A Poem on Table Manners, Used by a Shaker Community in 1868

We find of those bounties

Which Heaven does give,

That some live to eat,

And that some eat to live—

That some think of nothing

But pleasing the taste,

And care very little

How much they do waste.

Tho' Heaven has bless'd us

With plenty of food:

Bread, butter, and honey,

And all that is good;

We loathe to see mixtures

Where gentle folks dine,

Which scarcely look fit

For the poultry or swine.

We often find left,

On the same china dish,

Meat, apple-sauce, pickle,

Brown bread and minc'd fish;

Another's replenish'd

With butter and cheese;

With pie, cake, and toast,

Perhaps, added to these.

~ Anonymous