Etiquette for Little Folks

Part 1

ETIQUETTE

FOR

LITTLE FOLKS.

SUSIE SUNBEAM’S SERIES.

BOSTON: G. W. COTTRELL, PUBLISHER. 36 Cornhill.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, BY J. Q. PREBLE, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New-York.

Stereotyped by NESMITH & TEALL, 29 Beekman Street.

ETIQUETTE

FOR

LITTLE FOLKS.

RULES FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR AT HOME.

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.

Part 2

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.

Part 3

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.

IN SCHOOL.

Bow at entering, especially if the teacher be present.

Walk quietly to your own seat, and move not from one place to another till school time be over.

If your teacher be conversing with a stranger, stare not at them, nor listen to their talk.

Interrupt not your teacher while a stranger or visitor is with him, but defer any question or request till he be at leisure.

If your teacher speak to you, rise up and bow, making your answer standing.

If a stranger speak to you in school, stand up and answer, with the same respect and ceremony, both of word and gesture, as if you were speaking to your teacher.

Make not haste out of school, but soberly retire when your turn comes, without hurry or noise.

Go not rudely home through the streets. Stand not talking with boys who delay you; but go quietly home, and with all convenient speed.

AT CHURCH.

Part 4

Walk quietly and soberly to the pew; run not, nor go playing.

Sit where you are directed by your parents.

Change not seats, but continue in the place where you are desired.

Talk not in church. Fix your eye upon the minister; let it not wildly wander to gaze on any person or thing.

Attend diligently to the words of the minister. Pray with him when he prays, at least in your heart; and while he is preaching, listen attentively, that you may remember. Be not hasty to run out of the church after the worship is ended, as if you were weary of being there.

Walk decently and soberly home, without haste or playfulness, thinking upon what you have been hearing.

Always remember to be punctual at church. Never, if it can possibly be avoided, disturb the services by coming in after they have commenced.

IN THE STREET.

Walk quietly and unobtrusively in the street, neither singing, whistling, or shouting.

Affront none, especially your elders, by word or deed.

Jeer not at any person, whatever.

Always give the right hand to your superiors, (by superiors, I do not mean so much in regard to birth, as age, merit, and the light in which they are regarded by the world,) when you either meet or walk with them; and mind also to give them the wall, in meeting or walking with them; for that is the upper hand, though in walking your superior should then be at your left hand.

But when three persons walk together, the middle place is the most honorable; and a son may walk at his father’s right hand, while his younger brother walks at his left.

Give your superiors place to pass before you, in any narrow place where two persons cannot pass at once.

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