OUR SERVANT GIRLS—WHAT WE OWE THEM

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 27, 1 November 1873, Page 12

OUR SERVANT GIRLS— WHAT WE OWE THEM

Hok. Ej>wam> L. Pibbcb, in his Report as Secretary ot the Massachusetts Board of State Charities, says:-«If there is one sentiment moi than another which should be cultivated as essential to that general progress, it v that of sympathy and brotherhood between 111 the members of the human family. The rich and more favored should take a deeper interest m the poor and less favored. By this is not intended so much that the working classes should receive higher wace\ or have more asylums founded, or greater public provision made for them ; but that, individually, greater personal interest should be taken in their needs, their griefs, their inner life, their amusements and their well-being. A single instance may suffice-that of servants in families, ihey are m a thousand ways essential to our comfort, of which the interval between the leaving of one and the coming of another gives us a lively sense. They smooth our pillows j they prepare our food and sproad our tables; they guard our treasures, seldom abusing the trust ; they perform for us the most menial offices, which ate no* spiritualized by any sentiment of blood or kindred; they care for our children, often as well and fondly as we care for them ourselves • they wait upon our wishes early and late ; they minister to us in sickness; and if treated with ordinary kindness— though of another religion and another race— they identify themselves with our households, and share m the bitterness of our bereavements ; and all this for a compensation which may be all that fair dealing requires, but which, after paying for clothing, meeting church assessments, and contributing to the support of needy relatives, near by or abroad leaver little or nothing saved. Their permanency in their places of service would be promoted j their purity, honesty and self-respect would be iortined ; and their condition would be improved in all respects if their masters and mistresses, and particularly their mistresses, were to take a personal and sympathetic interest in all that concerns them arranging for their days of relaxation and their church going; providing them with newspapers and books when able to read, inquirine as to their relatives and friends ; caring for their dress ; assisting in the expenditure of their narrow means and in the investment of their saviugs ; giving them wise, but not intrusive counsel as to their associations, and manifesting is all things an anxiety for their welfare How much in these and other ways might be done to brighten their lot,-and stive them from swelling the ranks of the disabled and criminal classes ! ' "»"«■*