Part 4 (1/2)

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 s.h.i.+ne?

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.