BY LAURA E. RICHARDS
This is little Tommy Thumb, Round and smooth as any plum.
This is busy Peter Pointer: Surely he"s a double-jointer.
This is mighty Toby Tall, He"s the biggest one of all.
This is dainty Reuben Ring: He"s too fine for anything.
And this little wee one, maybe, Is the pretty Finger-baby.
All the five we"ve counted now, Busy fingers in a row.
Every finger knows the way How to work and how to play; Yet together work they best, Each one helping all the rest.
[A] _From "Songs and Music of Froebel"s Mother Play"; used by permission of the publishers, D. Appleton & Company._
ROBERT BARNS
Robert Barns, fellow fine, Can you shoe this horse of mine, So that I may cut a shine?
Yes, good sir, and that I can, As well as any other man; There a nail, and here a prod, And now, good sir, your horse is shod.
"SHALL I, OH! SHALL I?"
A little boy and a little girl Lived in an alley; Said the little boy to the little girl, "Shall I, oh! shall I?"
Said the little girl to the little boy, "What will you do?"
Said the little boy to the little girl, "I will kiss you."
(_As the last words are sung, the mother kisses the little one in the folds of the neck._)
[Ill.u.s.tration: OFF WITH MOTHER GOOSE FROM A DRAWING BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL]
JACK, BE NIMBLE
Jack, be nimble, Jack, be quick; (_Jack is one hand walking along on its fore- and middle-fingers._)
Jack, jump over The candlestick.
(_Fist closed; uplifted thumb for candle. Jack jumps over it._)
TWO LITTLE HANDS
Two little hands so soft and white, This is the left--this is the right.
Five little fingers stand on each, So I can hold a plum or a peach.
But if I should grow as old as you Lots of little things these hands can do.
PAT A CAKE
Pat a cake, pat a cake, baker"s man.
So I do, master, as fast as I can.
Pat it, and p.r.i.c.k it, and mark it with T, And then it will serve for Tommy and me.
CLAP YOUR HANDS
Baby, Baby, clap your hands!
Where London"s built, there London stands.
And there"s a bed in London Town, On which my Baby shall lie down.
THE BIRD"S NEST
_A Froebel Finger Play_
Here upon the leaves at rest A little bird has built her nest.
Two tiny eggs within she"s laid, And many days beside them stayed.
Now she"s happy; listen well!
Two baby birds break through the sh.e.l.l.
Don"t you hear them? "Peep! peep! peep!
We love you, mother. Cheep! cheep! cheep!"
TWO LITTLE BLACKBIRDS
There were two blackbirds sitting on a hill, (_Little pieces of paper perched on forefingers._) One named Jack, the other named Jill.
Fly away, Jack; fly away, Jill.
(_Fingers soar gently in the air._) Come again, Jack; come again, Jill.
(_Fingers fly back._)
MASTER SMITH
Is Master Smith within? Yes, that he is.
Can he set a shoe? Ay, marry, two.
Here a nail, and there a nail, Tick--tack--too.
LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST
Little Robin Redbreast Sat upon a rail, (_Right hand extended in shape of a bird is poised on extended forefinger of left hand._) Niddle noddle went his head, And waggle went his tail.
(_Little finger of right hand waggles from side to side._)
GREETING
Good little Mother, How do you do?
Dear strong "Daddy,"