r other, with our
abominable servants. I declare! I never saw the like, and it grows
worse and worse every day."

"Indeed! That is bad, sure enough. But can't you remedy this defect
in some way?"

"We try hard enough, dear knows! I believe we have had no less than,
six cooks, and as many chambermaids in the last three months. But
change only makes the matter worse. Sometimes they are so idle and
dirty that we cannot tolerate them for a week. And then again they
are so ill-natured, and downright saucy, that no one can venture to
speak to them."

As Helen Armitage said this, she arose from her chair, and walking
deliberately across the room, rang the parlor bell, and then quietly
walked back again and resumed her seat, continuing her remarks as
she did so, upon the exhaustless theme she had introduced. In a
little while a domestic entered.

"That door has been left open by some one," the young lady said, in
a half vexed tone of authority, and with a glance of reproof, as she
pointed to the door of the back parlor leading into the passage.

The servant turned quickly away, muttering as she did so, and left
the parlor, slamming the door after her with a sudden, indignant
jerk.

"You see that!" remarked Helen, the color deepening on her cheeks,
and her voice indicating a good deal of inward disturbance. "That's
just the way we are served by nine out of ten of the people we get
about us. They neglect every thing, and then, when reminded of their
duty, flirt, and grumble, and fling about just as you saw that girl
do this moment. I'll ring for her again, and make her shut that door
as she ought to do, the insolent creature!"

Helen was rising, when Fanny laid her hand on her arm, and said, in
a quiet persuasive tone,

"No--no--don't, Helen. She is out of temper, and will only retort
angrily at further reproof. The better way is to pass over these
things as if you did not notice them."

"And let them ride over us rough shod, as they most certainly will!
The fact is, with all our efforts to make them know and keep their
places, we find it impossible to gain any true subordination in the
house."

"We never have any trouble of this kind," Fanny said.

"You must be very fortunate then."

"I don't know as to that. I never recollect an instance in which a
domestic opposed my mother or failed to obey, cheerfully, any
request. And we have had several in our house, within my
recollection. At least half a dozen."

"Hal