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The following is the inscription over a recent grave in a churchyard in Somersetshire.

Sacred to the Memory

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ELIZABETH BARKER,

WHO FROM EARLY YOUTH TILL DEATH, SERVED THE MEMBERS

OF ONE FAMILY WITH CONSCIENTIOUS ZEAL

AND DEVOTED ATTACHMENT.

She died at WESTON-SUPER-MARE, OCTOBER 1, 1842,

AGED FIFTY-THREE,

IN THE SERVICE OF MRS.

WHO HAS INSCRIBED THIS MEMORIAL OF ESTEEM AND AFFECTIONATE REGARD.

"Thou hast been faithful over a few things."-MATT. xxv. 23.

Partly from the readiness with which the Americans can find other employment, and partly from republican independence, they generally avoid the situation of domestic servants. Those who do undertake it call themselves "helps." But the help they give is so precarious-they are so ready to fly off, the moment they find it convenient or feel dissatisfied, that were it not for the Irish emigrants and negroes, the wealthier Americans would often be obliged to help themselves.

Men are strangely inconsistent, for the very individual who would disdain to perform the proper duties of a respectable servant, or to take the name of one, will go with his earnings into the southern states, and purchase one or more of his fellow-creatures, whose complexion the sun has blackened, whom he will compel to wait on him and work for him, as a servant of servants, or slave. This is all wrong. The Bible gives us a very different view of the matter. "For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth." Here is Divine dignity and con

descension! What but the littleness of human pride leads a man to deem himself degraded by that condition in which Providence has placed him, when He who has " a name above every name, took upon himself the form of a servant," and from that voluntary lowliness was highly exalted.

Miss Martineau, who appears to have a strong love of democracy, states, as the result of her observation in America, that" where a complete mutual understanding is arrived at, there is the best chance of the terms of the contract being faithfully adhered to, and liberally construed on both sides: and I have seen instances of the parties having lived together in friendship and contentment, for five, seven, eleven, and fourteen years. Others, again, I have seen, who, without fault of their own, have changed their servants three times in a fortnight. Some, too, I have observed, who will certainly never be comfortably settled, unless they can be taught the first principles of democracy. (!)

"All American ladies should know how to clearstarch and iron; how to keep plate and glass; how to cook dainties; and if they understand the making of bread and soup likewise, so much the better. The gentlemen usually charge themselves with the business of marketing, which is very fair. A lady, highly accomplished and very literary, told me that she had lately been left entirely without help, in a country village where there was little hope of being speedily able to procure any. She and her daughter made the bread, for six weeks, and entirely kept the house, which might vie with any nobleman's for true luxury, perfect sufficiency, and neatness.

"A country lady travelled thirty miles, to a town where she thought she might intercept some Irish, coming down from Canada into the States, and supply herself with domestics from among them. She engaged

to send them thirty miles to confession, twice a year, if they would live with her.

"Another country lady told me that her family suffered from want of water, because the man objected to bring it. The maids fetched it; and even the children in their little cans. The man was sturdy on the point, and she could not dismiss him for such a reason, he was such a valuable servant; though he could not drive, from having only one eye, and always got drunk when his work was done.

"The mother of a young bride of my acquaintance flattered herself that she had graced her daughter's new house, during the wedding journey, with two exemplary domestics. The day previous to the bride's return, before the women had seen either master or mistress, they gave notice that they were going away directly, in consequence of the receipt of some family news, which had changed their plans. They were prevailed upon to stay for a week, when they persisted in going, though no successors had been obtained, and their young mistress was to receive her company the next day. What made the matter desperate was, that the bride knew nothing of housekeeping. She made them cook as much provision, to be eaten cold, as would possibly keep; and when they had closed the door behind them, sat down and cried for a whole hour. How she got out of her troubles, I forget; but she was in excellent spirits when she told me the story.

"A young man from Vermont was hired by a family who were in extreme want of a footman. He was a most friendly personage, as willing as he was free and easy; but he knew nothing of life out of a small farmhouse. An evening or two after his arrival, there was a large party at the house. His mistress strove to impress upon him, that all he had to do at tea-time was to follow, with sugar and cream, the waiter who carried

the tea; to see that every one had tea and sugar, and to hold his tongue. He did his part with an earnest face, stepping industriously from guest to guest. When he had made the circuit and reached the door, a doubt struck him whether a group in the farthest part of the room had had the benefit of his attentions. He raised himself on his toes with, I'll ask;' and shouted over the heads of the company, I say, how are ye off for sweetenin' in that ere corner ?" " -MISS MARTINEAU'S Society in America.

In America, democratic pride has rejected the names of master or servant, although they are both found in the Bible, and their mutual duties are fully enjoined there. The servants gratify their feelings by calling themselves "helps," and their masters" bosses."

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Mr. Fearon says, "A friend of mine the other day met with a rebuff at his hotel, which taught him the necessity of altering, not his ideas indeed, but his words. Addressing the female help, he said, Be kind enough to tell your mistress that I should be glad to see her.' 'My mistress, Sir! I tell you I have no mistress, nor master either. I will not tell her, Sir, I guess. If you want Mrs. M. you may go to her yourself, I guess. In this country there is no mistresses nor masters. guess I am a woman citizen.'”

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It is rather strange to compare the independent tone of style and sentiment of this woman citizen, this chamber help at an hotel, with that of the President of the United States, Gen. Harrison, who, in his inaugural address, as quoted in the preceding lecture," described himself as the accountable agent, not the principal-the servant, not the master." So the President is the servant, not the boss of the sovereign people,-not even their help.

And on these principles, every citizen, provided he be not a negro, may attend the President's levee, may

shake his hand, and drink his punch, as if he were as good and great a man as he. The author of "Men and Manners in America," (Captain Hamilton) thus describes the levee of the President, General Jackson, at Washington.

"There were present at this levee men begrimed with all the filth accumulated in their day's-perhaps their week's labour. There were sooty artificers evidently fresh from the forge or the workshop; and one individual I remember,—either a miller or a baker,— who, wherever he passed, left marks of contact on the garments of the company. The most prominent group however in the assemblage, was a party of Irish labourers, employed on some neighbouring canal, who had evidently been apt scholars in the doctrine of liberty and equality, and were determined, on the present occasion, to assert the privileges of 'the great unwashed.' I remarked these men pushing aside the more respectable portion of the company with a certain jocular audacity which put one in mind of the humours of Donnybrook.

"A party composed of the materials I have described could possess but few attractions. The heat of the apartment was very great, and the odours (certainly not Sabæan) which occasionally affected the nostrils were more pungent than agreeable.

"During the time I was engaged at the levee, my servant remained in the hall through which lay the entrance to the apartments occupied by the company, and on the day following he gave me a few details of a scene somewhat extraordinary, but sufficiently characteristic to merit record. It appeared that the refreshments intended for the company, consisting of punch and lemonade, were brought by the servants with the intention of reaching the interior saloon. No sooner, however, were these ministers of Bacchus descried to

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