becoming, but useful qualifications in all servants. If your mistress should be angry with you (even without a cause) never pretend to argue the case, with her; but give her a soft answer, for that, as Solomon says, puts away wrath. If she is a discreet woman she will' reflect, after her passion is over, and use you the more kindly; whereas if you endeavour to defend yourself by sharp and pert replies, it will give her a real occasion of offence, justify her ill humour, and make her more severely resent the like in future. Above all things, preserve a strict attention to honesty. Let no temptation whatever prevail on you to part with this inestimable jewel. To cheat or defraud any one is base and wicked; but, where breach of trust is added, the crime is infinitely enhanced. It has been a maxim withr many, to suppose themselves entitled to what is generally called the Market-penny; but this is an ill-judged and dishonest notion. To purloin or secrete any part of what is put into your hands, in order to be laid out to the best advantage, is as evident a theft as if you took the money out of the pockets of those who entrust you; and in doing this you are guilty of a double wrong, first, to your master or mistress who sends you to market, by making them pay more than they ought; and to the tradesman from whom you buy, by making them appear as guilty of imposition in exacting a greater price than the commodity is worth. Imagine not, that, by taking pains to find out where you can buy cheapest, you are entitled to the overplus you must have given in another place; for this is no more than your duty, and the time it takes to search out the best bargains is the property of those in whose service you are engaged. To obtain the character of a good market-woman is certainly a valuable acquisition, and far superior to those pitiful advantages, which cannot be continued long without a disgraceful discovery. You can live with very few who will not examine into the market prices; they will enquire of those who buy for themselves; and as some people have a foolish way of boasting of the bargains they make, those who pretend to buy the cheapest will be the most readily believed; so that, do the best you can, you will be able to give but very indifferent satisfaction. Buy, therefore, for your master and mistress as you would for yourself; and whatever money remains, immediately on your return deliver it to the owner. - Be not generous at the expense of your master's and mistress's property, and your own honesty. Give not any thing away without their consent. When you find there is any thing to spare, and that it is in danger of being spoiled if kept longer, it is commendable in you to ask leave to dispose of it while fit for use. If such permission is refused, you have nothing to answer for on that account; but you must not give away the least morsel without the approba tion of those to whom it belongs. Be careful also not to make any waste, for that is a crime of a much deeper die than is imagined by those who are guilty of it; and seldom goes without its punishment, by the severe want of that which they have so lavishly destroyed. Never speak in a disrespectful manner of your master or mistress, nor listen to any idle stories related by others to their prejudice. Always vindicate their reputations from any open aspersions or malicious insinuations. Mention not their names in a familiar manner yourself, nor suffer others to speak of them with contempt. As far as you can, magnify their virtues; and what failings they may have, shadow them over as much as possible. When this is known, it will not only endear you to them, but also gain you the esteem of those who hear you talk; for, though many people have the ill nature to be pleased with picking out what they can to the prejudice of their neighbours, yet none in their hearts approve of the person who makes the report. It is natural, at the same time we love the treason, to hate the traitor. Avoid, as much as possible, entering into any disputes or quarrels with your fellow-servants. Let not every trifle ruffle you, or occasion you to treat them with grating reflections, even though they should be the first aggressors. It is better to put up with a small affront, than, by returning it, provoke yet more, and raise a disturbance in the family. When quarrels in the kitchen are loud enough to be heard in the parlour, both parties are blamed, and it is not always that the innocent person finds the most protection. If you live in a considerable family, where there are many men servants, you must be very circumspect in your behaviour to them. As they have in general little to do, they are for the most part very saucy and pert where they dare, and are apt to take liberties on the least encouragement. You must therefore carry yourself at a distance towards them, though not with a proud or prudish air. You must neither look as if you thought yourself above them, nor seem as if you imagined every word they spoke intended as a design upon you. No: the one would make them hate and affront you; and the other would be turned into ridicule. On the contrary, you must behave with a civility mixed with seriousness; but on no account whatever suffer your civility to admit of too great familiarities. If you live in a tradesman's family, where there are apprentices, your conduct to them must be of a different nature. If there be more than one, the elder must be treated with the most respect; but at the same time you must not behave to the others in a haughty or imperious manuer. You must remember that they are servants only to become masters, and should therefore be treated not only with kindness but civility. It may in time be in their power to recompense any little favour you do them, such as mending their liuen, or other offices of that kind when you have a leisure hour; but this good nature must not proceed too far as they advance in years, least the vanity of youth should make them imagine you have other motives for it, which, to prevent, you must behave with an open civility intermixed with a modest and serious reserve. We subjoin a few observations with respect to religious duties, which must be considered as of more importance than all the preceding, because they respect the welfare of the soul. Regularly attend public worship, whenever you have an opportunity, twice every Sunday, with seriousness and reverence. If ever you go home on that day, to visit your friends or take a walk with them, remember that though the Sabbath is a day of rest, and of relaxation from business, it is also a day to be kept holy and to be used, chiefly, in glorifying the great Creator, and Redeemer; and in preparing ourselves for a better world, by prayer and meditation, by godly reading and conversation, and by a serious examination of our conduct, and the state of our minds, especially during the week that has passed. What a pity, and what a shame it is, that any persons should ever make it a day of mere idle gossiping, and wandering about; or of loose talk and behaviour. At the same time, you must not, under a pretence of keeping the Sabbath-day holy, refuse to do any necessary work; such as making fires and beds; dressing victuals for the family; milking cows; feeding eattle; attending sick people, and young children. "The Sabbath was made for man," says our blessed Saviour; "not man for the Sabbath." It was made to do good to men; not to afflict or punish them, or deprive them of any real comfort. No work ought to be done on Sunday, which may as well be done on another day. Contrive to do as much as you properly can the day before, in order that you may have the less to do on the Sabbathday. Whenever you are prevented by sickness, or by any necessary employments, from attending the public worship of God, on the Lord's day, keep the day holy in the best manner your situation will allow. Pray to the Lord; worship him in the secret of your own heart; meditate upon his holy word, even if you are not able to read it, or hear it read. "Families," says an excellent lady, "may be so ordered, that every one may go to church in turns; and if there is any service in which this is not allowed, I would advise the servant of Christ to leave such a master, and to seek for one who fears God." If you have an opportunity of attending family worship and instruction, be thankful for so great an advantage; and endeavour to improve from it. By your constant and willing attendance, show that you are desirous to give what encouragement you can to your masters and mistresses, to continue so excellent a practice. Neglect not private prayer. If you have not an opportunity of praying to your heavenly Father in secret (which most persons may contrive to have) be not ashamed, or afraid to kneel down, and pray, every morning, and every evening, in the presence of your fellow-servants, or of any one else; even if you should think they neglect prayer themselves, and deride you for doing your duty. You stand much in need of divine assistance, to guide you safely through all the sorrows, trials, and temptations, you must meet with in the world: and particularly to enable you to fulfil a Christian servant's duty, which is very important; and often, even in sober families, very difficult.Matthew Henderson, a servant, who was executed at Tyburn in the year 1746, for murder, sorrowfully owned, that he |