A middle-class woman never worked outside the home. Her primary function was to be a dutiful wife and bear her husband children. In addition, her home was to be a sanctuary.  She would oversee the managing of the servants and plan the meals with the cook. She never answered the front door to visitors nor even put a chunk of coal into the fire. Her pleasures would encompass paying calls on her lady friends, shopping for clothes and visiting her dressmaker. The actual labor in running the household was the responsibility of the servants.

Cook

The cook was given the title "Mrs." even if she was not married. Her first name was never used. This would have been considered too informal or familiar. The position of "cook" was broken down into two classifications. A "Professed" cook was one who had the skill to make elaborate dinners and fancy desserts as well as simple meals. Her wage could be as high as $72 a year. "Plain" cooks, on the other hand, did not have the cooking skills of the former. As a consequence, these ladies would earn a lower wage.

Parlormaid & Housemaid

Working girls in this capacity would refer to themselves as "in service." Girls could start working at an early age, typically in their early teens. A parlormaid could earn $25.60 a year whereas a housemaid could earn $19.20 a year.

The morning duties of a parlormaid and housemaid had them both up at the crack of dawn. Their morning started at 6:00 a.m. and depending on the social engagements of their employer (house party or ball), she could work until midnight or later.

The first duty before breakfast for a housemaid was to light the fire for the cook's kitchen range. She immediately cleaned the brass on the front door and swept, washed and scrubbed the front stoop. She then would take her "maid's box" and dust the parlor and start the fire. Once the parlor was complete, she took the coal upstairs to the nursery and cleaned the cook's shoes. The housemaid’s last duty was to carry cans of hot water to the master's room so he could shave.

The parlormaid’s first duty was to open the shutters in the lower rooms and start the fires in each room. She would also brush the carpets.  She first sprinkled the carpet with damp tea leaves to lay the dust before brushing the carpet. She then set the dining room table for breakfast and carried a tea tray to her mistress. Her final task was to assist the lady of the house with her dress for the morning. This could be time consuming as there were so many layers of clothes before donning the gown.

The responsibilities of the cook, housemaid and parlormaid demanded all their time except when they went to church. Servants were required to put in long hours until the 1890s. By that time, staff was permitted to take one day off per month. Within ten years, most servants were allowed to take a 1/2 day once a week.

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