It is with a keen thrill of sympathy that we read of all the torment that Mistress Marshall, that household saint, had to endure in the domestic service rendered to her--or perhaps I should say through the lack of service in her home. A special thorn in the flesh was one Poll, a bound girl. On September 13, 1775, Mr. Marshall wrote:-- After my wife came from market (she went past 5) she ordered her girl Poll to carry the basket with some necessaries to the place, as she was coming after her, they intending to iron the clothes. Poll accordingly went, set down the basket, came back, went and dressed herself all clean, short calico gown, and said she was going to school; but presently after the negro woman Dinah came to look for her, her mistress having mistrusted she had a mind to play truant. This was about nine, but madam took her walk, but where--she is not come back to tell. Sept. 16. I arose before six as I was much concern’d to see my wife so afflicted as before on the bad conduct of her girl Poll who is not yet returned, but is skulking and running about town. This I understand was the practice of her mother who for many years before her death was a constant plague to my wife, and who left her this girl as a legacy, and who by report as well as by own knowledge, for almost three years has always been so down to this time. About eight, word was brought that Poll was just taken by Sister Lynn near the market, and brought to their house. A messenger was immediately dispatched for her, as she could not be found before, though a number of times they had been hunting her. As the years went on, Poll kept taking what he called “cruises,” “driving strokes of impudence,” visiting friends, strolling around the streets, faring up and down the country, and he patiently writes:-- This night our girl was brought home. I suppose she was hunted out, as it is called, and found by Ruth on the Passyunk Road. Her mistress was delighted upon her return, but I know of nobody else in house or out. I have nothing to say in the affair, as I know of nothing that would distress my wife so much as for me to refuse or forbid her being taken into the house. (A short time after) I arose by four as my wife had been up sometime at work cleaning house, and as she could not rest on account of Polls not being yet return’d. The girls frolics always afflict her mistress, so that to me its plain if she does not mend, or her mistress grieve less for her, that it will shorten Mrs Marshalls days considerably; besides our house wears quite a different face when Miss Poll is in it (although all the good she does is not worth half the salt she eats.) As her presence gives pleasure to her mistress, this gives joy to all the house, so that in fact she is the cause of peace or uneasiness in the home.