15

'Always sit erect at the table. The body should incline a
little forward when eating, to avoid dropping victuals on
your clothes. Nothing looks more clownish at the table than
to see a person grasp and handle the victuals that he does
not eat himself.'
'Never gaze at a person when he is eating, for it looks as
though you coveted his victuals. It shows low breeding and
selfishness to pick out the best of the victuals, or to turn
over a piece of meat to look at both sides of it before you
take it to eat.'
T Never be squinting and scowling, and examining the victuals
to see if you can discover a coal, a speck, or a hair; and if
you do find one, take it out decently and not make a great
ado about it. For your honor's sake never make a mountain
of a molehill.1
'Never pocket victuals at the table, it denotes a thievish disposition/
! Throw nothing under the table.1
'Always pick your bones clean.1
After the noon dinner, all went back to work until the supper bell at
6:00 p. m. After supper, they continued to work (except the farmers who
did "chores" until 8:00 p. m. , when everyone went to meeting. Every even-
ing was planned. One night might be a "union meeting," This usually lasted
one hour and then everyone went to bed. The elders and eldresses met in
the Elders1 Room, the deacons and deaconesses in one of their rooms, and
the rest of the family, in groups of 6-8, sat in two rows, facing each other
about four feet apart for conversation. It was dull, there was not much to
talk about except family affairs, mainly eating and drinking. Since only
Elders and Deacons read newspapers, another night might be a general
meeting when selected articles from newspapers were read. Another night