on with it according to schedule.
She usually attends the door except on wash day or during extra stress
of work. She will, perhaps, object to doing so when her mistress is at
home, and may need instruction about slipping on a clean white apron,
greeting a caller with civility, presenting a small tray for her card,
etc. Initiating her into the mysteries of setting and serving the
table may be a long operation, for the good waitress is usually born,
not made. But don't be too exacting; remember that she is not a
specialist and arrange the flowers and add other nice touches yourself,
and dispense with elaborateness of serving. Teach her to economize
time by washing dishes between courses when her presence is not
required in the dining room, and insist upon having meals served at
stated hours, being careful that your family respond to the summons to
the table with corresponding punctuality.
DUTIES OF COOK AND NURSE
Each additional servant complicates the planning of the work. When
there are two they are usually cook and waitress, the former having
entire charge of her own special domain, the kitchen, with all that
pertains to it, except, perhaps, the preparation of salads and the
washing of glass, silver, and fine dishes. She does the heavier part
of the laundry work and some part of the sweeping, washes windows,
takes charge of cellar and pantry, or does such other work as her
mistress designates, each duty being plainly specified at the time she
is hired. The tasks of the waitress are more varied. The airing,
brushing up, and dusting of the living rooms falls to her share, with
the entire charge of the dining room, serving the table, and washing
the dishes, glass, and silver. She also has charge of the bedrooms, a
part of her duties in that connection being to prepare them for the
night, removing spreads and shams, turning down covers, closing blinds,
and carrying to each room iced water the last thing before retiring,
and hot water the first thing in the morning. She attends the door,
cleans silver, wipes off woodwork, and even helps with the mending when
the family is small. She usually does her own washing, and assists
with the ironing if her mistress so decree. The division of labor
between cook and waitress is sometimes a delicate matter, and here more
than ever is adherence to rule and routine imperative. The tendency
for one servant to override the other and more yielding, must be
guarded against. When a nurse is to be hired she should be questioned
as to her experience in caring for children, and her cleanliness,
honesty, truthfulness, morals, and general character carefully
investigated. She ought to be fond of children, and young-hearted
enough to enter into their little games and joys and sorrows. No maid
whose example is demoralizing to the little ones should have any place
in the home. The nurse probably will do the baby's washing, and may
help a little here and there about the house, but as a rule she has
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