Etiquette for Little Folks

Never enter the house with your hat on, and always bow to any strangers you may meet at home.

If you pass by your parents at any place, where you see them, either by themselves or with company, always bow to them.

If you wish to speak to your parents, and see them engaged in discourse with company, draw back, and leave your business till afterwards; but if it is really necessary to speak to them, be sure to whisper.

Never speak to your parents without some title of respect, as Sir, Madam, &c.

Dispute not, nor delay to obey your parents’ commands.

Go not out of doors without your parents’ leave, and be sure to return by the limited time.

Never grumble, or show discontent at any thing your parents appoint, speak or do.

If any command or errand is given you to perform, do it with alacrity.

Bear with meekness and patience, and without murmuring or sullenness, your parents’ reproofs or corrections, even if it should sometimes happen that they are undeserved.

Never make faces or contortions, nor grimaces, while any one is giving you commands.

Never take another’s chair, if it be vacated for a short time; it is impolite.

Never quarrel with your brothers and sisters, but live in peace and amity.

Use respectful and courteous language towards all the domestics. Never be domineering nor insulting, for it is the mark of an ignorant and purse-proud child.

AT TABLE.

Come not to table without having your hands and face washed, and your hair combed.

Sit not down until your elders are seated. It is unbecoming to take your place first.

Offer not to carve for yourself, or to take anything, even though it be something you much desire.

Ask not for anything, but tarry till it be offered to you.

Find no fault with anything that is given you.

When you are helped, be not the first to eat.

Speak not at table. If others are discoursing, meddle not with the matter; but be silent, except when spoken to.

If you wish anything from the servants, call them softly.

Eat not too fast, nor with greedy behavior.

Eat not too much, but moderately.

Eat not so slowly as to make others wait for you.

Make not a noise with your tongue, mouth, lips, or breath, in eating or drinking.

Be sure never to speak with food in your mouth.

Endeavor so to eat, that none may see your food while chewing.

Stare not in the face of any one, especially your elders, at the table.

Lean not your elbow on the table, nor on the chair back.

Spit not, cough not, nor blow your nose at the table, if it can be avoided; but if it be necessary, do it aside, and without noise.

Stuff not your mouth so much as to fill your cheeks. Be content with small mouthfuls.

Blow not your food when too hot, but wait with patience till it becomes cool.

Smell not of your food; turn not the other side of it upward to view it on your plate.

Spit not forth anything that is not convenient to be swallowed, such as the stones of plums, cherries, or the like; but with your left hand, neatly move them to the side of your plate.

Fix not your eye upon the plate of another, nor upon the food on the table.

Lift not up your eyes, nor roll them about while you are drinking.

Bend your body a little downward to your plate, when you move anything that is carried to your mouth.

Look not earnestly on any one that is eating.

Gnaw not bones at the table, but clear them with your knife, (unless very small) and hold them not with the whole hand, but with two fingers.

Drink not with anything in your mouth.

Before and after you drink, wipe your mouth with your napkin.

Never pick your teeth at table.

Never drink till you have quite emptied your mouth, and do not drink often.

Enter not in company without a bow.

Be careful not to turn your back to any, but place yourself so that none will be behind you.

Lean not on the chair of a superior, standing behind him.

Touch not, nor look upon the books or writing of another, unless the owner invite or desire it.

Come not near when another reads a letter, or other paper.

Let your countenance be moderately cheerful, neither laughing nor frowning.

To look upon one in company, and immediately after whisper to another, is unmannerly.

Whisper not in company. Be not froward and fretful among your equals, but gentle and affable.

If you cannot avoid gaping, shut your mouth, with your hand or handkerchief before it, turning the face aside.

AMONG OTHER CHILDREN.

As near as may be, converse not with any but those that are good, sober, and virtuous: “Evil communications corrupt good manners.”

Reprove your companions as often as there shall be occasion, for wicked actions or indecent expressions.

Be willing to take those words or actions as jesting, which you have reason to believe were designed as such.

If your companion be a little too sarcastic in speaking, strive not to take notice of it, or be moved at all by it.

Abuse him not, either by word or deed.

Deal justly among those who are your equals, as solicitously as if you were a man with men, and about business of higher importance.

Be not selfish altogether, but kind, free, and generous to others.

Avoid sinful and unlawful recreations, and all such as prejudice the welfare of body or mind.

Scorn not, nor laugh at any because of their infirmities; nor affix to any one a vexing title of contempt and reproach; but pity such as are so visited, and be glad that you are otherwise distinguished and favored.