FRIENDLY HINTS TO SERVANTS.

ON SEEKING SERVICE.

If you are in want of a place, inquire only of such persons as are respectable, and on whom you can depend. If you hear of a place where a servant is wanted, and none of your friends know the parties, the best place to inquire about them is at some large grocer's or linen-draper's shop in the neighbourhood. Ask for the master or mistress of the shop, and beg of them as a favour to tell you whether the house to which you have been directed is a place fit for a respectable modest young woman to go to. For want of care in this particular, some girls, especially in London, have been drawn into very bad and improper places. Avoid taking the character of a place from char-women, or servants who have been turned away. Many instances have been known of such people giving very false representations, from spite to their mistress, or to prevent some one trying who might interfere with their own plans to get another person in. The general character of a family is sure to be pretty well known by respectable and disinterested neighbours, and as to little things they can only be known by trial.

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Servants who have reason to be ashamed at leaving their places, will sometimes shamefully misrepresent circumstances. "I was turned away," said one girl, 'just because the cat stole a piece of hare." On hearing this, another observes, "Then I will not go after the place: who would live with a mistress that would turn away a servant for such a trifle?" The truth was, the servant was exceedingly disobedient and careless, and would do things her own way; she so frequently left the provisions exposed to the cat or other injury, that, after long trial and reproof, she was told that the next act of disobedience would be the signal for dismissal. This soon occurred; and she was sent away for her habitual disobedience, and not for the loss of the bit of hare. By her representations, however, one or two good servants were kept from applying; but one of better sense applied and engaged herself, lived happily for eight years in the place, and married away in credit.

If you see an advertisement which you think would suit,

never answer it alone, but get a prudent and older friend to accompany you if your own mother cannot do so.

Never be induced by high wages or a light place to enter any situation where your virtue would be endangered, or your soul neglected, or where you could not keep holy the Sabbath-day. Remember, "the curse of the Lord is in the dwelling of the wicked, but He blesseth the habitation of the just." Whatever you may lose of worldly gain by conscientious regard to the commands of God, you will be no loser in the end.

If at any time you should be out of place, be very careful with whom you reside: if possible, be under the protection of your parents or other prudent relatives. Especially avoid common lodging-houses or public-houses; the dwelling in such would, in itself, be against your being hired into a respectable family.

The Young Servant.

FRIENDLY HINTS TO SERVANTS.

ON APPLYING FOR A PLACE.

FIRST impressions have a great influence on the feelings; therefore, behave modestly and respectfully, be neatly and suitably dressed. Never offer a written character; no prudent master or mistress, whose service is worth engaging will take it. Avoid also the error of requiring too high wages; many good situations have been lost by it; and if, through this, you are out of service a month longer, you lose the difference: recollect, also, that if you suit your employers, they may in time advance your wages rather than part with you.

Answer all questions respecting yourself, and the cause of your leaving your last place, with truth and clearness: "the truth may be blamed, but cannot be shamed."

Never attempt to take a place to which you are not competent: if you pretend to know more than you do, remember ignorance is sure to discover itself in practice, and false pretensions will expose you to disgrace,—and are, indeed, highly sinful. It is no disgrace not to know everything, but it is dis

honest to say you can do things that you perhaps never tried to do, or know nothing of. If you wish to try and learn, say so; offer to do your best; and if, with this fair understanding, the lady chooses to instruct you, she cannot blame your ignorance, and you may improve yourself. It is only by acting uprightly that you can hope for a blessing from God, who can and will direct and provide for all those faithful servants who put their trust in Him.

Servants' Magazine.

HOW TO LIVE IN PEACE.

"MIND your own business." Half the quarrels among neighbours arise from idle curiosity, impertinent meddling, and foolish talking about the affairs of others.

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Keep your tongue from evil." If you cannot speak well of a neighbour, speak no ill of him. Silence is wisdom when speaking is folly.

Do not contend for a trifle, whether it be a matter of right or of opinion.

Revenge never repairs an injury.

If others neglect their duty, be sure that you perform yours.

BAD HABITS.*

"And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tatlers also and busy bodies, speaking things which they ought not."-1 Tim. v. 13.

IF I would hire a servant-maid,
And take her to my home,
I would not choose an idle girl,
Or one inclined to roam.

*From "Rough Rhymes for Country Girls," by Miss Parrott; a very pleasing little work, which might be introduced into our industrial schools with much advantage, and would, I am sure, be favourite lessons whether read or sung.

Nor would I fix on one who stands
For ever at the door,

While her poor aged mother kneels
To scrub a dirty floor.

Nor should I dare to venture with
One who is rude of speech,
Or who, while of an age to learn,
Seems more inclined to teach.

No! if she's idle, bold, or pert,
She'll never do for me;

And this I know, that others will
Of like opinion be.

And so, poor girl! she will be in
A very sorry case,

For she will have but little chance
Of getting a good place.

TEACHABLENESS IN HOUSEHOLD WORK.

As you were not taught to sew, to knit, or to read, without some pains on your part, and without paying attention to your instructors, so neither can you become dexterous at household work without the same attention and pains. It must frequently fall to the lot of mistresses, in addition to their other concerns, to have inexperienced girls to teach; for if their mothers are ever so notable and cleanly, yet they have seldom the opportunity of instructing them in the variety of things which are required in service, where the way of living is so very different. When you go to your first place, all is new to you; indeed, in every fresh place you will find something new, as the customs and habits of families vary; and it is your duty and interest to acquaint yourself with the rules of the house, and abide by them, thankfully receiving the instructions that are offered you.

Every one must know his business before he can hope to succeed in it. The bricklayer, the carpenter, and the shoe

maker generally require a seven-years' apprenticeship to perfect them. Household employments are your business by which your livelihood is to be obtained, and for which desirable end previous instruction is equally necessary.

If young persons, at their first setting out in life, would view things in this light, they would not be perverse and uncivil when attempts are made to instruct them; or when they are desired to do this or that, they would not turn away without answering, as if they did not hear. Nothing can be more improper than such behaviour: those who are guilty of it can have little that is obliging in their dispositions; if they had, they would reply readily, and say that what is ordered shall be done; or when fault is found, they would express their concern that they had not pleased, they would promise amendment, and be as good as their word; never forgetting that they are paid for civility as well as for labour, that they are hired to obey as well as to do. To mutter is also exceedingly wrong. If what is said is fit to be heard, it might be spoken aloud; if otherwise, nothing is gained thereby but the gratification of ill-humour: and those who indulge such a temper always injure themselves the most by it. A girl with such an unhappy temper may, indeed, torment her employers, and occasion them a great deal of trouble and vexation, yet they can ease themselves of it when they please by parting with her; but to herself it will produce the worst consequences, by keeping her in ignorance, and thereby preventing her from rising to respectability in her station.. "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.". Proverbs, xxvi. 12.

Can a servant who chooses to remain thus ignorant expect to become a useful and notable wife? or, should she ever be a mistress herself, would she like to have a sturdy girl to maintain who was too ignorant to do her work, and too unteachable to be taught? But, what is rather more likely to happen, she may in process of time have some such girl placed under her in the kitchen; in which case it is to be feared that the spirit which will not now endure teaching would then have little patience with the awkwardness, the dulness, and perverseness of another. Let such a one but suppose herself busily engaged with her own particular work, and that the girl under her, from want of care and attention, was, by her continual mistakes, rather hindering than helping, showing wilful negligence, and then giving ill