A Mommy Story

The little gem I referenced in an earlier post is a small booklet I picked up at Colonial Williamsburg. I found it in one small shop, partially hidden behind a stack of children’s toys: a pamphlet titled The School of Manners OR RULES for Childrens Behavior.

It is a historical reproduction of an authentic text from the period. After only a short time of flipping through the pages, I knew I couldn’t pass up this chance.

And so for you, my readers, over the next month I would like to present you with some of the writings from this 1701 publication. You will then be able to tell your children just how good they really have it today.

Also, there is a forward that addresses the parents of these children, but I will save that for the very end, after you see the rules put forth by this author. Today we’ll start with the basic rules for life and then rules for church. They’re short and to the point – later entries will be a little more lengthy and wordy. There is even a chapter devoted to rules for boys in particular.

(Spelling and punctuation have been left as written. Except for those silly f’s that are meant to be s’s.)

Chapter I. Short and mixt Precepts.

1. FEAR GOD.
2. Honour the KING.
3. Reverence thy Parents.
4. Submit to thy Superiors.
5. Despise not thy inferiors.
6. Be courtious with thy Equals.
7. Pray daily and devoutly.
8. Converse with the Good.
9. Imitate not the wicked.
10. Hearken to Instruction.
11. Be desirous of Learning.
12. Love the School.
13. Be always cleanly.
14. Study Vertue.
15. Provoke no Body.
16. Love thy Schoolfellows.
17. Please thy Master.
18. Let not play entice thee.
19. Restrain thy Tongue.
20. Cover future Honour, which only Vertue and Wisdom can procure.

Chapter II. Of Behaviour at the Church.

1. Decently walk to thy Seat or Pew; run not, nor go wantonly.
2. Sit where thou art ordered by thy Superiors, Parents, or Masters.
3. Shift not Seats, but continue in the same place.
4. Lend thy place for the easing of any one that stands near thee.
5. Keep not too long a Seat lent thee by another, but being eased restore it.
6. Talk not in the Church, especially in the time of Prayers of Preaching.
7. Fix thine eye upon the Minister. Let it not wildly wander to gaze upon any Person or Thing.
8. Attend diligently to the Words of the Minister; pray with him when he prayeth, at least in thy Heart; and while he preacheth, listen, that thou mayest remember.
9. Be not hasty to run out of the Church when the Worship is ended, as if thou wert weary of being there.
10. Walk decently and soberly home, without hast or wantonness.