_Finger-Play_
Said this little fairy, "I"m as thirsty as can be!"
Said this little fairy, "I"m hungry, too! dear me!"
Said this little fairy, "Who"ll tell us where to go?"
Said this little fairy, "I"m sure that I don"t know!"
Said this little fairy, "Let"s brew some Dew-drop Tea!"
So they sipped it and ate honey Beneath the maple tree.
Maud Burnham.
_The Pigeons_
Ten snowy white pigeons are standing in line, On the roof of the barn in the warm sunshine.
Ten snowy white pigeons fly down to the ground, To eat of the grain that is thrown all around.
Ten snowy white pigeons soon flutter aloof, And sit in a line on the ridge of the roof.
Ten pigeons are saying politely, "Thank you!"
If you listen, you hear their gentle "Coo-roo!"
Maud Burnham.
_The Barnyard_
When the Farmer"s day is done, In the barnyard, ev"ry one, Beast and bird politely say, "Thank you for my food to-day."
The cow says, "Moo!"
The pigeon, "Coo!"
The sheep says, "Baa!"
The lamb says, "Maa!"
The hen, "Cluck! Cluck!"
"Quack!" says the duck;
The dog, "Bow Wow!"
The cat, "Meow!"
The horse says, "Neigh!
I love sweet hay!"
The pig near by, Grunts in his sty.
When the barn is locked up tight, Then the Farmer says, "Good-night!"
Thanks his animals, ev"ry one, For the work that has been done.
Maud Burnham.
II
BABY"S HUSH-A-BYES
Hush-a-bye, baby, on the tree-top, When the wind blows the cradle will rock; When the bough breaks the cradle will fall, Down will come baby, bough, cradle, and all.
Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green; Father"s a n.o.bleman, mother"s a Queen; Betty"s a lady, and wears a gold ring; And Johnny"s a drummer, and drums for the King.
Bye, baby bunting, Daddy"s gone a-hunting, To get a little rabbit-skin, To wrap his baby bunting in.
Hush thee, my babby, Lie still with thy daddy, Thy mammy has gone to the mill, To grind thee some wheat To make thee some meat, And so, my dear babby, lie still.
Sleep, baby, sleep!
Thy father watches the sheep; Thy mother is shaking the dream-land tree, And down falls a little dream on thee: Sleep, baby, sleep!
Sleep, baby, sleep!
The large stars are the sheep, The wee stars are the lambs, I guess, The fair moon is the shepherdess: Sleep, baby, sleep!
From the German.
When little Birdie bye-bye goes, Quiet as mice in churches, He puts his head where no-one knows, On one leg he perches.
When little Babie bye-bye goes, On Mother"s arm reposing, Soon he lies beneath the clothes, Safe in the cradle dozing.
When pretty p.u.s.s.y goes to sleep, Tail and nose together, Then little mice around her creep, Lightly as a feather.
When little Babie goes to sleep, And he is very near us, Then on tip-toe softly creep, That Babie may not hear us.
Lullaby! Lullaby! Lulla, Lulla, Lullaby!
Unknown.
III
BABY"S JOURNEYS
Ride a c.o.c.k-horse to Banbury Cross, To see an old lady upon a white horse, Rings on her fingers, and bells on her toes.