CHAPTER IV.
PLAYS, GYMNASTICS, AND DANCING.
In playing [The Pigeon-house], the teacher, who should always play with the children, takes three quarters of the number, and forms them into a circle, while the other quarter remains in the middle, to represent the pigeons.
The circle is the pigeon-house, and sings the song, beginning with the words:
"We open the pigeon-house again,"
while, standing still, they all hold up their joined hands, so as to let all the pigeons out at the word "open;" and, as the circle goes round singing,
"And let all the happy flutterers free,
They fly o'er the fields and grassy plain.
Delighted with glorious liberty,"
the pigeons run round, waving their hands up and down to imitate flying. At the word "return," in the line
"And when they return from their joyous flight,"