1869. 



NEW ENGLAND FARIVlER. 



337 



to the hay-maker, and we venture to repeat 

 the old proverb — "Make hay while the sun 

 shines." z. E. J. 



Irasburg, VL, 1869. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEES. 



Among the many important subjects to be 

 discussed and understood, there is none of 

 more importance than the rt^lation between 

 employers and employees. This is a relation 

 that mu.-t exist in all kinds of business as now 

 carried on; there must be, of necessity, em- 

 ployers and the employed; and the two mubt 

 be brought together in mutual and reciprocal 

 relations ; and there must be action and reac- 

 tion that; will be profitable or unprofitable, 

 advantageous or thereveise, just as these mu- 

 tual and reciprocal relations are pleasant or 

 unpleasant. 



And in the first place, in order that the 

 relation may be profitable and beneficial to 

 each, there must be a mutual interest between 

 the employer and the employees. If the em- 

 ployer manifests no interest in the welfare and 

 good of his employees, other than he would in 

 his horse, cow, or ox, only to keep and use 

 for what they will pay in return, then at once 

 the man is placed on the level with the do- 

 mestic animals ; his manhood is ignored, and 

 he passes for so much bone and muscle ; and 

 the only question asked by the employer is 

 "What is the largest amount of profit I can 

 realize from the use of those that I employ.'"' 

 And sometimes this is too manifest, not only 

 by the employer, but by the whole family, in 

 doors and out. Even the food set before the 

 workmen is of the poorest kind, and often 

 scant in quantity ; anything, with such, is good 

 enough for workmen, forget' ing that those 

 that labor must have the necest.ary food or 

 /itel to keep up the steam. For unless the 

 fire is kept burning, the power must run low ; 

 and every person thus shabbily treated feels 

 it to the ends of his fingers, and it is not pos- 

 sible but that it should operate upon the 

 amount of labor or service performed ; there 

 can be no good-will or heartiness in it ; it must 

 be only mechanical and listless, eking out the 

 time. 



Again, the kindness, gentleness and sympa- 

 thy, which the employer manifests towards 

 those in his service, will ever do much to win 

 their confidence and affection. A kind word 

 is never lost, and an occasional word of com- 

 mendation acts like a cordial to stimulate and 

 excite to the accomplishment of still more 

 worthy deeds. And little acts of kindness, 

 and a manifest interest in ones welfare and 

 good, go directly to the heart, and kindle in 

 return a deep and heartfelt interest in all the 

 affairs and general welfare of the kii d em- 

 ployer. These things will ever be reciprocal, 

 and such kindness and sympathy are never 

 lost, but reap a rich and ample reward; 



while, on the other hand, coldness, indiffer- 

 ence, frowns, harsh words, fretfiilness and 

 impatience, manifested towards those em- 

 ployed will ever be sure to recoil with in- 

 creased power upon the employer ; for these 

 send a chill into the soul ; they dry up all 

 sources and springs of affection and sympa- 

 thy, and soon destroy all confidence and re- 

 spect. No man can long respect and love, 

 whatever the relations sustained, one from 

 whom he receives no word of kindness, no 

 manifestations of interest or sympathy, but 

 sees only frowns and hears only words of re- 

 proach or impatience. Mind will act upon 

 mind, heart upon heart; they will be drawn 

 together, or they will be repelled, just as 

 there is a marked sympathy, or the opposite. 

 It is upon this principle that the old adage will 

 ever prove true that "molasses will catch more 

 flies than vinegar." Many are blind, very 

 blind to their own interest and good, in the 

 way and manner they approach and deal with 

 those in their tervice. 



Again, there is often manifested by some 

 employers a certain kind of superciliousn ss 

 or superiority, as though the mere relation of 

 employer and employee advanced the one and 

 depressed the other ; wh le it may be f;ir the 

 reverse. A man may find it for his interest to 

 engage in his service one that is far his supe- 

 rior in talent, in social standing, or in power 

 and general influence. But engaging ia the 

 service of another, does not in the least 

 change or affect that superiority. A man by 

 engaging in the service of another does not 

 sell himself nor his talents, his social standing 

 nor his power or Influence ; he only engagi^s to 

 employ his talents and labor, intellectual or 

 physical, for the good of his employer for a 

 certain sum and certain time ; and the em- 

 ployer has no right on account of this to affect 

 or assume any superiority. ' He has only the 

 right to ask and expect the service he en- 

 gaged, and to treat with kindness and respect 

 his employee. 



Again, it often occurs that a person is em- 

 ployed for some special service, for which that 

 person is expected to have a special prepara- 

 tion ; in such cases that person may be ex- 

 pected to know more than his employer, and 

 it may be greatly for the interest of the em- 

 ployer to consult with his employee and listen 

 to his advice and counsel. And not only in 

 such special service, but if those employed are 

 Intelligent and observing and feel an interest 

 In their business they often have ideas, 

 thoughts and suggestions, which may be of 

 great benefit to their employers if they will 

 only receive them. And the listening to and 

 receiving such thoughts and suggestion- exert 

 a good and happy influence upon those sug- 

 gesting them ; it makes them feel that their 

 employers have confidence in and respect for 

 them. And here is another true maxim or 

 adage: "If we wish to be trusted we must 

 trust ; and if we wish others to confide in us 



