evening winds are cool and moist, being generally accompanied with rain and changeable weather.

Of the four seasons of the year, the autumn is the most unhealthy. Too light a dress, and too thin stockings, are not adviseable at this season. The spring season is, in general, the safest and most healthy. Spring, and the beginning of summer, are most salutary to children and young persons; while the summer, and the beginning of autumn, agree best with the aged. The latter end of autumn, and the succeeding winter, are commonly the most healthy seasons to persons of a middle age.

ADVICE

TO

FEMALE SERVANTS.

Observations adapted to Female Servants generally.

THIS advice is addressed to female servants in general, as it is calculated to promote the utility and happiness of servants in every station. Even mistresses may find in it some useful hints not unworthy of their attention.

One of the greatest and most advantageous qualifications in all servants (but particularly females) is that of preserving a good temper, and endeavouring to the utmost of their abilities to give universal satisfaction. Possessed with a strong desire of pleasing, you will seldom fail of doing it. A corresponding good temper will be charmed with your readiness, and a bad one disarmed of great part of its harshness; and though you may be somewhat deficient at first in executing the business in which you are employed, yet when they see it is not occasioned by obstinacy or indolence, they will rather instruct you in what they find you ignorant, than be angry that you are so.

On the contrary, though you may discharge your business with the greatest propriety, yet, if you appear careless or indifferent whether you please or not, your services will lose great part of their merit. If you are fearful of offending, you can scarcely offend at all; because that very few-fulness is an indication of your respect for those you serve, and intimates a desire of deserving their approbation. In short, a good temper is the most valuable of female qualifications, and will infallibly conduct its possessors, with ease and tranquillity, through every stage of life.

Be careful to avoid talebearing, for that is a vice of the most pernicious nature, and generally, in the end, turns to the disadvantage of those who practise it. Many things, if heard from the mouth that first speaks them, would be wholly inoffensive; but they carry a different meaning when repeated by another. Those who cannot help telling all they hear, are very apt (at least are supposed by those who know them) to tell more than they hear. Neither ought you to interfere with what is not properly your province; do your duty, and leave others to take care of theirs: by this means you will preserve peace, and acquire the love of all your fellow-servants, without running any danger of disobliging your master and mistress, who, however they may appear to countenance the tales you bring, will not, in their hearts, approve of your conduct.

Let an attachment to the words of truth be ever impressed on your minds. If at any time you are accused of a fault which you are conscious of having committed, never attempt to screen it with a falsehood: for the last fault is an addition to the former, and renders it more inexcusable. To acknowledge you have been to blame is the surest way both to merit and obtain forgiveness; and it will establish an opinion that you will be careful to avoid the like trespass for the future.

Humility and a modest deportment should be also observed, as they are not only becoming, but useful qualifications in all servants. If your mistress should be angry with you (even without a cause) never pretend to argue the case with her; but give her a 'soft answer,' for that, as Solomon says, 'puts away wrath.' If she is a discreet woman she will reflect, after her passion is over, and use you the more kindly; whereas if you endeavour to defend yourself by sharp and pert replies, it

will give her a real occasion of offence, justify her ill humour, and make her more severely resent the like in future.

Above all things, preserve a strict attention to honesty. Let no temptation whatever prevail on you to part with this inestimable jewel. To cheat or defraud any one is base and wicked; but, where breach of trust is added, the crime is infinitely increased. It has been a maxim with many, to suppose themselves entitled to what is generally called the market penny; but this is an ill-judged and dishonest notion. To purloin or secret any part of what is put into your hands, in order to be lain out to the best advantage, is as evident a theft as if you took the money out of the pockets of those who intrust you; and in doing this you are guilty of a double wrong, first, to your master or mistress who sends you to market, by making them pay more than they ought; and to the tradesman from whom you buy, by making him appear as guilty of imposition in exacting a greater price than the commodity is worth. Imagine not, that, by taking pains to find out where you can buy cheapest, you are entitled to the overplus you must have given in another place; for this is no more than your duty, and the time it takes to search out the best bargains is the property of those in whose service you are engaged. To obtain the character of a good market-woman is certainly a valuable acquisition, and far superior to those pitiful advantages, which cannot be continued long without a disgraceful discovery. You can live with very few who will not examine into the market prices; they will inquire of those who buy for themselves; and as some people have a foolish way of boasting of the bargains they make, those who pretend to buy the cheapest will be the most readily believed; so that, do the best you can, you will be able to give but very indifferent satisfaction. Buy, therefore, for your master or mistress as you would for yourself; and whatever money remains, immediately on your return deliver it to the owner.

Be not generous at the expence of your master and mistress's property, and your own honesty. Give not any thing away without their consent. When you find there is any thing to spare, and that it is in danger of being spoiled if kept longer, it is commendable in you to ask leave to dispose of it while fit for use. If such permission is refused, you have nothing to

answer for on that account; but you must not give away the least morsel without the approbation of those to whom it belongs. Be careful also not to make any waste, for that is a crime of a much deeper die than is imagined by those who are guilty of it; and seldom goes without its punishment, by the severe want of that which they have so lavishly destroyed.

Never speak in a disrespectful manner of your master or mistress, nor listen to any idle stories related by others to their prejudice. Always vindicate their reputations from any open aspersions or malicious insinuations. Mention not their names in a familiar marmer yourself, nor suffer others to speak of them with contempt. As far as you can, magnify their virtues; and what failings they may have, shadow them over as much as possible. When this is known, it will not only endear you to them, but also gain the esteem of those who hear you talk; for though many people have the ill nature to be pleased with picking out what they can to the prejudice of their neighbours, yet none in their hearts approve of the person who makes the report. It is natural, at the same time we love the treason, to hate the traitor.

Avoid, as much as possible, entering into any dispute or quarrels with your fellow-servants. Let not every trifle ruffle you, or occasion you to treat them with grating reflections, even though they should be the first aggressors. It is better to put up with a small affront, than by returning it, provoke yet more, and raise a disturbance in the family. When quarrels in the kitchen are loud enough to be heard in the parlour, both parties are blamed, and it is not always that the innocent person finds the most protection.

If you live in a considerable family, where there are many men-servants, you must be very circumspect in your behaviour to them. As they have in general little to do, they are for the most part saucy and pert where they dare, and are apt to take liberties on the least encouragement. You must therefore carry yourself at a distance towards them, though not with a proud or prudish air. You must neither look as if you thought yourself above them, nor seem as if you imagined every word they spoke intended as a design upon you. No: the one would make them hate and affront you; and the other would be turned into ridicule. On the contrary, you must

behave with a civility mixed with seriousness; but on no account whatever suffer your civility to admit of too great familiarities.

If you live in a tradesman's family, where there are apprentices, your conduct to them must be of a different nature. If there be more than one, the oldest must be treated with the most respect; but at the same time you must not behave to the others in a haughty or imperious manner. You must remember that they are servants only to become masters, and should therefore be treated not only with civility but kindness. It may in time be in their power to recompence any little favour you do them, such as mending their linen, or other offices of that kind, when you have a leisure hour; but this good-nature must not proceed too far as they advance in years, lest the vanity of youth should make them imagine you have other motives for it, to prevent which, you mutt behave with an open civility intermixed with a modest and serious reserve.

Whenever you have an opportunity attend public worship, and spend not the sabbath-day in mere idle gossiping and wandering about; or in loose talk and behaviour. Yet you must not, under pretence of keeping this day holy, refuse to do any necessary work; such as making fires and beds, dressing victuals for the family; milking cows; feeding cattle, or any work of necessity or mercy. 'The sabbath was made for man,' says our Saviour, not man for the sabbath.' It was made to do good to men; not to afflict or punish them, nor deprive them of any real comfort. But above all neglect not private prayer, and read the Bible diligently.