192 HOME LIFE ON AN OSTRICH FARM. 



ally at something which is the reverse of a laughing 

 matter for the employer. 



Altogether, Phillis is in every way exasperating, and 

 is the great drawback to life on Cape farms. But she 

 is the only kind of servant available ; and if you lose 

 patience with her and let her go, you may have to do 

 the whole work of the house yourself, possibly for a 

 week or more, till another, closely resembling her, or 

 perhaps worse, can be found. Therefore, you put up 

 with much, rather than make a change which would 

 involve the training of a raw recruit all unused to 

 English ways, to cleanliness, and to comfort ; and indeed 

 hardly acquainted with the rudiments of civilization. 



But, unluckily, Phillis herself loves change ; it is 

 irksome to her volatile nature to remain lonsj in one 



O 



place ; and accordingly, just as she is becoming used 

 to your ways, and you natter yourself that you will 

 eventually get her into some sort of training, she flits 

 off, regardless of the inconvenience she may cause. 

 She never tells you in a straightforward manner that 

 she wishes to leave ; never gives you time to look out 

 for a substitute ; but departs unexpectedly, and always 

 in one of two ways. Most commonly she rises in 

 sudden insubordination, gets up a row of the first mag- 

 nitude on some trifling pretence, and behaves in so 

 turbulent and uproarious a manner that you are thank- 

 ful to be rid of her at any cost, and dismiss her then 

 and there ; which is just what she wanted. 



Or, if she is one of the more peaceful and amiable 

 sort, and has some kindly feeling for the " missis, " she 



