42 MAINE STATE SOCIETY. 



out that help to the body which is apt to prove a sore vexation to 

 the spirit, and keep their resolution till the overtasked frame refuses 

 to answer the demands upon it, and sickness absolutely compels a 

 resort to the alternative — and then, "hunting for a girl," becomes 

 the hardest task which the farmer finds to do from January to 

 December. 



Some wiseacres have said, and will still say, that if hired girls 

 were treated with more social consideration, and as "one of the 

 family," good service in the kitchen could easily be obtained. But 

 how short-sighted is this reasoning. Would a woman whose cares 

 and labors are sinking her to the earth, depriving her of all leisure 

 for reading, all pleasant recreation, and what is flir nearer and dearer 

 to her, the society and tender care of her young children, whom she 

 feels are neglected for the want of a mother's time — would a woman 

 in such a position, refuse the aid of a faithful girl, because of a 

 point of etiquette ? Never, we know, and believe. One instance 

 came to our own knowledge, of a young mother, in the country, whose 

 infant babe required so much attention, that a girl to cook for the 

 "men folks" became imperatively necessary, and was obtained. 

 When the family meal was ready, some one had to stay away and 

 tend baby. This the mother always did ; and after the girl had 

 dined, her turn came. Nor was this strange. The girl was not 

 obliged to work out in a kitchen, and the mother knew that her 

 obligation to the girl for coming to help her, was far greater than 

 the girl's was to her for the wages paid. AVhy then, should not she 

 take the place of subordinate ? Such she was in fact ; nor thought 

 of complaining or rebelling ; and yet in spite of numerous similar 

 proofs of a subordinate position, on the part of the housekeeper, who 

 needs to hire domestic help, we are told by some that the only 

 diflSculty in getting good service is, in mistresses (Heaven save the 

 mark !) not knowing how to well treat their hired girls ! Knowing 

 how 7 They have good 7-easo7i to try and learn that art^ for to 

 them, no factory or shop opens a refuge, when weary of kitchen 

 toil — no "notice to quit," when "not suited to their place," answers 

 for them. Death alone, "settles up their accounts, and the "wages" 

 are not paid this side of the grave ! 



There is another class of people, who have one stereotyped answer 

 to all petitions for improvement and relief to woman's labor, and 



