The division of labor between cook and waitress is sometimes a delicate matter, and here more than ever is adherence to rule and routine imperative.  The tendency for one servant to override the other and more yielding, must be guarded against.  When a nurse is to be hired she should be questioned as to her experience in caring for children, and her cleanliness, honesty, truthfulness, morals, and general character carefully investigated.  She ought to be fond of children, and young-hearted enough to enter into their little games and joys and sorrows.  No maid whose example is demoralizing to the little ones should have any place in the home.  The nurse probably will do the baby’s washing, and may help a little here and there about the house, but as a rule she has nothing to do with the general work.

SERVANT’S COMPANY

The vexed question of the “lady help’s gentleman company” usually has to be faced by the housekeeper.  Since yours is your maid’s only home it is better to allow her to receive her friends there than for her to seek them elsewhere, taking it for granted, of course, that any girl whom you would be willing to have in your family would have no objectionable friends.  And besides, she is somebody’s daughter, you know.  It is to be hoped that the time will come when every maid can be provided with a sitting room of her own, but until then her friends will have to be received in your kitchen.  Let her feel that they are welcome out of working hours.  A servant of the right kind will appreciate and not abuse this privilege.

And so on—­and so on!  After all is said and done one can only give a few hints and suggestions on the servant question, with the wistful hope that they may help some one to “start right,” for maids may come and maids may go, but the problem goes marching on.  The only way to do when it overtakes one is to grapple with it womanfully, for it will happen, even in the best regulated families.

THE END