It will thus be seen how the rope is held, and pulled, and caught. It will also be seen, by watching, how easy it is to keep pulling in time, on either side, to hand or back strokes, with any interval, at pleasure, and with precision. And at this point it would be well to join the teacher, standing face to face, taking the rope in the hand as described, pulling when he pulls, catching when he catches, and easing as he eases, so as to get the knack without excitement, without hard labour, and without bending the knees.
Both pull and catch easy at first, with eyes and ears well open, or as is said:—
“The ears open,
Eyes wide,
Feet steady,
Tongue tied.”
By such means, and by such practice, it will very soon result in being able to pull by oneself, and then remains only the practice, so as to learn to keep time at both strokes, to get the bell up, and to let it down without help: always remembering that the weight of the body, thrown on to the rope, is far more effective and less tiring than using great muscular force, or bending and twisting the body which causes much needless exertion, loss of power and breath; a rule being:—
“Stand upright,
Pull down straight,
You’ll ring right.”
When this is accomplished, there need be no delay in proceeding to ring rounds with your friends in company.
“Hark! the merry bells ring round.”