(The little man approaches the children with friendly gestures, and the children gradually calm down. He is strewing sand in the children's eyes.)

I shut the children's peepers, sh!

and guard the little sleepers, sh!

for dearly do I love them, sh!

and gladly watch above them, sh!

And with my little bag of sand,

By every child's bedside I stand;

then little tired eyelids close,

and little limbs have sweet repose.

And if they're good and quickly go to sleep,