ΜΟΝΙΤ0R.
TABLE
GATHER UP THE FRAGMENTS THAT REMAIN, THAT NOTHING BE LOST.-CHRIST.
Tho' Heaven has bless'd us
Here then is the pattern
Which Jesus has set;
With plenty of food:
Bread, butter and honey
And all that is good;
And his good example
We cannot forget:
With thanks for his blessings
His word we'll obey;
We lothe to see mixtures
Where gentle folks dine,
Which scarcely look fit
For the poultry or swine.
But on this occasion
We've somewhat to say.
We often find left,
We wish to speak plainly
On the same china dish,
And use no deceit;
We like to see fragments
Left wholesome and neat:
Meat, applesauce, pickle,
Brown bread and minc'd fish;
To eustoms and fashions
Another's replenish'd
With butter and cheese;
We make no pretence;
Yet think we can tell
With pie, cake and toast,
What belongs to good sense.
Perhaps, added to these.
What we deem good order,
Now if any virtue
In this can be shown,
We're willing to state-
Eat hearty and decent,
And clear out our plate-
By peasant, by lawyer,
Or king on the throne,
We freely will forfeit
Be thankful to Heaven
Whatever we've said,
For what we receive,
And not make a mixture
And call it a virtue
Or compound to leave.
To waste meat and bread.
We find of those bounties
Let none be offended
Which heaven does give,
At what we here say;
We candidly ask you,
That some live to eat,
Is that the best way?
And, that some eat to live-
If not,-lay such customs
And fashions aside,
That some think of nothing
But pleasing the taste,
And care very little
How much they do waste.
And take this monitor
Henceforth for your guide.
[VISITOR'S EATING ROOM. SHAKER VILLAGR.
