“All may of Thee partake; Nothing can be so mean, Which, with His tincture (for Thy sake), Will not grow bright and clean. A servant with this clause Makes drudgery divine;— Who sweeps a room, as for Thy laws, Makes that and th’ action fine.”
“NOW, all this kindness, sympathy, and so forth, that you talk about, are very well in their way; but you surely find you cannot do everything you wish amongst the poor by these means? What do you say to them about their dirty ways, their bad management, neglect of their children, and all that sort of thing?” The answer to this question, put to me a short time ago, would occupy more space than could be spared in the limits of a small book. I will not, therefore, attempt more than a single illustration in reply.
One subject that comes under my notice, very frequently, is the inquiry for places of service for the daughters, sisters, and friends of the higher class of women in our society. Many secrets of service have been confided to me; and I ought, therefore, to be wise; but the subject is difficult. It is painful to be constantly hearing from mistresses that there are scarcely any good servants to be met with; and from servants, “there is no good places going, scarce.” Something must be wrong. That two classes so necessary to each other, and intended by the wise Disposer of all events to bless and benefit each other, should entertain such feelings of animosity and ill-will, is deeply to be deplored. If there is any remedy for so great an evil, if any solution of so difficult a problem is possible—here, almost more than on any other subject, is there room for the whole energy of the philanthropist—here is one of the most direct roads that can offer, to the elevation of those who greatly need raising, and to the amelioration of our whole social system.
I think it must now be three or four years since several circumstances brought this matter more prominently before us. I said that we would give up one evening to the special discussion of it. I appointed the next week, and invited the mothers to bring with them their own daughters, and any young people they liked. The number that came, shewed that the subject was popular with them.