Household troops, or, A sketch of a few of the principal trustworthy and confidential domestics of worthy and confiding families [graphic]

"Four W. L. figures each with caption. [1] The Vigilant Housekeeper. A fat florid woman, with necklace and ear-rings, a much-trimmed cap, and flounced skirt, with a plain white apron; a bunch of keys dangles from her waist. She holds a sheaf of bills and a Housekeepr Book. She says: Every one must acknowledge the Value of a good Hosekeeper & I flatter myself I am that personage. I never allow a Butcher, Baker, Grocer, Tea-Man, &c to over charge my worthy Master & Mistress or put down in ye Bill more than they served, nor I never speaks ill of my Lord if he happens by chance to look into my concerns, because I knows he is sure to be satisfied with them, as I can make him believe any thing, he is so Easy, I never does willify any Tradesmans articles because he don't think me worthy of a Consideration--no I knows better how to keep up my own Dignity. [2] The Amiable Lady's Maid. A coquettish, wasp-waisted young woman in the height of the fashion, wears gloves, a huge hat with streamers, and a decorative apron over a skirt with vandyked flounces. She holds a reticule. She says: I am my Lady's own pure unspotted Maid & never think of dressing myself in her Clothes when she is absent; or of persuading her does [sic] not look well in an Article I may have taken a fancy to, or of pressing her Tradesmen to give me large poundage upon pain of losing my Lady s favour, no--not [sic] I am too independent to go behind the Bush with counter-jumpers, my place is uppermost & uppermost I'll be. [3] The Faithful Butler. Fashionably dressed in knee-breeches and with a bunch of seals at his fob, he stands in a swaggering pose, his hands in his breeches pockets. He says, with a sly half-smile: Egad I am one of the best gentlemans Gentlemen in Europe. I does my duty to my Master in style not a Himposition does I allow my Trades men to practise on him for a petty fee, nor do I put Aquafortis on the seams of the Tailors work or Bootmakers articles, &c if they don't do the thing handsome -- no. I alway acts right and does a friendly turn for those who be friends to me. [4] The Honest Coachman. In a powdered wig and gold-laced livery, with nosegay, and coat almost to the ankles, he stands in profile to the left, holding a coach-whip. He is bottle-nosed and says with a sly grin: Aye, my masters, I always does the fair thing with em, Coachmaker, Farrier, Corndealer, and a host on em, I never scratches the Varnish, burns the leather, drives a nail in the the [sic] Horses foot, or spoil the Corn, because I don't get a good feeling [sic] out of it. Acts honest to my Master, and never forgets the Tradesmen who remembers Jarvey. Yea-a-ap!! Thats the way we come to it my tiny ones"--British Museum online catalogue