MANNERS AT HOME.
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| Why most important of all. Politeness to parents. Politeness between brothers and sisters. Politeness to servants. Illustrated by story. Treatment of company:— Grown-up company,—callers and visitors,—young company. |
LESSON IV.
MANNERS AT HOME.
Our manners at home are of more importance than our manners anywhere else, for several reasons: we spend more time at home than elsewhere; our own family have stronger claims upon us than strangers; they love us best and do most for us, and they are entitled not only to our love but to every courtesy and attention from us. It is a sad thing to see a boy or girl polite and kind away from home and to strangers only, while at home he is rude, selfish, and heedless of every law of good behavior. If we are always polite in our own homes, we shall be sure to be polite in other people's homes. If we do not forget to say "Good morning" and "Good evening" to each member of our family, we shall not forget to say them to others.
If a child has fruit or candy, he ought not to sit down by himself to eat it, without offering some to his companions.
In olden times it was quite common for a young man in writing to his father to address him as "Honored Sir." While these formal modes of speech may be out of place in our time, we should so keep the commandment to honor our parents that its spirit shall be seen in our every-day conduct.