Fig. [475].—"And here is the baby's cradle."
Dampen two bits of paper and press one down tight on the nail of the first finger of your right hand and the other on the nail of the first finger of your left hand. The two pieces of paper are the two blackbirds. Now hold your first fingers, on which the birds are resting, out stiff and double up the remaining fingers; then let your father see how well you have taught these little pet birds to mind, for they will do exactly as you say, going and coming at your command. Place the tips of your two first fingers on a chair, which you must pretend is a hill, and raising first one finger to make the bird fly, then the other, keep the pets flying up and down while you repeat these lines:
"Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill;
One named Jack and the other named Jill.
Fly away, Jack!—"
As you say the last line raise the right finger up and back over your right shoulder; while there, quickly bend down the right finger with Jack on it and stiffen out the second finger in its place. Bring your right hand down with Jack hidden and put the empty second finger on the chair instead of the first. The bird will be gone and lonesome little Jill will perch on the hill with no playmate, so you must let her go too. Repeat these words, "Fly away, Jill," and make her disappear as you did Jack, bringing down the empty second finger of your left hand and your father will find that both birds have gone; but you may make them return by saying, "Come back, Jack," as you raise your right hand and close down the second finger while you straighten out the first and bring it again to the chair with Jack upon it. Call Jill also that Jack may have some one to sing to, and as you say, "Come back, Jill," bend down the second finger and straighten out the first one with Jill on it, and let her fly down to Jack. You may repeat the lines again and again, making the pets come and go.
You can play
"Chin Chopper Chin"
with your sister, but you must be careful and touch her face very lightly. As you say "Knock at the door," softly tap her forehead, and at "Peep in," gently raise the outside of her eyelid by pushing the top of your finger upward on her temple near the eye, but not too near, as you might accidentally strike the eye. "Lift up the latch" by slightly raising the tip of her nose with the end of your finger. At "Walk in" gently place your finger between her lips; end the play by saying "Chin Chopper Chin" as you lightly tap several times under her chin.
Were I with you now we would play
"Build the Tower."