Letter from Mrs. Martin to her brother Isidore CF 29
March 2, 1868.
Tell my father that he is eagerly awaited, especially by little Hélène, who asks each time she comes back from class if her good daddy has arrived. Léonie is very worried about the little cousin, she made a terrible life for us, all morning yesterday: she had it in her head to leave for Lisieux and she didn't stop screaming. Her father had to get angry and tell her she wasn't going; then we had peace. The two big ones torment me every day, to know how much time there is until the big holidays to go see you...
If you are happy with the good one I sent you, try to keep it, because it is very difficult to find good ones. It is not always the big gain which assures the attachment of the servants; they need to feel that you love them, you need to show them sympathy and not be too harsh with them. When people have a good background, we are sure that they serve with affection and devotion. You know I'm very lively and yet all the servants I've had have loved me and I keep them as long as I want.
The one I have at the moment would be sick of it if she had to go away; I'm sure we'd offer her 200 francs more than she would want to leave us; it is true that I do not treat my servants less well than my children.
If I tell you that, it's not to give myself as an example, I assure you that I don't think about it, because everyone tells me that I don't know how to get served. Mrs. X., in particular, but what do you want, I could never act like her, I won't even try.
