better.  You know there are other ways than yours—­good ones, too.  Study her as you would a refractory engine; if she runs off the track, or doesn’t run at all, or has a hotbox or any other creature failing learn the cause and remedy it if you can.  She is human, like yourself, and young too, probably, and needs diversion.  Don’t begrudge it to her when it is of the right kind.  Like you, she needs rest occasionally, between whiles; make an opportunity for it.  She needs good strengthening food; see that she has it, and if she prefers plain living and high thinking on bread and tea, that’s her own lookout.  She probably will have strong leanings toward the jam closet; lock the door and keep the key, and leave no money, jewelry, or other valuables carelessly about to tempt her, perhaps beyond her strength.  Don’t be overnice in your exactions; if she is even a fairly good cook, waitress, and laundress, you are indeed blessed among women.  Give judicious praise or kindly criticism where due; sometimes a warning in time will save nine blunders.  While she is under your roof and a member of your family you are in a measure responsible for her welfare, moral, spiritual, and physical, and are her natural and lawful protector.  She may neither need nor want your protection, but let her feel that it is there, none the less.

HOW TO SELECT A MAID

And now, how shall we find this person to assist us in making domestic life “one grand, sweet song”—­we hope!  The usual way is to apply to a reputable agency where you will find the better class of girls and be dealt with honestly.  An agency of this kind usually keeps on file the references of girls offering themselves for service, which will give you at least some idea of the qualifications of the maid you may engage.  Many housekeepers advertise in the daily papers or trades journals, the advertisement being a concise statement of the location, whether city or country, the kind of service expected, and the wages paid.  A third and usually most satisfactory way of obtaining help is through some friend, who can back her recommendation with a guarantee.  Having entered your application, decide upon your plan of action in the interview which will take place when Dame Maid presents herself for the mutual inspection—­mutual because, though ’tis not hers to “reason why,” she has a perfect right to know what awaits her.  This cross-examination is somewhat of an ordeal, especially to the novice in the servant-hiring business.  It is essential for the housekeeper to know just what questions to put to the applicant, what questions to look for in return, what to tell her of the household regime and of her individual part in it; in short, she must know her ground and then stand on it—­it is hardly necessary to add, with decision and dignity.  The applicant’s personal appearance tells something of what she is:  if slovenly, her work would be ditto; if flashy, with