Rules to be observed when pickling:

"Always use stone or glass jars for all sorts of pickles that require hot pickle to them. The first charge is the least, for these not only last longer, but keep the pickle better; for vinegar and salt will penetrade through any all earthen vessels, stone and glass is the only thing to keep pickles in. Be sure never to put your hands in to take pickles out, it will soon spoil it. The best is, to ever pot tie a wooden spoon full of little holes, to take the pickles out with."

I wish the Doctor's pickle jars had pickles to eat in em. All them jars is full of things I wouldn't dream of even touchin if my hide wrent on the line to put em in the jar. I worry he ent rigt in the head.

From the book: "The Servant's Directory, Improved" or "House Keeper's Companion; Wherein the duties of the Chamber-maid, Nursery-maid, House-maid, Laundry-maid, Scullion or Undercook, are fully and distinctly explained. To which is added, Cookery and Pickling sufficient to qualify a person to act as THOROUGH SERVANT in any family."

Rules to Observe in Roasting:

In the first place, take great care the spit be very clean; and be sure to clean it with nothing but sand and water. Wash it clean, and wipe it with a dry cloth; for oil, brick dust, and such things, will spoil your meat.

For Pork: Pork must be well done. To every pound allow a quarter of an hour: for example; a joint of twelve pounds weight three hours, and so on; if it be a thin piece of that weight two hours will roast it. You may baste with fine nice dripping. Be sure your fire be very good and brisk; but don't lay your meat too near the fire, for fear of burning or scorching.

"We gots a few porkers when in Bermooda. The Doctor is always fond of a good swine to sup on. Ifn it lasts a week, I will be color'd surprised."

From the book: "The Servant's Directory, Improved" or "House Keeper's Companion; Wherein the duties of the Chamber-maid, Nursery-maid, House-maid, Laundry-maid, Scullion or Undercook, are fully and distinctly explained. To which is added, Cookery and Pickling sufficient to qualify a person to act as THOROUGH SERVANT in any family."

To cure beer that has turn'd Sour.

"To eight gallons of Beer throw in at the bung a quart of oatmeal, lay the bung on loose two or three days. then stop it down close, and let it stand a month. Some throw in a piece of chalk as big as a Turkey's egg, and when it has done working, stop it close for a month, then tap it."

From the book: "The Servant's Directory, Improved" or "House Keeper's Companion; Wherein the duties of the Chamber-maid, Nursery-maid, House-maid, Laundry-maid, Scullion or Undercook, are fully and distinctly explained. To which is added, Cookery and Pickling sufficient to qualify a person to act as THOROUGH SERVANT in any family."

To keep all sorts of fire arms and steel from rust:

"Take a quarter of an ounce of camphire and half a pound of hogs lard, dissolve them together over a very slow fire , and take off the scum, then mix as much black-lead as will bring them to an iron color, spread it over your arms, steel grates, or fire irons, and let it lie 24 hours, then clean them as well as possible with a dry linen cloth, and they will keep six months: but when you lay by your irons, the general way is to try mutton suit; rub the irons well with it, roll them in papers, and so lay them by the winter; but goose-grease is far beyond it. and keeps irons much better, and is a very good thing to clean irons at any time, rubbing it off dry with a linen, and after that with scouring paper; they will look well and do without anything else."

I s'posin I shuld be honor'd that th Doctor only lets me cleen his pistol - but any joy I git from it goes away caus'n he stands over me somethin' frightnin to make sure'n I don't ruin his baby.

From the book: "The Servant's Directory, Improved" or "House Keeper's Companion; Wherein the duties of the Chamber-maid, Nursery-maid, House-maid, Laundry-maid, Scullion or Undercook, are fully and distinctly explained. To which is added, Cookery and Pickling sufficient to qualify a person to act as THOROUGH SERVANT in any family."

To Kill Rats

Pound some stone-lime, and mix it with oatmeal and coarse sugar; lay it about the house, set water by it, for after they eat of it, they will drink till they burst, then the rest will leave the place.

Though this seems but a simple thing, yet it will destroy them faster than any thing else, and do no other damage.

"Th' Doctor always seys iffn' you can find a more kinder way of killin them rats, to use it. I think bein' kill't by a right good blow to me hed is a better way to go than poison to the guts, but he ent ever listenin' to me."

From the book: "The Servant's Directory, Improved" or "House Keeper's Companion; Wherein the duties of the Chamber-maid, Nursery-maid, House-maid, Laundry-maid, Scullion or Undercook, are fully and distinctly explained. To which is added, Cookery and Pickling sufficient to qualify a person to act as THOROUGH SERVANT in any family."

To take Ink or Wine out of Woolen or Linen Cloth

Take the juice of lemons and wet the spot with it several times, letting it dry each time, then wash it with soap and vinegar, and the spot will go out.

At least I only have to do the Doctor’s linens, if’n the rest of the crew affer Christmas dinner wanted all thems linens and coats warshed i’d warsh right through my hands. I never met with a messier clan of loud and lively men.

From the book: "The Servant's Directory, Improved" or "House Keeper's Companion; Wherein the duties of the Chamber-maid, Nursery-maid, House-maid, Laundry-maid, Scullion or Undercook, are fully and distinctly explained. To which is added, Cookery and Pickling sufficient to qualify a person to act as THOROUGH SERVANT in any family."

A quick way to take Grease out of Woollen Cloth

"Get a piece of brown paper, make it very wet, and take a red hot coal, roll it in the paper, and keep it dabbing on the spot; when the paper grows dry take another piece and another hot cinder, and keep dabbing the spot till it is out; then brush it and the spot will disappear."

Burnt a hole in the doctor's old wool breechis, wen I forgot bout the coal. I got a tong thrashing something feerc for it. I dint unnerstand haff the things he said anyhows, so it don't bother me none. Nows I need to find a scrap for a pach.

 From the book: "The Servant's Directory, Improved" or "House Keeper's Companion; Wherein the duties of the Chamber-maid, Nursery-maid, House-maid, Laundry-maid, Scullion or Undercook, are fully and distinctly explained. To which is added, Cookery and Pickling sufficient to qualify a person to act as THOROUGH SERVANT in any family."

To wash thread & cotton stockings

Nelson's stockings

"Give them two lathers and a boil, blueing the water well; wash them out of the boil, but don't rince them; then turn the wrong side outwards, and fold them very smooth and even, laying them one upon another, and a weight on them to press them smooth; let them lie a quarter of an hour, then hang them up to dry, and when quite so, roll them up tight, but don't iron them, and they will look quite new."

I wersh the demmed rite one every day. The doctor don't remember to take off his left shew until an hour or more after the rite. His nose is pres'd into a demmed book all the time. They don't wear strait.

From the book: "The Servant's Directory, Improved" or "House Keeper's Companion; Wherein the duties of the Chamber-maid, Nursery-maid, House-maid, Laundry-maid, Scullion or Undercook, are fully and distinctly explained. To which is added, Cookery and Pickling sufficient to qualify a person to act as THOROUGH SERVANT in any family."

Cleaning the Doctor's Linen

To take all sorts of spots out of linen:

 

"Hold the linen where the spot is, round a silver or stone mug containing boiling water; cut a lemon in four, and rub the spot well with it; this will take it out entirely.  Or when it happens in the middle of summer, and the sun is very hot, soap the spots on both sides, and hang it in the sun till bone-dry and they will come out; but mind that you soap the linen all over; and it will make it white; or rubbed well with the juice of sorrel, will take out the spots; making the juice hot, and dipping the linen where the spot is,will take it out; or salt and vinegar will do, rubbing it well, and squeezing it out; or take sharp vinegar in a tin , or earthen pipkin, boil it, and as it is over the fire, dip in the spot and nip it out; if not dip it in again till it is perfectly out; then rub it well with soap, dry it by the fire or sun, and wash it out."

He don't lissen to my advise about keeping his linens out the blood.

From the book: "The Servant's Directory, Improved" or "House Keeper's Companion; Wherein the duties of the Chamber-maid, Nursery-maid, House-maid, Laundry-maid, Scullion or Undercook, are fully and distinctly explained. To which is added, Cookery and Pickling sufficient to qualify a person to act as THOROUGH SERVANT in any family."