My name is Annie and I am a servant for Nathaniel T. Butterfield and his family. It is my second year in his service and am now 16 years old. I have two sisters and one brother. I am the youngest and my sister Betsey works here with me. She has been working for the Butterfield family for two years and is now 18 and promised to be married to Richard Thompson. My other sister Mary is 20 years old and was married last summer to Henry Evans, who is an apprentice to the only publisher in Bermuda. She is a great seamstress and many of the ladies go to her to have their dresses made. My brother Thomas is a mid-shipmen on a British schooner called The Dolphin and I pray that he is safe.As you know I work for Mr Butterfield and his wife. Mainly, I help with their grandchildren; William who is 13, James is eight, Judy is five and Nancy will be three next week. I also help a lot in the kitchen and with the cleaning. Working in the kitchen is the job I like the best ’cause Peg, the cook, sometimes teaches me how to bake, serve and set and clear tables. Sometimes, she tells me to run down to the market and get fish or things like that. My second favourite thing to do in the house is to teach the kids their lessons. My father taught all of us to read and write so it is easy and I really enjoy helping the children. I do not mind cleaning but my least favourite thing to do is cleaning the privies. I know it is part of life, but I think they should each do their own.All and all, my work here is pleasant. I have a bit of freedom as long as I get my chores done and stay out of the way of Mr. Butterfield and Mistress. They provide me with new maid clothes each year. They also provide the servants with a room to share and our meals. We live in a room upstairs, which all the maids share. On the weekends, we take turns on going home to our families. My family lives in St. George’s and the Butterfield’s live on South Road, in Paget, just outside of Hamilton. It would normally take Betsey and me three hours to walk back to St. George’s, when we go home dad either sends a carriage or brings three horses; since we could never go without a male escort.I do not see my family often so I have to write to them and I cannot send letters unless we see someone who is going ‘up country’. They are not long letters, but more newsy, with bits of our days.While Christmas is still two weeks away, all we could talk about between ourselves was our day off, Boxing Day!Weeks go quickly here with so much to do before the holidays; the time is going ever faster. On washing day, the four of us girls were using all the ‘elbow grease’ we could muster up, to make sure the wash looked even whiter. Our fingers were all wrinkly and the water so cold. I was surprised to look up and see Mrs Butterfield coming to talk to us. It is unusual for her to talk to us younger servants. Then in her pretty but brisk voice she says, “I have invited a few people over for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner. I want everything prepared just so. Oh yes, and Annie, please fit the kids out with something appropriate to wear.”Then, she turns on her heels and leaves us behind in shock. Mrs Butterfield had never had a big Christmas party before, according to Peg, just her family. Last time she had a party she said that she was having a few people over and we cooked for 20 people. Forty people arrived. We had to get everything ready for twice as many people as we had expected. It worked out, but dinner was served late and Mrs Butterfield was not happy with us but everyone else was.Now there is even more to get done. We have to prepare for 50 people, make up the extra rooms, because some will have to stay over. We have to get nice clothes for the children; so I take all four of the children into Hamilton to the shop to get fabric. After measuring them, William wants a black suit and of course, James wants the same. Judy wants a lovely, long navy blue dress like her mother’s and Nancy wants a pretty pink dress. I don’t think Nancy knows what she wants but as long as it is pink, she will be happy. My sister Mary will be happy for the work. She will bring her sewing box and scissors and move in to get the clothes done for Christmas.Mary and I have finished all the outfits and it is just in time for Christmas Eve. Besides sewing, I had so many other chores to do. I helped Peg with some of the baking, cleaned silverware, polished the lamps, washed clothes and table cloths and tried to calm down the younger children for just the thought of Christmas morning. Father Christmas will be here and wouldn’t it just be fine to peek at what he got them when the time comes.Mrs Butterfield wanted the children to have a little fun instead of staying in the house. She told me to take them down to get a tree, which was fine by me as it gets me out of setting tables. So we all run to them to go to town. When we get there, we saw lots of trees, which was a new German tradition that Prince Albert introduce to England. We bought some wooden ornaments, popcorn seeds and string. We went back to the house to start decorating the Christmas tree. So many of the servants were helping. We popped the popcorn and we threaded string through the popcorn. James put it up all the way to the top. William and Nancy put up ornaments, bows and little bits of colour paper. William put up the high ones and Nancy the lower ones. Mr Butterfield put the little church candles on the tree, just so, with paper doilies to catch the wax. Then William put up the star on the very top. Mrs Butterfield was quite happy and thought we had done it just in time because the guests will be here soon. So the children ran upstairs and I downstairs to help Peg. When I walk in, I could smell the cassava pie with nutmeg, vanilla, butter and chicken. The wonderful smells and there goes the door bell!Soon the meal was served and lots of Christmas carolers come by to sing to the family and friends. The servants stood quietly near the door so we could hear the carolers as well. My favourite song was We Three Kings. The men in their low voices boomed it out. It was beautiful. Everything was beautiful. There was such joy and laughter in the house. Everything else is a blur because everything went so quickly. Mr Butterfield announced that he was going to open his bank in the New Year. All the chatter turned to that excitement! Soon it was over but I was so tired that I was asleep before my head fell onto the pillow.Christmas morning was just as busy, no time to think, we just made sure all was taking care of for Mr Butterfield, his family and his guests. It was another day of pure exhaustion. I could not believe it went by so quickly.Finally Boxing Day arrived and I could not believe my excitement. We left before the first light so we were home to spend the most time with our family. I was anxious to see my family. I know mother would have a roast on the ‘spit’ and there would be other wonderful smells and treats. The little house would look very welcoming and festive. I know I could not hope to see Thomas since he was at sea. But Mary and Henry will be there and so will Betsey’s Richard. She looked so happy with her husband standing next to her. There was Thomas. I could not believe my eyes. I had not seen him two years and behind him was a lovely young lady. He was safe, and home with a new bride. For now, all of those worries disappeared. We went inside to open presents. I have to say, my favourite Christmas gift was from Thomas. It was all the way from England. It was a book called A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It was the best Christmas ever, because everyone in the family was there!