Chapter 2 of 23 · 3998 words · ~20 min read

Part 2

"Where can I get up-to-date, interesting and trustworthy descriptions of modern inventions for my young folks?" How many times this question is asked of book-store clerks by fathers! How often is a satisfactory answer given? Often such books are not up to date; usually they are too technical to be interesting; if they are interesting they are often untrustworthy; and none of them covers more than a portion of the ground. "Wonders of Invention" represents an earnest endeavor to meet this wide need within the covers of a single volume. The Editors were fortunate in obtaining for this department the cooperation of steamship companies, great electrical concerns, concrete firms, inventors and others "who know." The illustrations were selected individually, and add to the value and interest of the text.

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

As a child develops toward maturity his talents begin to focus and his interests to direct themselves toward some special life occupation. The matter of Vocational Guidance is the most vital thing in education to-day, but wisdom in this field is far to seek. Changes in the industrial world are so rapid that books giving mere statistics of salaries and requirements are soon out of date, and they have no appeal to the young. Motive, rather than immediate gain, is what affects young people; and the Editors of The BOOKSHELF have felt that the one wise way to approach this great question is to describe the important activities of the world and some of the men who have been occupied in them, that young readers may be able to make an intelligent choice, and at the same time discover their own special talents. This section of The BOOKSHELF is known as "Marvels of Industry." Aside from its value as a vocational guide, this volume will add much to the enjoyment of the family circle because of the facts that are gleaned from a perusal of its pages.

In "True Stories from Every Land" the little folks made the acquaintance of the world's children. It is now time for the older young folk to travel. In "Every Land and Its Story" we take a journey around the world, beginning in North America, covering the rest of the New World, and then going to Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the islands of the sea. The greatest emphasis is laid upon the lands that we love the most. In the United States the eight great natural divisions are described, then the Indians, the National Parks, Alaska, and Porto Rico. The greatest cities are visited in turn, the characteristics of each being picturesquely described. Canada is visited in the same way. In each case the country is described by a competent, interesting traveler, in many instances by one who has lived there a long time, and in some cases by a famous writer. Carefully chosen photographs illustrate this department.

Carlyle was right, at least as far as young people are concerned, when he insisted that history is only biography. The character-making influence of great lives has never been denied, and ought never to be neglected. "Famous Men and Women" begins with the men who made the United States and Canada. It tells about some of the living Men Who Count to-day. A simple graphic history of the greatest event in history, the World War of 1914-1918, is given. Then comes a glorious pageant of Scientists and Inventors, Writers and Rulers, National Heroes, and Servants of the Common Good. This material will not only form an excellent supplemental reading book, but a valued treasury for everyday inspiration.

Crowning the collection, and of surpassing importance, is "Bookland--Story and Verse." This is an introduction to the best literature in poetry and prose for young people from twelve to twenty; in fact, for young people from twelve to eighty. The prose stories are presented in the language of the masters themselves. There is no diluting of their fine literary style. Careful abridgments have been made by well-known literary critics, but the essence of these masterpieces has been retained. This is important: our young people should know the great, not only about them. The poems are usually given entire.

In making the General Index and the Graded Index the Editors have remembered that these are for use, not to fill space. The General Index is practical and will help the user to find just what he is looking for, and to find it quickly. The Graded Index is intended primarily for the use of the parent. It sorts out and selects the best material for each age. First is given a brief, clear account of the tastes and needs of Infancy, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, Late Childhood, and Adolescence. Then all the material in The BOOKSHELF is assorted under its score of important subjects, and put in the grade where it belongs. By this plan the child may be directed to what he wants and needs now, and each year he will grow more and more into the riches of his BOOKSHELF.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Many questions are listed in the Indexes. This is a very instructive feature, for it often sets the mind alert in some new direction and starts fresh lines of interest and research. These questions may be made the means of making many a family evening one of pleasure and profit, as one member asks the questions and the others take turns in answering them.

AMERICAN

The BOOKSHELF is American in viewpoint, but worldwide in outlook. While it has been produced within the United States, it is larger than the United States or even than North America. Unusual space is given to Canadian affairs and interests, and the rest of the world has not been neglected. Throughout the entire set, and in the CHILD WELFARE MANUAL, available to parents in connection with The BOOKSHELF, there is an emphasis on character, uprightness, honor, service, which is distinctly aimed to build up that type of manhood and womanhood for which the good American is famed at home and abroad.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Publishers and the Editors wish to thank each and every one of the individuals who have cooperated with them to make The BOOKSHELF what it is. The courtesy, the heartiness with which assistance has been given, the belief of these friends in the success of the ideals of The BOOKSHELF, have made the task of compiling, editing, and manufacturing a pleasure.

Special acknowledgment must be given at this time to the photographers, Brown Brothers, Underwood & Underwood, and the Publishers Photo Service, for the use of many copyrighted pictures from their files. In a number of instances, when they did not have a particular picture desired, it was made by one of them specially for The BOOKSHELF.

The Editors, in preparing the manuscript for these volumes, have endeavored in all cases where material has been used which has previously appeared in print to give credit to author, publisher, and book, and to any other to whom such acknowledgment was due. If they have failed to do so in any particular case, it has been an oversight, for which the Publishers are not responsible, as their instructions on this point were definite, and for which the Editors express their regrets. Future editions will offer an opportunity for the correction, which will be gladly made.

INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME I

Most mothers and fathers realize that long before children are old enough to read there is a rich treasury of rhythm and song and story that may be given them. To make this treasury available is the purpose of this volume.

Finger-plays and action-plays, in which Froebel found so rich a meaning, do much to help the baby to know and control his fingers and hands, to enable him to discover the other parts of his body, to awaken his intelligence and to bring him into affectionate companionship with his father and mother. Here we have gathered not only the traditional ones, which the mother and father may remember from their own early childhood; but also many that will be fresh and new.

Mother Goose long ago established her throne as Queen of the Nursery. There is something about her short ditties, always full of rhythm, sometimes of sense, and frequently of the most elemental humor, that appeals to the baby mind as nothing else does. A proof of the worth of her songs and stories would be found if any of us should try to write better. We have brought together many familiar ones and some unfamiliar (for Mother Goose lived in many times and many lands), and have illustrated them with some new and charming drawings and color-plates.

Children as young as three are ready for the simplest sort of stories, but it is so hard for us grown-ups to become children again that many of us have found difficulty in suiting our language and thought to their eager but unfurnished minds. These bedtime stories and little tales of babies and animals and girls and boys are therefore a real godsend.

Soon comes the time when the little folk are ready to learn about the letters and the numbers and the days of the week. Rhymes to help this first memorizing will be welcome.

Most of the stories in this book are illustrated by pictures, some are told entirely by them. The choice of these illustrations was made from our best modern knowledge about little children. It is now recognized that they like simple incidents, about themselves or the familiar things around them, drawn in clear outline or with strong color. There are certain artists, too, who seem to have retained their own childlikeness better than others, and such were called upon to illustrate this volume.

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CONTENTS PAGE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION vii INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME ONE xv

#FATHER AND MOTHER PLAYS#

BABY'S TEN LITTLE LIVE PLAYTHINGS 2 By J. K. Barry MONDAY 4 By Edith Goodyear FINGER PLAY 5 By Edith Goodyear COUNTING THE FINGERS 6 AN OLD NORSE FINGER PLAY 6 BABY'S TOES 6 BABY'S TOES 7 By Edith A. Bentley THIS IS THE WAY MY FINGERS STAND 8 THUMBKIN, POINTER 8 NAMING THE FINGERS 8 By Laura E. Richards ROBERT BARNS 8 "SHALL I, OH! SHALL I?" 8 JACK, BE NIMBLE 9 TWO LITTLE HANDS 9 PAT A CAKE 9 CLAP YOUR HANDS 9 THE BIRD'S NEST 10 A Froebel Finger Play TWO LITTLE BLACKBIRDS 10 MASTER SMITH 10 LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST 10 GREETING 10 A PLAY FOR THE ARMS 10 THE LITTLE WINDOW 10 A Froebel Finger Play SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE 11 THE PIGEON HOUSE 11 A Froebel Finger Play SAID THIS LITTLE FAIRY 12 A BURROWING GAME 12 PAT A CAKE 12 A Froebel Finger Play A KNEE GAME 12 A FOOT PLAY 12 PUTTING THE FINGERS TO SLEEP 13 TEN LITTLE SQUIRRELS 14 MY LITTLE GARDEN 15 THE FAMILY 16 By Emilie Poulsson JOHNNY SHALL HAVE A NEW BONNET 18

#RIDING SONGS FOR FATHER'S KNEE#

TO MARKET RIDE THE GENTLEMEN 19 HERE GOES MY LORD 19 A FARMER WENT TROTTING 20 UP TO THE CEILING 20 THE MESSENGER 20 CATCH HIM, CROW 20 RIDE A COCK-HORSE 21 THIS IS THE WAY 21 RIDE AWAY, RIDE AWAY 21 TO MARKET, TO MARKET 21 TROT, TROT, THE BABY GOES 21 By Mary F. Butts RIDE A COCK-HORSE 22 HERE WE GO 22

#MOTHER GOOSE SONGS AND STORIES#

WHO ARE THESE? 24 I SAW A SHIP A-SAILING 25 GOOSEY, GOOSEY, GANDER 25 THE WIND 25 ONCE I SAW A LITTLE BIRD 25 RING-A-RING-A-ROSES 25 CROSS PATCH 26 HAPPY LET US BE 26 THE OLD WOMAN IN THE BASKET 26 THE FOX AND THE OLD GRAY GOOSE 28 JACK AND JILL 29 WILLY BOY 29 BONNY LASS 29 OH, WHERE ARE YOU GOING? 30 BOBBY SHAFTOE 30 DING-DONG-BELL 30 LONDON BRIDGE 31 GREEN GRAVEL 32 OLD MOTHER HUBBARD 32 LITTLE BO-PEEP 34 COME OUT TO PLAY 35 LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST 35 LITTLE BOY BLUE 36 MY MAID MARY 36 HARK! HARK! 37 BOW-WOW-WOW 37 BLOW, WIND, BLOW 37 BYE, BABY BUNTING 37 THREE LITTLE KITTENS 38 TOM WAS A PIPER'S SON 39 DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY 40 BILLY BOY 40 THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM 41 LITTLE TOMMY TUCKER 41 PUSSY AND THE MICE 41 WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY 41 CHINESE MOTHER-GOOSE RHYMES 42 By Prof. Isaac Taylor Headland

#MOTHER GOOSE CONTINUED# By Anna Marion Smith

PUSSY CAT, PUSSY CAT 45 LITTLE BOY BLUE 45 PAT-A-CAKE 46 DICKORY DOCK 46 HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON? 47 HARK! HARK! 47 THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN 48 HUMPTY DUMPTY 51 THE QUEEN OF HEARTS 54 ONE MISTY, MOISTY MORNING 54 OLD KING COLE 55 PUSSY SITS BESIDE THE FIRE 56 THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW 56 I HAD A LITTLE HUSBAND 57 THERE WAS A MAN IN OUR TOWN 57 SEE SAW, SACARADOWN 57 SING A SONG O' SIXPENCE 58 I LOVE LITTLE PUSSY 58 THE HORNER BROTHERS 59 By Elizabeth Raymond Woodward A LITTLE OLD MAN 60 JINGLES 60 SAILING 61 By Lucy Fitch Perkins AN UP-TO-DATE PUSSY-CAT 62 By Adeline Knapp MISERY IN COMPANY 63 By Lucy Fitch Perkins COURT NEWS 64 By Lucy Fitch Perkins A MESSAGE TO MOTHER GOOSE 65 By Ellen Manly

#SLEEPY-TIME SONGS AND STORIES#

SWEET AND LOW 72 By Alfred, Lord Tennyson THE SLEEPY-TIME STORY 73 By Gertrude Smith THE GO SLEEP STORY 75 By Eudora S. Bumstead THE GENTLE DARK 78 By W. Grahame Robertson THE FERRY FOR SHADOWTOWN 78 HUSH-A-BYE, BABY 78 THE KITTEN AND THE FALLING LEAVES 78 By William Wordsworth LATE 79 By Josephine Preston Peabody A BLESSING FOR THE BLESSED 80 By Laurence Alma-Tadema MY DOLLY 80 THE CHILD AND THE WORLD 80 EVENING SONG 80 By C. Frances Alexander ROCK-A-BYE, BABY 80 THE SANDMAN 81 By Margaret Vandergrift THE FAIRY FOLK 81 By Robert Bird QUEEN MAB 82 By Thomas Hood LULLABY 82 By Gertrude Thompson Miller KENTUCKY BABE 82 MY POSSESSIONS 83 THE WAKE-UP STORY 83 By Eudora S. Bumstead

#FIRST STORIES FOR VERY LITTLE FOLK#

ABOUT SIX LITTLE CHICKENS 86 By S. L. Elliott "TRADE-LAST" 88 By Lucy Fitch Perkins PHILIP'S HORSE 89 THE KITTEN THAT FORGOT HOW TO MEW 90 By Stella George Stern WHAT COULD THE FARMER DO? 93 By George William Ogden FLEDGLINGS 97 By Lucy Fitch Perkins "TIME TO GET UP!" 98 By Ellen Foster MAGGIE'S VERY OWN SECRET 100 By Sara Josephine Albright THE GOOD LITTLE PIGGIE AND HIS FRIENDS 102 By L. Waldo Lockling BABY'S PARADISE 105 By Lucy Fitch Perkins DISOBEDIENCE 106 FOR A LITTLE GIRL OF THREE 108 By Uncle Ned A FUNNY FAMILY 109 LITTLE BY LITTLE 110

#LITTLE STORIES THAT GROW BIG#

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT 111 GIANT THUNDER BONES 112 By Stella Doughty THE HOUSE THAT JILL BUILT 116 By Carolyn Wells THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG 119 THE LAMBIKIN 121 THE CAT AND THE MOUSE 123 HENNY-PENNY 124 THREE GOATS IN THE RYEFIELD 127 Adapted by Cecilia Farwell TEENY TINY 129 SONG OF THE PEAR TREE 130 COCK-ALU AND HEN-ALIE 131 By Mary Howitt THERE IS THE KEY OF THE KINGDOM 136

#FUN FOR VERY LITTLE FOLK#

NO DOGS ALLOWED AT LARGE 137 By Culmer Barnes TOMMY AND HIS SISTER AND THEIR NEW PONY-CART 138 By Dewitt Clinton Falls THE ADVENTURES OF THREE LITTLE KITTENS 139 By Culmer Barnes THE LITTLE KITTENS' SURPRISE 140 By Culmer Barnes TED'S FOOLISH WISH 141 By Charles Fitch Lester NONSENSE RHYME 142 TIMOTHY TRUNDLE 143 By Frederick Moxon A DREAM OF GLORY 148 By Charles Fitch Lester PICTURES 149 By Culmer Barnes THE REUNION OF THE BRUIN FAMILY AT THE SEA SHORE 150 By Culmer Barnes THE BABY MICE ARE INSTRUCTED BY THEIR FOND PAPA 151 By Culmer Barnes ROLY POLY ON VACATION 152 By Culmer Barnes MOTHER GOOSE'S LAST TROLLEY RIDE 153 By Culmer Barnes IVAN AND THE WOLF 154 By Culmer Barnes HOMEWARD BOUND 154 By Culmer Barnes THEIR LITTLE JAR 156 By Bell LITTLE ESKI AND THE POLAR BEAR 158 By Culmer Barnes

#FUNNY VERSES AND PICTURES#

THE FROG'S FIASCO 160 By D. K. Stevens THE MUSICAL TRUST 164 By D. K. Stevens THE CAUTIOUS CAT 168 By D. K. Stevens THREE LITTLE BEARS 171 By M. C. McNeill THE SNOWMAN 172 By W. W. Ellsworth

#ANIMAL STORIES#

TINY HARE AND THE WIND BALL 173 By A. L. Sykes HOW TINY HARE MET CAT 176 By A. L. Sykes THE WEE HARE AND THE RED FIRE 179 By A. L. Sykes THE GOOD KING 182 By Margaret and Clarence Weed EARLY AND LATE 184 By W. S. Reed THE LITTLE PINK PIG AND THE BIG ROAD 185 By Jasmine Stone Van Dresser JUGGERJOOK 188 By L. Frank Baum WHAT YOU BURYING, A BONE 194 THE LITTLE GRAY KITTEN 194 By Mary Lawrence Turnbull PUSSY'S WHEELS 197 By Annie W. McCullough THE SMALL GRAY MOUSE 198 By Nathan Haskell Dole THE RABBIT, THE TURTLE, AND THE OWL 200 HOMES 201 By Annie W. McCullough MEAL-TIME IN THE BEAR-PITS AT THE ZOO 202 By I. W. Taben THE FINE GOOD SHOW 204 By Jessie Wright Whitcomb GAY AND SPY 208 THE BALLAD OF A RUNAWAY DONKEY 212 By Emilie Poulsson THE THREE BEARS 220 THE LITTLE BEAR'S STORY 221 By C. F. Holder THE HARE AND THE HEDGEHOG 224 By The Brothers Grimm THE WEE ROBIN'S CHRISTMAS SONG 226 A Scotch Story, attributed to Robert Burns Adapted by Jennie Ellis Burdick THE FOX 228 THREE COMPANIONS 229 By Dinah Maria Mulock-Craik "'FRAID CAT!" 230 By Frank Munro THE SPIDER AND THE FLY 231 By Mary Howitt

#EVERY-DAY VERSES#

A LITTLE GENTLEMAN 233 By Alden Arthur Knipe TIME FOR EVERYTHING 233 By Alden Arthur Knipe UMBRELLAS AND RUBBERS 234 By Alden Arthur Knipe WHISPERING IN SCHOOL 234 By Alden Arthur Knipe RECESS 235 By Alden Arthur Knipe AFTER SCHOOL 235 By Alden Arthur Knipe MONDAY'S LESSONS 235 By Alden Arthur Knipe AT DINNER 236 By Alden Arthur Knipe VALOR 237 By Lucy Fitch Perkins A DOMESTIC TRAGEDY 238 By Lucy Fitch Perkins THE CAPITALIST 239 By Lucy Fitch Perkins IN MERRY ENGLAND 240 By Lucy Fitch Perkins THE GOOSE GIRL 241 By Lucy Fitch Perkins THE PHILOSOPHER 242 By Lucy Fitch Perkins THIRSTY FLOWERS 243 By Alden Arthur Knipe SHARING WITH OTHERS 243 By Alden Arthur Knipe POCKETS 244 By Alden Arthur Knipe WAITING FOR DINNER 244 By Alden Arthur Knipe THE CRITIC 245 By Lucy Fitch Perkins DIPLOMACY 246 By Lucy Fitch Perkins IF I WERE QUEEN 247 By Lucy Fitch Perkins THOUGHTS IN CHURCH 248 By Lucy Fitch Perkins

#THE DAYS OF THE WEEK#

THIS IS THE WAY 249 DAYS OF BIRTH 250 THE WASHING 250 SOLOMON GRUNDY 250 BABY'S PLAY DAYS 250 WHICH DO YOU CHOOSE? 251 SEVEN LITTLE MICE 251 By Stella George Stern VISITING 252 LITTLE TOMMY'S MONDAY MORNING 252 By Tudor Jenks ST. SATURDAY 254 By Henry Johnstone

#NUMBER RHYMES#

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 255 OVER IN THE MEADOW 255 By Olive A. Wadsworth COUNTING APPLE-SEEDS 256 TWINS 257 By Lucy Fitch Perkins THE RHYME OF TEN LITTLE RABBITS 258 By Kate N. Mytinger IN JULY 260 By A. S. Webber THE WISH OF PRISCILLA PENELOPE POWERS 262 By Mrs. John T. Van Sant WINKELMAN VON WINKEL 262 By Clara Odell Lyon TEN LITTLE COOKIES 263 OUR BABY 263 LONG TIME AGO 264 By Elizabeth Prentiss BUCKLE MY SHOE 264

#STORIES FOR LITTLE GIRLS#

A PAIR OF GLOVES 265 By H. G. Duryee A VERY LITTLE STORY OF A VERY LITTLE GIRL 268 By Alice E. Allen EDITH'S TEA PARTY 269 By Lois Walters REBECCA 271 By Eleanor Piatt DOROTHEA'S SCHOOL GIFTS 272 By Eunice Ward THE LOST MONEY 276 By Bolton Hall A DUTCH TREAT 277 By Amy B. Johnson THE JINGLE OF THE LITTLE JAP 283 By Isabel Eccleston Mackay THE SEVENTH BIRTHDAY OF THE LITTLE COUSIN FROM CONSTANTINOPLE 284 By Emma C. Dowd LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD 286 Retold from Grimm DOLLY'S DOCTOR 288 THUMBELINA 288 By Hans Christian Andersen THE FOX AND THE LITTLE RED HEN 294 THE SHOEMAKER AND THE LITTLE ELVES 294 By The Brothers Grimm THE GINGERBREAD BOY 296

#STORIES FOR LITTLE BOYS#

MISCHIEF 297 By Rosamond Upham WILLIE AND HIS DOG DIVER 299 By H. N. Powers GORDON'S TOY CASTLE ON THE HILL 300 By Everett Wilson HANS THE INNOCENT 302 Written and Illustrated by M. I. Wood A REAL LITTLE BOY BLUE 304 By Caroline S. Allen TRAVELS OF A FOX 306 Adapted by Cecilia Farwell OEYVIND AND MARIT 308

#HAPPY DAYS#

WHAT THE CAT AND HEN DID 313 By Alice Ralston DOT'S BIRTHDAY CAKE 316 NED AND ROVER AND JACK 317 I HAD A LITTLE KITTEN 318 HOW POLLY HAD HER PICTURE TAKEN 319 By Everett Wilson IDLE BEN 321 THE HOLE IN THE CANNA-BED 321 By Isabel Gordon Curtis THE CONCEITED MOUSE 323 By Ella Foster Case

#RHYMES CONCERNING MOTHER#

A BOY'S MOTHER 325 By James Whitcomb Riley MOTHER 325 By Rose Fyleman THE GOODEST MOTHER 325 MOTHER'S WAY 326 By Carrie Williams WHO IS IT? 326 By Ethel M. Kelley MY DEAREST IS A LADY 327 By Miriam S. Clark HOW MANY LUMPS? 327 WHEN MOTHER GOES AWAY 328 By Clara Odell Lyon AN OLD SONG--"THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!" 328 By Blanche Elizabeth Wade

#UNCLES AND AUNTS AND OTHER RELATIVES#

GRANDMOTHER'S MEMORIES 329 By Helen A. Byrom GREAT-AUNT LUCY LEE 330 By Cora Walker Hayes OUR VISITORS 334 By Isabel Lyndall BEAUTIFUL GRANDMAMMA 338 THANKSGIVING DAY 340 By Lydia Maria Child GRANDMA'S MINUET 340 AUNT JAN 341 By Norman Gale AFTER TEA 342

#AMUSING ALPHABETS#

TINGLE, TANGLE TITMOUSE 343 AN ENGLISH ALPHABET 344 NONSENSE ALPHABET 346 PAST HISTORY 348 By Edward Lear THE APPLE PIE 351 WHO'S WHO IN THE ZOO 352 By Carolyn Wells A WAS AN ARCHER 357 A LITTLE FOLKS' ALPHABET 358 By Carolyn Wells CHILD HEALTH ALPHABET 360 By Mrs. Frederick Peterson HERE'S A, B, C, D 363 OUR STORIES 364

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#FATHER PLAYS AND MOTHER PLAYS#

[Illustration: Figs. 1 though 5 and So big!]

BABY'S TEN LITTLE LIVE PLAYTHINGS BY J. K. BARRY

These ten little live playthings can be held in every baby's hand, five in one and five in the other and be the baby ever so poor yet he always has these ten playthings because, you know, he brings them with him.

But all babies do not know how to play with them. They find out for themselves a good many ways of playing with them but here are some of the ways that a baby I used to know got amusement out of his.

The very first was the play called "Ta-ra-chese" (Ta-rar-cheese). It is a Dutch word and there was a little song about it all in Dutch. This is the way the baby I knew would play it when he was a tiny little fellow.

His Mamma would hold her hand up and move it gently around this way (Fig. 1) singing "Ta-ra-chese, ta-ra-chese!" Baby would look and watch awhile, and presently his little hand would begin to move and five little playthings would begin the play--dear, sweet little chubby pink fingers--for I think you have guessed these are every baby's playthings.

How glad Mamma is to find that her baby has learned his first lesson!

Then he must learn, "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake Baker's man," (Fig. 2) and "How big is baby?" "_So Big!_"

And here are some other ways by which a little sister's fingers may amuse the baby.

"This the church and this is the steeple, Open the gates--there are all the good people." (Fig. 3)

"Chimney sweep--Oho! oho! Chimney sweep!" (Fig. 4)

"Put your finger in the bird's nest. The bird isn't home." (Fig. 5)

And then when the little finger is poked in, a sly pinch is given by a hidden thumb and baby is told, "The birdie has just come home!" But you mustn't pinch hard, of course, just enough to make baby laugh at being caught.