it；　and　a　fire　that　they　may　shift　and　dress　them　before　it。
  Every　child　is　nursed　by　its　own　mother；　if　death　or　sickness　does
  not　intervene；　and　in　that　case　the　syphogrants'　wives　find　out　a
  nurse　quickly；　which　is　no　hard　matter；　for　anyone　that　can　do　it
  offers　herself　cheerfully；　for　as　they　are　much　inclined　to　that
  piece　of　mercy；　so　the　child　whom　the　nurse　considers　the　nurse　as
  its　mother。　All　the　children　under　five　years　old　sit　among　the
  nurses；　the　rest　of　the　younger　sort　of　both　sexes；　till　they　are
  fit　for　marriage；　either　serve　those　that　sit　at　table　or；　if　they
  are　not　strong　enough　for　that；　stand　by　them　in　great　silence；
  and　eat　what　is　given　them；　nor　have　they　any　other　formality　of
  dining。　In　the　middle　of　the　first　table；　which　stands　across　the
  upper　end　of　the　hall；　sit　the　syphogrant　and　his　wife；　for　that
  is　the　chief　and　most　conspicuous　place：　next　to　him　sit　two　of
  the　most　ancient；　for　there　go　always　four　to　a　mess。　If　there　is
  a　temple　within　that　syphogranty；　the　priest　and　his　wife　sit　with
  the　syphogrant　above　all　the　rest：　next　them　there　is　a　mixture　of
  old　and　young；　who　are　so　placed；　that　as　the　young　are　set　near
  others；　so　they　are　mixed　with　the　more　ancient；　which　they　say
  was　appointed　on　this　account；　that　the　gravity　of　the　old　people；
  and　the　reverence　that　is　due　to　them；　might　restrain　the　younger
  from　all　indecent　words　and　gestures。　Dishes　are　not　served　up　to
  the　whole　table　at　first；　but　the　best　are　first　set　before　the
  old；　whose　seats　are　distinguished　from　the　young；　and　after　them
  all　the　rest　are　served　alike。　The　old　men　distribute　to　the
  younger　any　curious　meats　that　happen　to　be　set　before　them；　if
  there　is　not　such　an　abundance　of　them　that　the　whole　company　may
  be　served　alike。
  Thus　old　men　are　honored　with　a　particular　respect；　yet　all　the
  rest　fare　as　well　as　they。　Both　dinner　and　supper　are　begun　with
  some　lecture　of　morality　that　is　read　to　them；　but　it　is　so　short；
  that　it　is　not　tedious　nor　uneasy　to　them　to　hear　it：　from　hence
  the　old　men　take　occasion　to　entertain　those　about　them　with　some
  useful　and　pleasant　enlargements；　but　they　do　not　engross　the
  whole　discourse　so　to　themselves；　during　their　meals；　that　the
  younger　may　not　put　in　for　a　share：　on　the　contrary；　they　engage
  them　to　talk；　that　so　they　may　in　that　free　way　of　conversation
  find　out　the　force　of　everyone's　spirit　and　observe　his　temper。
  They　despatch　their　dinners　quickly；　but　sit　long　at　supper；
  because　they　go　to　work　after　the　one；　and　are　to　sleep　after　the
  other；　during　which　they　think　the　stomach　carries　on　the
  concoction　more　vigorously。　They　never　sup　without　music；　and
  there　is　always　fruit　served　up　after　meat；　while　they　are　at
  table；　some　burn　perfumes　and　sprinkle　about　fragrant　ointments
  and　sweet　waters：　in　short；　they　want　nothing　that　may　cheer　up
  their　spirits：　they　give　themselves　a　large　allowance　that　way；
  and　indulge　themselves　in　all　such　pleasures　as　are　attended　with
  no　inconvenience。　Thus　do　those　that　are　in　the　towns　live
  together；　but　in　the　country；　where　they　live　at　great　distance；
  everyone　eats　at　home；　and　no　family　wants　any　necessary　sort　of
  provision；　for　it　is　from　them　that　provisions　are　sent　unto　those
  that　live　in　the　towns。