Half a dozen boys and girls should be playing in different parts of the room; one might be drawing, another building, and a third looking at a picture-book; or they might all be joining to play a game together. A big girl or the teacher represents the elder sister, who repeats (or sings to the tune of 'The Campbells are Coming') the four lines following:
Come, children, get ready for bed, bed, bed,
And sister must wash you, as mother said,
The hands and the faces will all be clean,
Such nice, happy children, shall ne'er be seen.
The children instantly put toys and books away in their proper places, and reply:
Some folks they do cry, when they're washed, oh dear! dear!
Pray where do they live? We do not want them here.
Merry, happy little children, come and get well scrubbed,
But do not cry when you are washed and rubbed.
The 'sister' pretends to wash all the children; then they say:
Some folks they do cry when they're told, 'Time for bed,'
Some folks pout and say, 'Oh! let me play instead.'
Merry, happy little children, laughing go away,
Good-night, good-night, we'll play another day.
The children go out of the room kissing hands to those who are left, or to the elder 'sister.'
21. WASHING ONE'S SELF
The teacher may repeat the lines, accompanying them with the actions, which the children imitate, or the children may learn and repeat the words themselves.
[1]Wash your hands, dear children all,
[2]Palms we rub and [3]backs as well,
[4]Round the wrist we leave no mark,
Else a sad tale that would tell;
[5]Rub the knuckles, [6]brush nails, too,
Clean, bright[7] hands nice work can do.
Now 'tis time to [8]wash your face,
[9]Soap your hands, and [10]rub away,
[11]Gently round the ears we go,
[12]Don't forget your eyes, I say;
[13]Nose, and [14]mouth, and [15]forehead high,
[16]All to make quite clean we try.