[Illustration: _Nearly “worried to Death" by the “Greatest Plagues of one’s Life”._] THE GREATEST PLAGUE OF LIFE: OR The Adventures of a Lady IN SEARCH OF A GOOD SERVANT. BY ONE WHO HAS BEEN “ALMOST WORRIED TO DEATH.” [Illustration] EDITED BY THE BROTHERS MAYHEW. Illustrated by George Cruikshank. LONDON: DAVID BOGUE, 86, FLEET STREET. THE GREATEST PLAGUE OF LIFE: OR The Adventures OF A LADY IN SEARCH OF A GOOD SERVANT. INTRODUCTION I. HOW I BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH THE SUBJECT OF MY LITTLE BOOK. “Is there a heart that never loved, Or felt soft Woman’s sigh? Is there a man can mark unmoved Dear Woman’s tearful eye? Oh, bear him to some distant shore, Or solitary cell: Where none but savage monsters roar, Where love ne’er deigned to dwell.” POPULAR BALLAD. It has been as wisely as beautifully remarked by the Rev. Robert Montgomery, in his delightfully truthful and sweet, pretty Poem, entitled “Woman an Angel!” that the lovely daughters of Eve (I quote from memory, giving rather the sentiment than the words of that talented and elegant divine,) were born to suffer; for not only have they their own severe afflictions to put up with, but they are expected also to become willing partners in those of the sons of Adam by whom they have been led to the altar, and whose hands and fortunes they have consented to accept and share. Without lovely Woman to soothe, restrain, and look after them, I should like to know what would be the fate of those impatient, obstinate, selfish, and poor helpless creatures--Men? Would they not unpick every social tie? and go about like the brutes of the fields, with scarcely a thing fit to put on, and their stockings all full of holes--a prey to their all-devouring appetites--the slaves of their ungovernable passions, and be robbed right and left by their servants? And why, I ask, would this be the case?--why, because every Woman, with her proper feelings about her, knows as well as I do that it certainly would. The immortal Swan of Avon has somewhere charmingly said-- “Give me that man who is not passion’s slave, And I will wear him in my heart of hearts;” and if such a being was ever created, I certainly must say that I should not hesitate to follow so worthy an example as that of the immortal Swan,--that is, indeed, were I not a married woman.