Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building Part 3

_Lady._ "Let him walk in. Let him walk in."

_Page._ "Will you walk in, Sir? Will you walk in?"

So in he pops and takes a seat.

When each player is supposed to speak he or she must move gently, bending forward and back and when the Friar is invited to enter, the door must open only just far enough to let him "pop in."

These are only some of the plays with which the baby I knew used to be amused; but they will suggest others to parents and older brothers and sisters. The baby cannot make all of these things himself but he will be quite as much interested when they are made by older hands.

MONDAY

Here's a little wash bench, Here's a little tub.

Here's a little scrubbing-board, And here's the way to rub.

Here's a little cake of soap, Here's a dipper new.

Here's a basket wide & deep, And here are clothes-pins two.

Here's the line away up high, Here's the clothes all flying.

Here's the sun so warm & bright, And now the was.h.i.+ng's drying.

Edith Goodyear.

Finger Play.

By Edith Goodyear.

The little s.p.a.ce 'twixt fingers & thumbs Is round as a circle you see!

While in there, a tiny square Shows corners four to me.

Circles are like daisies while, Like pennies, candies and plates, Like Grandma's cookies and pumpkin pies; And best of all, the pretty blue In Baby's laughing eyes.

The square makes me think of the rug where he sits On the nursery floor at play; Of the lawn where he rolls in the suns.h.i.+ne bright, And the dainty spread that covers his bed When he's fast asleep at night.

COUNTING THE FINGERS

This is the thumb, you see; This finger shakes the tree; And then this finger comes up; And this one eats the plums up; This little one, says he, "I'll tell of you, you'll see!"

That one is the thumb; And this one wants a plum; This one says, "Where do they grow?"

This one says, "Come with me--I know."

But this little one, he says, "I will not go near the place!

I don't like such naughty ways."

Now, I think that through and through Little Finger's right--don't you?

This one fell in the water, And this one helped him ash.o.r.e, And this one put him into bed, And this one covered him o'er; And then, in walks this noisy little chap, And wakes him up once more.

This one walked out into the wood, And caught a little hare; And this one took and carried it home, For he thought it dainty fare; And this one came and cooked it up With sauces rich and rare; And this one laid the table out, And did the plates prepare; And this little fellow the keeper told What the others were doing there.

AN OLD NORSE FINGER PLAY

Thicken man, build the barn, Thinner man, spool the yarn, Longen man, stir the brew, Gowden man, make a shoe, Littlen man, all for you!

BABY'S TOES

Dear little bare feet, Dimpled and white, In your long nightgown Wrapped for the night.

Come, let me count all Your queer little toes, Pink as the heart Of a sh.e.l.l or a rose.

One is a lady That sits in the sun; Two is a baby, And three is a nun.

Four is a lily With innocent breast; And five is a birdie Asleep on her nest.

"BABY'S TOES"

BY EDITH A. BENTLEY

Five little piggie wiggies Standing in a row, We always have to toddle Where the baby wants to go; Up-stairs and down-stairs, Indoors and out, We're always close together And we never fall out.

_Chorus:_ Father-Pig and Mother-Pig, And Big-Brother Pig, And Sister-Pig, and darling little Baby Piggie-Wig!

Oh, sometimes we are all tied up In a bag so tight.

This is when the baby goes "To sleepy-bye" at night.

Then there's nothing else to do But cuddle down and rest-- Just as little birdies cuddle In their little nest.

_Chorus:_ Father-Pig and Mother-Pig And Big-Brother Pig, And Sister-Pig, and darling little Baby Piggie-Wig!

THIS IS THE WAY MY FINGERS STAND

_To the tune of "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush."_

This is the way my fingers stand, Fingers stand, fingers stand, This is the way my fingers stand, So early in the morning.

This is the way I fold my hand, Fold my hand, fold my hand, This is the way I fold my hand, So early in the morning.

This is the way they dance about, Dance about, dance about, This is the way they dance about, So early in the morning.

This is the way they go to rest, Go to rest, go to rest, This is the way they go to rest, So early in the morning.

THUMBKIN, POINTER

Thumbkin, Pointer, Middleman big, Sillyman, Weeman, rig-a-jig-jig.

NAMING THE FINGERS[A]