"Morning, up at 6, and nicely dressed; come in in list shoes, and
wait at bedside, in case Lady Towser should be troubled with her
morning cough, to hand the emulsion, etc. At 9, to call and assist
to dress Lady Towser's head tirewoman; follow her to Lady T.'s
chamber, and obey orders. Breakfast in housekeeper's room. After
breakfast assist housemaid to dust ornaments, and on Saturdays and
Wednesdays, _wash_, comb, and examine dogs; other days comb and
examine them only; clean and feed macaw, cockatoo, and parrot, also
canary and other birds; bring up dogs' dinners, and prevent them
fighting at meals. After dogs' dinners read to Lady T., if
required; if not, get up collars and flounces, laces, etc., for
Lady T. and Lady T.'s tirewoman. After your own dinner assist
housekeeper as required in the still-room; fine needlework; repair
clothes before they go to wash; dress and brush Lady T.'s perukes;
walk out with dogs if weather is fine, and be careful to prevent
their making any acquaintances whatever.
"Evening--Read to Lady T., write notes, look over bills, and keep
general accounts; if not wanted, to make herself useful in
housekeeper's room, and obey all orders received from her or head
tirewoman. At night see that the hot water is ready for Lady T.'s
feet, and wait for her retiring to bed; wash Lady T.'s feet, and
cut corns, as required; read Lady T. to sleep, or, if not required
to read, wait till she is certain that Lady T. is so.
"Now the only points in which I think your daughter may fail is in
properly washing, combing, and examining the dogs, and cutting her
ladyship's corns; but surely she can practice a little of both, as
she will not be wanted for a month. There can be no difficulty
about the first; and as for the latter, as all people in your rank
of life have corns, she may practice upon yours or her father's. At
all events, there can be no want of corns in Greenwich Hospital
among the pensioners. I am desired to say that Lady T. gives no
wages the first year; and you will be expected to send your
daughter neatly fitted out, that she may be able to remain in the
room when there is company. If this offer will not suit, I can do
nothing more; the difficulty of patronage increases every day. You
will send an answer.
"VIRGINIA HAWKINGTREFYLYAN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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