IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (AAT-3) #< /^ & 1.0 I.I 1.25 itf I 40 1.4 M M 1.6 <^ %, Vi o^. /M ^, «p^. •9 _X c Sciences Corporation iV ■'o, V «\ #' \\ ^v- ^ y> 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (7)6) 872 4503 #^ '% CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques :\ Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Motes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically uniquu, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked beiow. L'Institut 3 microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a ete possible de se procurer. Les details da cat exemplaire qui sont peut-^tre uniques du point de vue bibliographique. qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^thode normaie de filmage sont indtquis ci-dessous. D D □ □ D D D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleL-r Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^e at/ou peliicul^e Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques an couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que biaue ou noire) Coloured plates and/ar illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reiii avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ Lareliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans la texta, mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pfcs iti film^es. D D D E D D D D n Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaur^es et/ou pellicul^es Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d^colordes, tacheties on piquees Pages detached/ Pages d^tachees Showthfough/ Transparence Quality of print varies/ Qualiti inigale de {'impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplemantaire Only edition availabio/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., cnt *t6 film^es d nouveau de facon a obtenir la meilleure image possible. The to tt Thu posi of tl film Orig begi the aior othi first sior Of il The shal T'Ni whii Maf diffi enti bogi righ raqi met n Additional comments;/ Commentaires supplementaires; This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqui ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y ' 10V ^~"~^ i>y 3nx 24X 28X 32X Tha copy filmed hara hc« baan raproducad thanks to tha ganarosity of: Muste du Chflteau Ramezay, Montrtel L'axamplaJra f\\m4t fut raproduit grica i la ginirositi da: Muiie du Chftteau Ramezay, Montrtel Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha baat quality possibia considaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacificationa. Laa imagaa suivantaa ont Ati reproduitaa avac la plus grand soin. compta tanu da la condition at da la nattati da I'axamplaira filmd. at an conform iti avac laa conditiona du contrat da fiimaga. Original copiaa in printad papar covars ara fiimad beginning with tha front covar and ending on tha last page with a printad or illuatratad impras- sion, or the back cover whan appropriate. All other original copiaa are filmed beginning on tha first page with a printad or illuatratad impres- sion, and ending on the laat page with a printad or illustrated impression. Laa axamplairae originaux dont la couvarture an papier eat imprimte sont filmte an commencant par le premier plat et an tarminant soit par la damiAra page qui comporte une ampreinte d'impreeaion ou d'lllustration, soit par la second plat, salon le cas. Tous laa autras sxamplairas originaux sont filmte an commandant par la premiere page qui comporte une ampreinte d'impreasion ou d'illustration at an tarminant p&r la darniira page qui comporte une telle ampreinte. Tha laat recorded frame on each microfiche shall cctntain the symbol —»-( meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "ENO"). whichever appliea. Un dee symboles suivants apparaitra sur la damiAre image da cheque microfiche, selon la cas: la symbols -^> signifie "A SUIVRE ', le symbola V lignifie "FIN". Maps, piatea, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand comer, left to right and top to bottom, aa many vrairea aa required. The following diagrams illustrate tha method: Laa cartaa. planchea. taoleaux. etc., peuvent i*T9 filmte i dee taux da rM -^on diff Grants. Lorsque le document est r op grand pour itre raproduit an un saul cliche, il est film^ i partir da Tangle sup4rieur gauche, de gauche i droite, et da haut un baa, an prenant le nombre d'imagas n^eaaaire. Las diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 A THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN ENdLISI GOVERNESS. «'Bef\r yo one anothor'a burdensi^ and Bff ffjlfil t)hje jla^ of Christ."— GAL. vi. 2. MONTREAL: PRINTED BY*JOIIN LOVELL, ST. NICHOLAS ST. 1868. if i TO IvIRS. GEORGE MOFFATT, OF The kind and delicate Synnpathiser with the Governess, BY HERS, ORAT3FULLY, Jhe ^UTOBIOGRAPHER. Montreal, 1868. l c <0:^^^^^^^^ TJi ^ RRARY ^' J UN 3 190^ l^RriFAtJE ^ yjl CHAPTER L tNrnoODOToat RejIArkS , . . . . ^ OHAPTfiR ir. My I^mST SlTUAtrON ,.,., ig CHAPTER 111. t^URTHER ExPERIElXCEd ^ 29 OIJAPTER IV. Daily TBAcrilN(J . . * , , , , 44 CHAPTER V. Interviews ^ ^ ^ ^ 5* Conclusion ^ 5^ 'e PREFACE. The following pages contiin simple facts experienced in the writer's his- tory, who, called to a governess' life, narrates them not in the spirit of a cynic, but with the earnest desire to impress those who employ governesses with the solemn fact that it is in the power of the engager to render so onertms a life either profoundly un- happy, — and every day's experience goes to prove such is the actual fact, — or as ha])py as the circumstances of the VUl PREFACE. case lOiU admit of. The governess must be put in the position she is en- titled to as the instructor of youth. Respect and consideration are her right and due, which she on her part must appreciate. And if the advice of a craftswoman to a sister work- woman shall help on one step the imtlent, laborious, but, how often, the ill-requited teacher, then this simple record of facts will not have been noted in vain, which in the year of grace, 1868, I now give to the reader, wishing all whom it may concern heartily farewell. I CHAPTER T. " CJuidcfi of my IIA; ! IiistinctorB of iny youth ! Who Hrst unveiled tho hallowed form t f truth. "—Uooers. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. I WAS born in the historic town of B , in the county of S . The noble abbey which in ages long lapsed reared its head in majestic grandeur, and in the pomp of its cremonial attracted its admirers, is now regarded as a relic of the past rather than as a monument of the present. At an early age I was sent to school, returning each evening to my houie.- My first ten years were passed in a place celebrated for its fashion, a town dignified by 4^ 10 INTRODUrTOliY REMARKS. the frequent presence of royalty. My parents soon after this removed to London, and there I remained some years. After a good deal of prepara- tory instruction, I was taken to the continent. My family is English to the remotest generation. My father, a man of law, one who had received a liberal education, and the usual term of articleship Ij the first man in the legal profession in his native county, assisted in our education by my tender, judicious, painstaking mother, who descended from that honoured and re- spected class called landed proprietors, were through circumstances little thought of in the earlier days of their union, obliged to feel it was most probable their children would have to use their talents to secure indepen- dence. A family cared for as we w ere, would be rather hard to find in this day of Ittxariousness, Avhen children are either spoiled with the most destroy- '*■'. ■ INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 11 ing indulgence or felt too much trouble. At the age of fifteen I was taken to France to be prepared for my future calling. The prudent parent who knows the patrimony which at his death will fall to his children will not be one " of silver or gold/' will consider, next to a good name, a good and liberal education as an endow- ment for his daughters whereby they may be provided with that which ought, hut not always does, secure to thein the means for a comfortable position in the world. Besides my book education, which is but the key to all other, I received a domestic and natural education ; by this I mean a simple yet careful training. I was neither taken to the ball-room nor to the theatre, and never in my life have I si«'hed for such vain and foolish places of amusement. Our pleasures were those of the country. The chil- dren's tea-party, with our small tray, 12 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. little black tea-pot, and our own cups and saucers, was something consider- able. Walks in the country and the like were all hailed and enjoyed with a zest and perfect enjoyment, which, as far as my experience goes, no young girl of the same age now knows anything about in this day of artificial pleasure, and of dress carried to a height even to call forth the ani- madversion of men, and that is some thing— for is it not a woman's duty to render herself pleasing in the " eyes ot the lords of creation?" In these days of mere " parading," instead of Avalk- ing ; in these days when, what were children in my time, aspire if not to the office of a matron, at least begin to think it is time " some one should be coming to woo ;" in these days, finally, when it is a relief to meet with some one not quite so exquisitely turn- ed as the young lady just home from the first-class school, at D, or else- i INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 13 where. The kind of education which I call domestic is that which Avill enable a woman to take her part in the race of life. No other education is worthy the name. My mother's first care was to impress her children with the love of truth, the rules of justice, and the beauty of piety, real, healthy, and do- mestic ; not only that religion which will endure Avell in prosperity, but which will stand up against the storms of adversity- What is xi mere worldly training? The shadow for the sub- stance,''* a tinkling cymbal," of no use when put to the test ; a veil of tinsel^ beautiful in the sunlight of prosperity, but of no avail in the cloudy day of adversity ; a glittering spangle, pretty to look at, but, as a mere bauble, worthless when stern necessity drives us to our foundations. The arrival of a young English girl in France is an important era in her life, everything at this period so new, 14 INTROBirCTOEY REMARKS SO fresh, so interesting. TravelUno- ^« part of education • "for what ar? ofX'^it;'^^*^^--tp-^-d^ men L ' ^^^'"2"' *^»d doings of S tJST; ^'^i'^- '?^^^«» > *°d what he book of * r"^ ^^ ^^^^ *« »»l««k nrfntp? K 5 """^T"' "«* ^ volume pnnted, bnt a volume studied with the di^cewir,g eye in the Kvil "d «eyer-dymg example of meHomen m^ tlf ^"^"'^ "'^ "^"«li' often far iaofe,than we j to know that En ..land 27, '"P^ *^""g« from her ne^hW that we are able to improve eX! our manufactures, or ourlste'or ou/ ^hould be the grand aim in all travel to do good when we can, and to get gooa Being yet but a scholar, I was .«! J^nghsh Sabbath and a continental !i:SrT'RODU0TO^Y REMARKS^ 15 Stinday.. Here was the Church of Kome 'in the fulness of its ritual,^ The pension to which I was intro- duced was large, as most of these establishments are abroad, more like <;olleges than schools. Well do I re- ^member the first few days of my noviciate^ in my attempts to master the language of the country, now by a continual residence and practice be- <;ame neatly as familiar to me as my mother tongue — hroad^ richy k'axon English. After a long sojourn in the town where I first studied French, I was sent to a pension as boarder, in a Protestant school, kept by two ladies, Parisiennes, who did their duty to the English girls committed to their care. At the pension^ rue St. Andre, No. 23, I soon became not only conversant, but fluent with the language, able to «nter into and enjoy the services of the Reformed Chui .'i of France, whose simple and pure Liturgy commends 16 XNrrRODtrCTORY REMAEKS. iteelf to those Avho love tlie truth whatever may be the .ectional deno- mmatior. to whrch they Wor.g. I am hZ T"^ ^' '" ^^'^^^^t *« '•''^oiv that the French tongue is so rich in its txpjession, or so varied in its efiymo- !^-!,f'^^%°»r «^n; "o? Colder as: 1 1.1B to the French, nevertheless, for thought, the English langnage m mt have the preference; all this I admit. J^et 1 must declare that never have I ielt more elevated in mm,}, never Hrnw X '"^ warmest sympathies drawn out, never has « the silver trumpet proclaiming the Gospel mes- sage, borne so sweet an invitation to me as through the medium of the ^rench tongue. I have heard services tLh ^ -T', <^'^thedral, I Lave at- tended parish churches, I have listened to men whose oratory was sufficient to excite admiration, hut never did I INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 17 feel more or as much as when hearing French preaching. At the end of twelve months I re- turned to England, a young girl just at the age when one has a keen relish for home, after all the rules and ne- i cessary restrictions of school life. I was not subjected to many punish- ments, however once I was '' uu pain see;' for this reason: I had trans- gressed a rule by buying a half-pound of butter. We really had but very lit- tle of this luxury. I had no other excuse to offer, and therefore had to go without altogether. It was now I bad to learn the meaning of those two words — a governess ; for I soon found myself located in my first sphere as go- verness-pupil in the County of Kent, J in a ladies' school. Happily for me, this my first start in life was a for- tunate one. " The lines were cast in pleasant places.'' The family was kind. If ihc^rpi wpvp fv cprtain stiffness of 18 INTKOflUCTORY ISEMAKKS. piiere ot home, I must vof .i i \- ;^«« considered I ^J^^rtre^'t J^ Jf ^ I was cared for • and j^'^^f .^^^n^Iy ; at. least wa. hTpp^ J''"^^"'' ^ CHAPTER II. MY FIRST SITUATION. Hitherto I had but been half in- ducted into my profession. The time had now arrived when I had to go alone into the world. A short time before my 21st birth-day, I was en- gaged as governess in the family of the Rev. rector of , ^^v.^v,x v,x , in one of the Midland Counties. I arrived in early spring. Everything looked beautiful ; the quiet rectory, with its thatched roof and white stuccoed walls, looked so peaceful ; the nice lawn in front, with its beautiful rose- trees, the carriage drive, etc., etc., all impressed me favourably. I was met 20 i MY FIRST SITUATION. atthe Station by the rector, who re- ceived me with gentlemanly courtesy I never found his deportment any other; nevertheless, it was in this house that I first discovered the loose has to be decided between the parents and the governess. The former con- sidering themselves, and very justly as the best judges of their children's interests whilst the latter cannot, must not m very truth, forget she also U^her authority and Jter reyime ha^ to be maintained. As far as prac- ticable, the governess should yield to the parents' wish, but she will often have to act in direct opposi- S P^f««%.^^en know the dif- ficulty of the subject I am handling unfit for the instruction of her cliil. oSl ",' '' ?""" *^" ^^"«d duties entailed upon her, either from physi. i MY FIRST STTlTATrON. 21 i^lio re- urtesy. it any n thia e loose which arents r con- iustly, dren's innot, e also le has prac- yield will )posi- this I dif- ling. s, be chil- iities ijsi- cal inability to do so, perhaps because she has not been educated herself u such a way as to fit her for the posi- tion. It may be probably because she knows and feels she is lacking in that moral courage which is required for the correction of her children. Then it is that the governess, is engaged ; and she must understand what her duties are fo be. It is not fair either to the children or to the teacher that her requirements should be improperly m- terfered with. A parent has no right to correct the governess before the children, neither has she any reason to dictate to her as to the course to be pursued. A teacher and parent may confer together as to what is best for the children, but undue interference cannot be allowed, and plenty of it there is. If not, we should not hear young children threaten to " tell mamma." If it were j^ossible that mothers could educate their children, 22 MY FIRST SITUATION. of each 'r^litu^u^iVthrh t '""^^ special licence " si oulJ hi n^""' " ^^ C%n>f/a« teacher St ''.^^"o^ved the no other, to do ^h^fLT^^ '^T'^^'' «lie considers /7be t to f '' i^""'"* wasvounff nf ih;.- °^ *^one. I the •^chooiroom ai""n*"''' ^^^^ ^^«"^ with the care of fj" entrusted the occasionTdirect^on'nf K!^'^' ^"'^ who to say thelra^tver/ve/^f 'T What with these anW T Z^^ ^^J^^h. favourites introJuS ^*'''^'" ^'^«ine j!hle, it was" nTwSer if 7 /^^ ,*- difficult to retain n, I ^"""^ it mistress of the 1 *T, ^"thoritj as I disliked the kr;t'->^- ^^' •' how ^e^/ralvvavs r ',/* ^^^« my i„«. the damask rose Vh J "''•! ^'''^ ^^' '^ "^others I depr;cate Tr*'"^S^""«- - visit of a ra her o..iticalT. ^T""' ing this tlt?^- that T ;l 1 *^-^ ^^'"•■ ■ tnat 1 was found too MY FIRST SITUATION. 23 -; but as ^ hounds T. '^ A ^ved the consider %ment 3iie. I ^v from trusted Is and ' boys, >oyish. canine ie tea und it ity as f how quit- wHh rana- iring bear- too inexperienced, sometimes I was ques- tioned whether any tears had been dropped ! then A. did not hjok happy. Ah, tliis A. was a difficult child in truth, rude and disagreeable ; thus it cauie to pass, I one day found myself liomeward bound in the same carriage which had brought me to the rectory. The kind rector expressed the regret felt at my departure, but yet depart I did. Soon after, I was engaged as French governess in another school in one of the richest counties in England, the birth-place of one of England's great poets, where the very ground seemed almost classic^ and where pilgrimages were made to re- vered shrines. If Ave so value and esteem talent, what a day will that be when talent shall all be turned to God's glory ? When the poet's song shall tell oi Him who is ^^ the iirst and the last," and when even the arts and sciences shall all be directed to the 24 MV FIKST SITUATION. 'MLTt f^' 1 ^'^'''^^< ^^^^o can willdenv it w"* /' l-^dmirable, who Will aeny it / beauty is a tliino- fn h^ admired, thore will i a lay wLn 'u shall once more turn on the ri^ht axis when all. ^n tend to happinii\re' , " 1 was, governess in Miss . scaool. I sometimes wonder l.ow I could even have borne the enfre Into S them vT ^f"T"/ "^ '•'-d^oc'^^o lor tliem, yet schools have their irl vant s. i„ ,„ ,rst class estrablil" ments there is a companion teacher • the governess has, therefore less of isolation, provided her compan on be moderately agreeable. She has on! to run with her the sam^Sl^^^Z iw"oV" '''''' "^*« J'^r sc^iola c joys and sorrows, and sometimes tn to f il . " '.* ^'^ ^n^agined what it i.s to leel twenty pair of eyes are upon you, to see young girls wa:i.;n„^J^ MY FIRST SITUATION. 25 as if your socieiy Avas not what they sought ? There is seldom mach conli- dence shown by school girls to their teachers. The early bell to be attend- ed to, the having to be in one's seat at a given moment, this and more constitutes the teacher's life in a school. I certainly was not altogether so fully appreciated as I was iu my first sphere. Once more, then, I became a resident instructress in a family. Here I beg leave to give a few words of friendly counsel and advice to young females generally. I do it in the kindest spirit, which I desire should be valued, yet I feel almost sure to encounter their cen- sure, nevertheless I say, keep to your own station. Ye young women whose fathers are maintaining themselves by a thriving shop, be prepared to take your places as his loving in- telligent helpers, his prudent honest clerks— whether in weighing out lbs. _ nf\ •% L^^ _ l!1^^ »^t1-« ^\4-Vl rkT» ol tea, coitee, ana me in^u. 2G MY FIRST SITUATION-. as the saleswoman behind the board whether as the seller of nattv liuie bonnets just imported from Paris Why do I advise you to do this ? for tAvo obvious reasons. In my iud-- mentfhe yoce.-n..s in a private fLify IS not that beau ideal of happiness you may suppose. The fit JdlZ per persons xor teachers are gentle- women without fortune. In the good old times It was the case ; a governess ttv'dir^r- ''r^^ ,,,,,, fhe was a thTfnn^ '" .individual from what this nor.descripist in the I9th century Dherf rT " u^- ^''.S'^ «"t «f their sphere. Phe result is that England is Whor'snr""^ '•^'"^'^ governfsses to whom salaries varying from £30 to *io and £V1 a year are offered— pay- ment worse in many cases than "the shelter of a lodging sufficient without any pavmon i n f, nil ^ri «^ . _ " , M^ I^lRSt SITU At 101^. 27 >oarcl, little Paris, man. ? for ludg- mily iness prch title- ?ood ness as a ^liat my. leir d is ! to ) to ay- the the out the governess has become far too common ; it has been as a natural consequence lowered, and many smart under the vulgar, coarse and contemptible treat- ment they receive. Now when every woman sets herself as a teacher of th^ young, many would be far more res* pected in their father's shop and at their father s counter. The mortifi* cations of a governess are not few. Well would it be if all knew the value of not wishing to be greater than they are. Away, then, with such spasmodic efforts ; never mind how homely your home is, stay in it, let it be your joy to abide there till you have a home of your own, with some one to share life's burdens. Most women look for-^ ward to this, depend upon it you have far more likelihood of finding your Mr. Wright at home than in the home of another. What are pictures and gildings ? what is all the etc. of rank, compared with loving hearts, a tender 28 MY I^IRST SITUATION. look, a warm grasp of the hand, a mother's love, a father's arm to shield and protect. These the governess can- not enjoy in another's home. Let men push on as they will in the great mart of life, but let the women of England not forget to retain that posi- tion which, in God's providence, is assigned to them. Remember that a governess' life must be more or less at its very best estate a trial of tempef, a tax of strength, care and patience, and this truly as regularly as each morning we behold the sun rise to run his race. CHAPTER IIL rUEl1:nER EXPERIENCES. A governess should not bc too at- tractive, woe be to her if she have a pretty face, and why ? because A, B, C or D, might happen to fall into that strange mistake of being partial to this lady. Why may he not? is she not a lady? Why may he not ! is she not edu- cated? Why may he not ? because she is only the governess. What this only moans is to be defined simply that the gover^ness has no fortune, and conse- quently pays no income tax ; therefore the reason why neither Henry nor Ernest must run into the grave mis- take of saying in a whisper a more 30 FtJMHtlR teXl^EHlENCi^S. gentle word to her than ^o any one else in the park, when the soft moon chines on his young sisters who are close at hand, and he begins, if he had not felt it before to feel that Miss is some* thing more to him than their instruc-* tress. On leaving W^ my next situa** tion was with the family of another clergyman. My pupils, six in number^ were nice docile children, with one exception. They had been early trained to ohedience^ the value of which I felt; but here again I was subject to daily vexations. One of the great* est trials of the teacher^s life is the ever recurring matter of rights. Here the children were permitted little play ; I considered far more liberty should have been allov/ed them. On toy first joining the family, I began by giving the children a little more liberty ; but it was soon made known to me that it was not approved FtJUTHER EXPERIENCES. ©f. "What did the children wai^t of play, at their ages," the iliarama said^ *^ She had none." I did contrive to- go into the nursery sometimes, and make merry. We are alT the better for a little nribending^ and I am an entire advocate for plknj at the right time and plaee;. l)iit then, I am as much an advocate for work when it has to be attended to. In this sphere the skein of rights became very en- tangled, very sadly confused. The mother perceiving the love of my pupils for me, did not like it} and' ot^ an occasion which occurred, one of the little girls said with naivete, " if you do that," speaking to her sister, " you will love Miss more than yoiT do mamma." My teaching was com- mended by the vicar sometimes. This, too was disliked. Then every little foiling or omission was watched for, rude messages sent, and I experienced at tl "» /% \\ •-{ ^ iv; iiiiii\_iiO v/J •fl-»ici Io/Itt +i-»rkr»-f •m/:kT» + i/iiip itlviV ■ 32 FURTHER EXPERIENCES. very far below that of the wife of a clergyman. Alas ! there is no redress for us ; but He who knows the right will surely mark injustice. Matters went on, till retreat became the only course, and we took leave the one of the other, I feeling the unjust treatment I had been subjected to, which was more than I ought to have expected after my faithful en- deavours to do my duty ; the love of my pupils, I had, but from the mother, nothing but the contrary. I remained a short time in the metropolis, when again I met with an engagement in B. Once more I packed up my things, once more came the adieus, once more I entered the home of another. The pupils were three in number, the house that of a gentleman, the grounds beau- tiful, the country pretty, the preaching scriptural ; but I was holding the mis- understood position of a teacher. The children were much, if not entirely. FURTHER EXPERIENCES. 33 spoiled ; the lady of the house, a very disagreeable temper, formerly an instructress herself, — it may ap- pear strange she knew so little of the regard to be paid to the office, — had a most cutting way of speaking, and not unfrequently the sting caused me to long for and pant after retreat. Did I, for instance, speak in praise of Kirke White's sweet poetry — '' Why then it was only last week I was speaking against his Hags. But what connection was there between Clifton Grove or his Hags ? I ask." Had the cat but snuffed at a certain dish, why then Miss would not taste it. Did I desire my young charges to keep their seats till their elders had done, why then she thought they would have plenty to do and bear as they went through life, and therefore they were to jump down, feed cats, play, or be guilty of any other want of respect towards an elderly grandmamma and B 34 FURTHER EXPERIENCES. aunt. I talked too much, Mrs. thought, in her room. Did I on one occasion say the little girls were not truthful, " I then had made t'lem so." Hard was it to receive the tip of the fingers as an icy pledge of good night, after an entire day given up for the benefit and progress of her children, not only as the paid teacher, but as the loving companion. Let me sug- gest the propriety of not shaking hands generally with the heads of families. It will often be found te- dious, oftener still, absolutely disa- greeable. Difficult is it when the heart is burdened with a sense of wrong to shake hands cordially. Will it be wondered at that when I saw the little omnibus which daily plied to London, a longing almost as intense as that which seizes on the home-sick Swiss should have taken me to pay my fare and be away ! The children were to learn, but then how their FURTHER EXPERIENCES. 35 mamraa objected sometimes. A friend once suggested that the children should learn music, as the little birds did. " Those teachers who act as see- ing Him who is invisible," whose whole conduct is referred to the stand- ard of the gopel, must not be surprised if they be not popular with the pa- rents. Respected they may be, but it IS the governess who either conceals facts, or so glosses over faults, that there is little to do but to com- mend who will be the one preferred by most mothers, whose love would naturally incline them to wish to hear " smooth things." The honest teacher who seeks " not to please man " at the expense of truth, must care not, at all times when she can commend. Let her delight be to do it, but when she has to find fault her course is plain. Alas ! for those who have weak digestions. Mine happened to be one of that num- JL xxci* V \:; iiiiu Uat in solemn reflec- tion, which such places are likely to call forth. I beheld the flickering lamp burning at the altar, I gazed on the numerous statues which mark the Roman Church, I listened to the con- fession of a youthful penitent, made to the aged cure^ and then would re- turn to the chateau in time for the seven o'clock dinner. After half past eight I was again my own mistress. FURTHER EXPERIENCES. 41 This is certainly a very different life from that of the governess in England, I used often to request something more to do. My salary was not large, large salaries are not given on the continent, but nothing was demanded of me ; cer- tainly I desire ever to retain a pleas- ing recollection of the kindness I re- ceived here. What a life I had as ,the French teacher in a public school at W- this said school was managed by a very well meaning, but ill judging ladies' committee, who came to the institution once in the week, and saw things on the surface ; all was well so far, but did they know what the real life of the teacher was ? verily nay, the con- trol of one, the spurring on to action of another, the pride and imper- tinence of a fourth, the stern neces- sity of discipline, the absolute need for command in a school of more than forty, what with the banging of 42 FUETHER EXPERIENCES, lockers, what with the chattering of tonffues and the noise, it was next to an impossibility to maintain order, without which no real good can be arrived at. I made an attempt to stem this wild torrent ; I thought it my duty so to do. I found it no sine- cure for the children wore absolvAehj encouraged to go to the committee with their version of the teacher s conduct. The governess was toM that " the committee had to do witn the lessons." The very best friend the institution had was dignified witti the title of an Ape. It was in order to bring under subjection kindred spirits that I es'sayed improvement; but the committee, however, thought it bad for the children. Bad indeed it was for my health, which suffered severely, and I was at the end of a few months politely advised to give up the charge. I now beg to refer my reader to the ^ +„ ;« mv life of a daily and FURTHER EXPERIENCES. 43 :of to ler, be to t it morning governess, finishing my sketches of a resident governess life with tlais institution. CHAPTER IV. " Live tor the day, tomorrow's light. Tomorrow'. ciJi will brine to light, Go Kleop like closing flowers «t night, iid heaven thj mom shtU bleas."-KI!nLI!. t ] i OAILY TEACHING. The time had arrived when I ex- changed the sphere of resident teach- er fo? the life of a daily one. To live in the houses of others had ever been painful to my feelings, I therefore re- sided with my parents and undertook daily education. Further on m my experience I had entirely to cater for myself; the events about to be recorded happened either when 1 was yet sheltered by my father's protection, „„ „ft.v. wWn he had beer, gathered I DAILY TEACHING. 45 'to his rest, or yet further on when alone I had still to pursue my daily routine. All positions have their difficulties. If there be more freedom, and no doubt there is double for the daily teacher, she has nevertheless more re- sponsibility, which, unless she receives a good salary, renders her life more anxious. , It is nothing to the resident teacher what the bill of fare will be for each day Nothing to her whether meat be cheap or whether it be dear. Nothing to her whether butter be one shilling or two shillings the pound ; not so the daily governess, who has to provide herself with life's comforts with often not more than half enough to do it on. No daily instructress should receive less than eighty guineas a year, i have had this and more, but only as a grand exception. What is the pay- ment generally offered? £30 £40 and £50 a year. And this often lor 46 DAILY TEACHING. • the whole day's services. I feel that every teacher is ill requited who does not receive one guinea a week for the morning hours, only this leaves her free to take a double engagement, no little tax on her strength, but which will enable her to live. Some governess- es pretend they are not required to teach for support. I confess I have my doubts when I hear such assertions. If it be so, how much better for these said ladies to retire and make way for those who teach because they expect to live by their talents. The truth is some young females may do it only for pocket money, but if they would be without so useful a purse, did they not teach, then they too require it, I never thought I could teach every- thing, I neither understand Ger- man, Italian, the harp, nor the guitar, nor painting. Nevertheless the gov- erness who can give a thorough Eng- lish education with the acquisition of DAIIA' TEACIUNG. 47 French, acquired in France and well spoken, with good music in addition, Avith, moreover, the tact mid aptitude so important with children, for such an one to be offered and compelled to take £1 a week and half the sum, is an evil which is grievous to think on. Why are such sums accepted I because teachers are in want of les- sons. , Does the governess suggest such a sum as too little, she is answered <' lessons can be got for it." Yes, can be got at the expense of an under paid individual . A governess can be had at that rate ; yes, because the supply m the educational market is far greater than the demand. A certain militaire on one occasion ventured to call his gov- erness' salary " wages." Gross as was his remark, in value a salary is otten of no other fractional denomination. No doubt, teachers can be got who profess to teach what they cannot ; 48 DAILY TEACHING. persons can be engaged who are utter- ly unfit for the office. It may be, alas ! is that those who are fit for it yet are compelled to take such fees, and so really are taken advantage of. People have no right to do so any more than I have to expect to purchase a hand- some garment at half its proper va- lue The really good teacher acts from higher motives than her money ; she must look at this as one of her ob- jects in life, to gain sufficient for her- ielf by means of high and honour- able work. But she will have a higher motive, in training her charges, not for this life oiily, but for that which is to come. While she herself seeks her pecuniary reward, she will endeavour to lead those committed to her care to the attainment of " durable riches and righteousness." Another evil be- sides the small fees offered to the daily tfcacher,is the unjust request frequently made for her to take two walks a day DAILY TEACUI G. 49 with her pupils. One should not be re- quired ; but seeing it may be expedient 2ne hour should be devoted to exercise in the day, the governess who is en- gaged for the pupils must be prepa,r- Id for this tax on her strength ; but what shall be said of those who have had the demand of two such excursions "" thave been asked, and because I re- fused to undertake to do so, ^^\^^^ by the mother, " I had no right to come and experimentize on her situa. fimi" If I were no chicken, as this same lady once infomed -e, I was not prepared to do what I felt to be a L7t unfair duty. .T^b person intro- duced the housemaid to the childr n s ta-table, at which I was to preside I objected, and she remarked I had iot been far enough out of my nest^ The annoyance was removed ; but the said individual knew nothing jf the courtesy due to a lady. She was a MMPa 50 DAILY TEACHING fine even handsome woman, but her mind did not correspond to her person, for I think a more vulgar specimen l have seldom met with. Let all gover- nesses refuse two walks a day. The teacher comes often from a dis- tance of two, three or four miles, is she fit to return to her home at nignt when she has dragged through two such walks. I knew of an instance amongst my friends of the most se- rious consequences ensuing irom sucu an overtax of strength. Many an omnibus ride have 1 taken, many a long mile have I traversed^ Wind and rain, hail and frost, wet or dry the daily teacher is looked tor,— she must expectit,-therefore the neces- sitv for her to receive such tees as Bhall enable her to ride on pressing occasions. One morning I had to stop and take shelter at a house in order to avoid the drenching rain, such ram it was that had I ventured to go through DAILY TEACHING. 51 it every garment must have been soak- ed. I considered it my best plan to wait. I did not know on my arrival at Square the door of the house would not be opened by the butler as was usually the case, nor even by the pretty page, but by the master of the sa*d house, who although a most com- plete gentleman, could so far forget himself as to greet me with the words "It is very late, teachers shorld be punctual." We all know the old adage " Punctuality is the soul of business ; but not punctuality at the risk of lite. Mv watch was a little behind on the morning in question. I felt this Mr. had sunk far in my esteem, i his was not the first time I had met with a similar reproof. A further trial to the daily instructress is the non-pay- ment of her fees at the appointed time. The inconvenience following such non- payment can, perhaps, be hardly con- ceived. Can a lady whose feelings are If^'' 52 DAILY TEACHING, probably become doubly acute because she suffers so much, bring herself to ask for her enclosure I have had to do it. Sometimes the money is not forthcom- ing for a fortnight after it is due, and this when an arrangement has been made that the fees should be paid weekly. All weekly engagements are so regulated. Who can imagine what it is to wait from day to day hoping for to-morrow and still to-morrow. Delicacy shrinks from telling the re- sult ; let it be conceived rather than written. The omission, no doubt, pro- ceeds sometimes from mere want ot thought,sometimes because the engager lives beyond the income and has not ready money. I record with grati- tude there are cases where the most careful attention is shown m this mat- ter. One lady there was who never on one single occasion forgot my claim, who never failed to produce a certain little packet on the Friday in DAILY TEACHING. 63 each week. Peace to her memory 1 for she was cut off in the prime of lite. There is a necessity that fees should be remembered. Let no one be surprised to know that the teacher is glad ot her stipend. The thought of her home is a pleasant one to the daily gover- ness • she looks forward to it to see as i once saw a beloved mother watching for her child's return. I look in vain for that now, yet courage, soon we shall see « eye to eye and face to tace, Hoon the time will come when the last tear shall be wiped away, or as it liter- ally is " wiped, out from every eye. Then this little scene will be the grand stage where the creature shall be restored to hi^ pristine glory, and « the restitution of all things come. The house, small or large, the rooms in which, as a member of no mean col- lege, that of preceptors, or even dla Francaise, the boudoir by day with the pretty little sofa changed into a bed 54 DAILY TEACHING. by niffht, may be the home of the daily governess, still she calls it and feels such. Surely we are endowed with the native feeling of liberty which needs to be explained to none, not that it may be extinguished but culti- vated more and more. I must yet touch upon one feature more in the life of the daily governess, sometimes, too in that of the resident teacher : that of introductions, or what we in technical terms call " Interviews, to which I devote my last chapter. CtlAPTEE r. INTERVIEWS. It is of course to be expected that a lady about to engage a governess will like to see her, this happens more frequently in the case of the daily than in a resident governess. The interview should be given but to two or three ladies at a time, at the most ; but ladies are frequently sent in num- bers to be viewed for one engagement. The engager must see who looks the youngest or the oldest according to her requisitions, who is the best French scholar, as far as her own knowledge of the language goes,which may be very small. On one occasion this was the experience of an inter- 56 INTERVIEWS. view. Are you Scotch ? I answered no. How old are you ? The necessary reply was supplied. The conclusion this person came to was that I should not " suit her at all." I might have added, nor you me, but I said nothing, aiid simply wishing her good morning, I retired. On a hot summer's day, I was sent several miles into the country to see I^rg ^who was seeking an instruct- ress. When I reached my destination I found other ladies on the same errand. I was soon summoned to the drawing room, and after a very few minutes the lady told me she could engage no one till she had seen a cer- tain person, who had been well re- commended by an agent. This sys- tem of agency is not the best way of procuring engagements, what was the use of my being sent in advance of the above named teacher. I cer- * tainly had been unfairly treated ; the INTERVIEWS. 57 result of that day's journey was in- disposition for three months after. Of course Mrs never gave me a fur- ther thought, I never came into her recollection. Let mothers ask them- selves this question, should I wish my child subjected to such treatment? I am ready to give an interview, but I am not ready to go in company with others on the mere speculation of pleasing the whim of the lady whose own good feeling should point out the ill effect of such a congress as she has convoked. In another interview I had to meet the wife of a clergyman at the Great Western Hotel, this lady, most elegantly attired, met me with politeness ; but in the course of her conversation she informed me " she could not treat a governess as a sister." I certainly neither expected it or wished that she should. But when she added, " nor as a friend/' Ireally felt ashamed. Here was the wife 58 INTERVIEWS. of one of the appointed teachers of our Church uttering so unworthy a sentiment. how different from the declaration of Him who eighteen hun- dred years ago on the blessed shores of the Lake of Galilee received all who came, and who said " Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I com- mand you " Shall any one with right Christian feeling attempt to justify such an observation ? Is it not enough to leave home ties, and take up with the children of others ? is it not enough to endure the conflict which every one has to endure who has not a for- tune, in passing through life without having the feelings wounded to the uttermost ? Is it to be expected that a nice feeling will ever exist in the governess's mind as long as such heartless and unrefined conduct is shown towards them ? If love begets love, at least consideration begets re- spect. CONCLUSION, I now venture to put forth these details to the public. I must say in conclusion that the life of a governess is a life of much self- denial at its very best estate. I have shown how she has peculiar duties, peculiar difficulties, to contend against. The position is one which is not cared for as it ought. It is highly import- ant that a lady should be as particu- lar to know with whom she is about to live as the family should be to enquire who she is. A refined lady teacher will never desire to go one step beyond her proper place ; she 60 CONCLUSION. should be courteous and affable to the heads of the family, neither sei^vile nor proud in her demeanour, loving and friendly with her pupils, kind and considerate with the servants. The heads of the house, on their part, must know how to treat such an one. Her position in life is not equal to theirs as regards externals,, but her social standard is just as equal if she be one of the class alluded to in a former chapter. In thus committing my experience to the world, I desire in closing to offer thanks to the few who have shown me acts of kindness and true regard. There are special re- membrances which linger around spe- cial fields of tuition which will ever re- main as pleasing memories: even those who so unhappily did so much to render my stay amongst them bit- ter, had their considerations occasion- ally ; but what the governess needs is universal consideration and evenness CONCLUSION . 61 of treatment. Life is a special cam- paign for the teacher ; let then her hands be upheld, let her spirit be re- freshed with the hearty good will of those who employ her talents. If I have drawn the life in very shady colours let not the instructress be alarmed. The time may not be far distant, and will assuredly one day come, when a brilliant crown will be hers if she has been faithful. A crown not of laurel or parsley, but the crown of glory which fadeth not away. JOHN LOVELL, PRIlfTER, MONTREAL.