Chapter X.

_TABLE MANNERS._

FIRST TWO YEARS.

ILLUSTRATIVE LESSONS.

LESSON 25.

=Purpose.=--To show the necessity of good table-manners.

=Method.=--A contrast drawn. Children allowed to comment.

_The Lesson._

A little girl came to the table very hungry. There were a good many older people there, and as she had been taught to wait until the older ones were served, she sat very still and waited very patiently until every one else at the table was enjoying a nice dinner. She grew hungry every minute, and could hardly keep the tears back, but still did not ask for anything. When it was found that she had been forgotten, but was so patient and well-behaved, every one praised her, and you may be sure she had the best dinner they were able to give her.

Another little girl came to another table very hungry. She waited for no one, but immediately began to ask for this and that, and not in the nicest way, either. She made herself so disagreeable that every one at the table was glad to have her served first.

Did it pay the first little girl to wait?

“Yes’m. Everybody thought she was so nice.”

How about the other one?

“They thought she was a naughty girl.”

What is one way, then, by which you may make people like you?

“By behaving politely at the table.”

LESSON 26.

=Purpose.=--To show that punctuality at the table is desirable.

=Method.=--An incident related, followed by a conversation.

_The Lesson._

Johnnie, like many little boys, was fond of sleeping in the morning. The bed always seemed the softest and his dreams the most interesting just as the rising bell rang. He would wake just enough to think there would be time enough before breakfast to go to sleep again and finish out that one dream. But nap followed nap until the sharp ting-a-ling-ling of the breakfast bell roused him. Then he would _try_ to dress hurriedly, but every thing generally went wrong, and he would get out to breakfast too late for the delicious hot cakes the rest of the family had enjoyed. How do you think it made him feel to eat a cold breakfast?

“Cross.”

Tell me what you think of such a boy as Johnnie.

“He was lazy.”

“He didn’t do as his mother wished him to.”

Did he make his mother trouble?

“Yes’m. His breakfast had to be kept for him.”

“It would have been kinder if he had eaten with the rest.”

Think of Johnnie, and tell me what you mean not to do any more.

“To be late at the table.”

Why?

“Because it makes trouble and isn’t kind.”

And if not kind?

“Not polite.”

Does this mean the home-table only?

“No, Miss B. It means when we are at home or when we are visiting.”

LESSON 27.

=Purpose.=--To show that polite attention is specially due the lady of the house, at table.

=Method.=--A conversation.

_The Lesson._

Who sits at the head of the table?

“Mother.”

Who, then, is the most honored one at the table?

“Mother.”

And mother is sometimes called “the lady of the house.” How can we tell when we ought to do certain things at the table?

“We can watch the lady of the house.”

Then how shall we know when to sit at the table?

“When the lady of the house sits.”

Yes, no one should sit until she does. And when the meal is over, how long should we stay at table?

“Until the lady of the house rises.”

Suppose it is necessary to leave the table before that?

“We must ask the one at the head of the table to excuse us.”

Unless we do these things what will be thought of us?

“People will think we have not been taught good manners.”

LESSON 28.

=Purpose.=--To show that selfishness at the table is not a sign of good manners.

=Method.=--A conversation.

_The Lesson._

How many of you like oranges? I see that you all do. Suppose you were to have oranges for breakfast, and when they were brought on one should be much larger than the other, which would you want?

“The biggest one.”

Certainly, there is nothing wrong in that, but would you _take_ the _largest_ one?

“No, Miss B.”

Why not?

“I would leave that for mamma.”

“It isn’t polite to take the largest and best for yourself.”

Who should have the best?

“Mamma and papa.”

Suppose grandmamma or grandpapa should be at the table?

“Then they should have the best.”

Tell me who should have the best when there is any choice.

“The older people.”

How should the others feel about it?

“They should be glad to give the best to others.”

LESSON 29.

=Purpose.=--To specify some forms of polite expressions used at table.

=Method.=--An incident related. Criticisms elicited from pupils.

_The Lesson._

I once sat down to dine at a table where there were three children. They seemed to be nearly starved, although I knew they had eaten a good breakfast. As soon as they had taken their seats they called out, “I want some bread,” “Give me some meat,” “Pass that jelly;” and when they were served they began to eat as if it were their first meal in a long time. I think some of you would have been surprised at those children’s manners. What have you to say about them, Jennie?

“They ought to have kept still until they were served.”

“They ought to have said, ‘I would like some bread, if you please.’”

“And ‘Will you please give me some meat?’”

“And? ‘Will you be so kind as to pass the jelly?’”

Yes, that would have been much better. What should you say when something is passed to you at table, and you do not wish it?

“Not any, I thank you.”

“I don’t care for any, thank you.”

If you remember to do these things, what will be said of you?

“That we know how to speak politely at the table.”