Humors of Domestic Service.

Mt Benger Mail, 18 March 1914, Page 1

Humors of Domestic Service.

IN CANADA. ior the Canadian housekeeper oi small income, the problem of obtaining servants becomes increasingly ditlicult. In Drilish Columbia, like the Stales of Oregon and '.alitoixia, t lunamen are employed. A Toronto lady (says a .Miter in The i,|u en;, delighted with the excellent service oi these men in '» aneouver, engaged one on her return to J'oionto. Eor some time every thing went smoothly. The Chinaman was a diligent attendant at a Sunday-school and often embellished his corn er* vtion with phrases that he liad- learned there lie heard that a fellow student was receiving higher wages/and he demanded an increase, which his mistress reiused. On the following moriing, when she went downstairs, no Chinaman was in sight, though the table was neatly laid, and the breakfast had been cooked. Mrs Blank had invited .roine triends to luncheon, and she provided for theiu as well as she could, with the assistance oi the charwoman. While they were seated at luncheon Ah Smg appeared in the doorway and stated his case : " You welly licli woman ; I welly poor man. 1 askee you more money ; you no givee me. 0 Lamb ot Gotk 1 go.' I pon which he departed, and never reappeared.

Mrs Dash, who hud u summer cottage in a country place, was left servantleso while she was entertaining a house party. She engaged au i»shwoman, who lived in a cabin by the roadside, and who had often c >me to the cottage to wash and scrub. Xra Moriarty said she could cook very well and Mrs Dash hoped for the best. On the following morning there was no *ign of tea on the breakfast table. " W here is'the tea?" asked Mrs Dash. Mrs Moriarty lifted the lid of '.he coffee pot. " iSure, it's in there, a?cng wid the codec. You tou 1.1 me we'd have both iv them f'r breakfast." The visitors tried to compose their countenances. Mrs Dash rose in consternation' " You said you knew how to make coffee !" Mr* Moriarty folded her arms, unabashed : "I said 1 cud, and I can, no matter who says. I cudn't. I've lived cook wid the best fam'lies in lieland, an' I've no call to bu learnin' yer new Canadian ways." The same Mrs Moriarty heard young Henry Dash strumming his piano lesson. " Sui'e, thats the clever boy.*' she remarked. " An' what is it ho is plajim ?" It's only acales," replied Alfred Dash. " Scales," she repeated, " scales ! Now, quit yer foolin', will ye. Many's the piano I've hear-rd in Ireland ; but 1 niver hear-rd tell iv weighin' musie. Scales, indatle I"