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Section One: Robert’s’ Introduction
INTRODUCTION
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In the first place, I shall address myself to my young friends Joseph and David, as they are now about entering into gentleman service, which they will find in course of time a very critical station for them to fulfill in its proper order ; therefore I most sincerely entreat them to practice and study these few directions and observations, which I have laid down in the following pages, for their benefit and instruction, likewise for the benefit of those families whom they may have the honor to serve.
Besides, there are many young men who are in good situations at present, but who often times are deficient of some of the several branches that are requisite for a perfect servant to understand ; I therefore have a sincere wish to serve all those who are in that capacity of earning an honest living, and perhaps are not perfect in the several branches of their business, which in this station they are expected to perform, without being ordered by the lady of the family.
There are many young men who live out in families, who, I am sorry to say, do not know how to begin their work in proper order unless being drove by the lady of the family, from one thing to another, which keeps them continually in a bustle and their work is never done.
There is no servant that can keep from being in a state of confusion, that has not a regular rule for his work, and, on the other hand how disagreeable it must be for the lady, who has to tell them everything that she wants to be done. It was merely for this idea, that the author of this book took in hand to lay before the public those general rules and directions for servants to go by as shall give satisfaction to their employers, and gain a good reputation for themselves. And it is my most earnest wish to give to the utmost extent of my power, every instruction that is requisite for a house servant to understand.
Now, my young friends, you must consider that to live in a gentleman’s family as a house servant is a station that will seem wholly different from anything, I presume, that ever you have been acquainted with ; this station of life comprises comforts, privileges, and pleasures, which are to be found in but few other stations in which you may enter ; and on the other hand many difficulties, trials of temper, etc., more perhaps than in any other station in which you might enter, in a different state of life. Therefore, my young friends, when you hire yourself to a lady or gentleman, your time or your ability is no longer your own, but your employers ; therefore they have a claim on them whenever they choose to call for them: and my sincere advice to you is, always to study to give general satisfaction to your employers, and by doing so you are sure to gain credit for yourself.
Now, Joseph, I’m going to make a few observations to you. – In the first place, my young friend, the various stations of life are appointed by that supreme being, who is the giver of all goodness ; therefore every station that he allows us to fulfill, is useful and honorable in their different degrees: for instance we find from history and holy writ, the domestic servants have frequently been entrusted with matters of the greatest importance to their employers. Of this we have a memorable instance of your namesake Joseph, who was sold by his brethren to the Ishmaelites, and bought by Potiphar to be his domestic servant, and in this capacity Joseph acquitted himself with honesty and integrity, and his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord prospered all that was about him ; and the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph sake. And he left all that he had in Joseph’s care, and he knew not ought he had, save the bread that he did eat. – Genesis, chapter 39th. I might mention in another instance the fidelity of Mordechai, who, in his capacity as a porter to King Ahasuerus, saved that monarch from the violent hands of his two chamberlains.
Happy, my young friends, are those families that have servants who study the comfort and welfare of their employers, and who in return do the same by them! The kind admonitions of a good and affectionate mistress or master should always be listened to with respect and obedience, for the wise man saith,” As an ear-ring of gold, so is a wise reproof upon an obedient ear.” – Proverbs xxiv, 12. In the next place, my young friends, you may perhaps find a master or a mistress who may act unkindly and unjustly towards you, as Laban did to Jacob his servant and son-in-law ; but if you do your duty honestly and faithfully, depend on it that you will be more happy in your integrity than your employers can be in their injustice ; for it is much better to be the oppressed than to stand in the place of the oppressor ; for patience is ever acceptable in the sight of God, and in due time will be rewarded, because God has promised that it shall be so ; and when have his promises failed? Jacobs master shifted and shuffled him about for 20 years ; and changes his wages ten different times, that the Lord bless the honest and upright servant, because he had done that which was just, between his master and himself. Let those considerations, my young friends, ever stimulate your minds to truth and faithfulness, in all your situations through life, and God will guide and prosper you in all your undertakings.
I know there are many temptations to lead young men to their ruin ; but you should be very cautious of what company you keep. How many young men in our station of life have come to their ruin by keeping bad company, and neglecting the business of their employers ; so, my young friends I tell ye to beware of all bad habits, such as drinking, gambling, swearing, telling falsehoods, and wasting your time when sent out on the business of your employers for this is not your time you spend, but your employers, for all your time belongs to them.
Remember, my young friends, that your character is your whole fortune through life ; therefore you must watch over it incessantly, to keep it from blemish or stain ; for without character it is useless to seek after any respectable service whatever. Nor can I wonder at ladies and gentlemen for the minute inquiries that they make, in every point, of a stranger’s character. How many instances have we all heard of masters being robbed by dishonest servants, and their very existence exposed to imminent danger through evil connections being formed, unknown to them, by the inmates of their house. Remember also, that if you keep company with those whose character is not of the best, your character will be censured as much in a manner as though you were as bad as themselves ; for our good Saint Paul says that evil communications corrupt good manners ; – for the wicked favor the wicked, and the good favorite the good ; neither flatter any body, nor suffer any one to flatter thee.
There are a few more things which I shall caution you against. Remember always to govern thy tongue and passions, when thou art angry with any person ; for anger will hurt you more than injury ; and my kind advice to you is, never to be a slave to passion. Besides, the law of nature forbids us to do injury to one another ; God hath given nothing to man which can be compared to reason and wisdom. Always strive to relieve those who are in distress, if it is in your power, for the Christian religion not only commands us to help our friends, but to relieve our greatest enemies ; for so we shall make them our friends ; and shall promote love, kindness, peace and goodwill among men. It concerns all men to help the miserable. It is the property of a little mind to flatter the rich ; for flattery can hurt nobody but whom it pleases. The desire of riches, glory, and pleasure are diseases of the mind ; but the power of honesty is so great, that we should love it even in our greatest enemy. Virtue procures and preserves friendship, but vice produceth hatred and quarrels.
Now, my young friends, Joseph and David, I again for the last time most sincerely entreat you both to devote your attention to the following pages, in which I have laid down such rules and regulations for the convenience of your work, and the fulfillment of your several duties to your employers, as from my own long experience as a house servant in some of the first families in England, France, and America, will prove very beneficial to you and the public. Not that I mean to offer them as a fixed standard ; because almost every family differs in the execution of their domestic affairs, and it is the duty of a good servant to do things in that way that his employers like best. But my idea of publishing this was for a general guide, and to afford an insight into matters connected with gentlemen’s families ; and I have always found those arrangements, which I have prescribed in the following pages, very satisfactory to those ladies and gentlemen whom I have had the honor to serve. But it is true, I have had many difficulties and trials of temper to encounter ; but I have always viewed them as appointed by that Supreme Being who’s goodness is ever bestowed upon those who bear every trial and difficulty with patience and obedience.
My young friends, I hope you will pardon me for dwellings so long on these subjects ; but many, very many, have I known whose prospects in early life, and all their enjoyments, have been blasted by not attending to good advice. How many have we seen going about a city, like vagabonds, diseased in mind and body, and mere outcasts from all respectable society, and a burthen to themselves, therefore I sincerely wish that my young friends may fulfill their several duties with honesty, integrity, and due respect to their employers and fellow servants in general ; and I shall now conclude my general exhortations for your welfare, and enter on the particular statements respecting your domestic duties, &c.
House Servants Directory | Index | Intro | Section One | Section Two and Three | Section Four and Five | Section Six | Section Seven and Eight | Section Nine and Ten | Glossary
