‘Can you cook?’
‘Oh no!’
‘Can you do housemaid’s work?’
Then came the question of wages.
‘Will you take eight dollars a month?’
No, she would not. Would she accept of nine? Oh no! Would she take ten? Certainly not.
‘What do you want?’ said the lady, beginning to be alarmed.
‘They told me I was to have twelve dollars a month,’ said the girl, and that put a stop to the negotiation.
When I state that an English sovereign is worth at this time four dollars and eighty-six cents, I think you will agree with me that this charming daughter of Erin somewhat overrated the value of her services. The Canadians are a well-to-do people, but they cannot afford twelve dollars a month for a mere housemaid. I think it would be well if the respectable young women—of whom there are thousands in England who do not care for the pittance given to a governess, and who prefer the life of a lady-help—were to come out. They would soon be appreciated.