Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[gloria_taipei]

Could anyone explain what the following sentence mean?
There seems to be two verbs--waste and want.


"They who idly crumbs will waste
Often want a loaf of taste!"

[Mister Micawber]

.
People who waste even a little bit of food often lack food later. The whole verse, for the benefit of other readers:


The Little Gentleman (by unknown)

Take your meals away, my little man,
Always like a gentleman;
Wash your face and hands with care,
Change your shoes, and brush your hair;
Then so fresh, and clean and neat,
Come and take your proper seat;
Do not loiter and be late,
Making other people wait;
Do not rudely point or touch;
Do not eat or drink too much:
Finish what you have before
You even ask for more:
Never crumble or destroy
Food that others might enjoy;
They who idly crumbs will waste
Often want a loaf to taste!
Never spill your milk or tea,
Never rude or noisy be;
Never choose the daintiest food.
Be content with what is good;
Seek in all things that you can
To be a little gentleman.
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[gloria_taipei]

Thank you, Mister Micawber, for answering my Q.

"People who waste even a little bit of food often lack food later." Did you mean that later in their life, they will not have enough food? If so, It's like the cause-and-effect relationship in Buddhism.

Plus, I just don't understand the sentence structure.
"who idly crumbs" is an adjective clause, right?
"waste" is the verb of the subject "They", right?
How about "want"? Is it also the verb of "They"?
If so, should there be a conjunction like "and" between "waste" and "want"?

Besides, "a loaf to taste" means a lot of things to eat?