Letters to Persons Who Are Engaged in Domestic Service

by Catharine Esther Beecher

This good minister had long been hoping that a time would arrive, when the whole company would be brought, by their own wants and the sufferings of all around them, to feel that they must adopt another course, and he now thought the time had probably come.

By the aid of several of his friends, he succeeded in getting the whole company together. He then recounted to them all the blessings and comforts that had been bestowed on them by the benevolent king. He pointed out the waste, destruction, and misery that had followed, and painted in tender and plaintive tones, the suffering and sorrow that had come upon the weak and helpless. He described the angry and revengeful passions that had distracted those, who had by fighting gained the best of every thing, and showed them that all they had gained had never given them any peace or happiness. He then pointed out the evils that were threatening them for the future.

Their granary was fast running low, and

yet nothing was done towards raising another crop. Their furniture and clothing were fast going to destruction, and yet nothing was done to repair the waste, or to provide a new supply. He told them that famine and want of all kinds were now at hand, and they must make up their minds what was to be done.

They were all greatly moved by his wisdom and eloquence, and with one consent agreed to do whatever he would recommend. He then took a Bible out of his pocket, and told them that the God who made them, wished all his creatures to be happy, that he alone knew what was best for them, and that in that blessed book he had revealed the rules to guide them in all circumstances. He then proposed that for the six months to come, until a harvest could be gathered in, they should agree to take the rules which God had given them for their guide. To this all consented, and they then appointed the minister to study the Bible for them, and to point out in all emergencies what were its rules. The minister consented to do this.

He then advised them, first to cleanse the

palace, its furniture and their clothing, and to put all things, as nearly as possible, in the order in which they first found them. They followed this advice, and, when all was accomplished, came together again for farther directions.

Then the minister told them, that God required all his creatures, when living together, to act, not to gain all the good things that each one wanted, but to do that which was for the greatest good of the whole. He then read from the Bible all the passages he had collected, in which this grand principle was taught. He then asked them, if they would agree to take the following rule for their guide in deciding all questions of property, of labour, and of rights and privileges, viz. that every one shall do that which will secure the most comfort, convenience and enjoyment to the whole company. This they all consented should be the rule to guide them in every thing. The minister then told them that the first thing they must do was to provide the food and comforts necessary to life and health. For this purpose, some must plough and sow and work, day after day, in the

fields. Now it was best for all the company that the strongest and healthiest should do this, for if the delicate and weak undertook it, instead of providing food by their labour, they would all become sick, and have to be nursed and waited upon by the rest. For this reason it was decided, that the men should do the out-door work, and that the women and children should do the lighter work in the house. The minister then pointed out the fact, that the king had given them a noble palace with every variety of furniture and clothing. But in the palace were some very beautiful rooms and some very plain ones; some of the furniture was costly and elegant, and some was very common; some of the clothing was of the most delicate light silks and muslins, and some was strong, dark, and fitted for hard service.

Now it was manifest that those who did the hardest and dirtiest work, needed the stoutest and darkest clothes, and that if any body wore the delicate muslins and silks, it should be those whose employments would least injure them. In regard to a choice of rooms too, it was best and most convenient, that those who