retty and becoming.

When her temper gets the better of her these days, I can laugh her
out of it. "To think," I said once, "of a fine, capable girl like you
flying into a rage because some one has borrowed your clothesline
without asking for it!"

The clouds vanished with a smile. "Dat iss funny of me," she said.

When her work goes wrong, as of course it sometimes does, though
rarely, and she is worrying for fear I shall be displeased, I say:
"Never mind, Annie; things don't always go right for any of us. Don't
worry about it, but be careful next time."

It has cost me time and effort and money, and an infinite amount of
patience and tact, not to mention steady warfare with myself, but in
return, what have I? A housemaid, as nearly perfect, perhaps, as they
can ever be on this faulty earth, permanently in my service, as I hope
and believe.

If any one offers her higher wages, I shall meet the "bid," for she is
worth as much to me as she can be to any one else. Besides giving me
superior service, she has done me a vast amount of good in furnishing
me the needed material for the development of my character.

On her own ground, she respects my superior knowledge. Once or twice
I have heard her say of some friend, "Her's lady, she know nodding at
all about de housekeeping--no, nodding at all!"

The airy contempt of the tone is quite impossible to describe.

A neighbour whom she assisted in a time of domestic stress, during my
absence, told me amusedly of her reception in her own kitchen. "You
don't have to come all de time to de kitchen to tell me," remarked
Annie.

"Doesn't Mrs. M. do that?" queried my neighbour, lightly.

"Ay should say not," returned the capable one, indignantly. "She nefer
come in de kitchen, and _she know, too_!"

While that was not literally true, because I do go into my kitchen if
I want to, and cook there if I like, I make a point of not intruding.
She knows what she is to do, and I leave her to do it, in peace and
comfort.

Briefly summarised, the solution from my point of view is this. _Know
her work yourself, down to the last detail_; pay the wages which other
people would be glad to pay for the same service; keep your temper,
and, in the face of everything, _be kind_! Remember that housework is
hard work--that it never stays done--that a meal which it takes half a
day to prepare is disposed of in half an hour. Remember, too, that it
requires much intelligence and good judgment t