jQuery .empty() empties target element;

js:

$(function(){
    $('.target').click(function() { // click to empty element
        $('.elements span:not(:empty):first').empty(); // empties first not empty element
    });
});​

html:

<button class="target btn btn-primary">click me to empty element</button>

<div class="elements">
  <span>elment 1</span>
  <span>elment 2</span>
  <span>elment 3</span>
  <span>elment 4</span>
  <span>elment 5</span>
  <span>elment 6</span>
  <span>elment 7</span>
</div>