6 PREFACE.

With a little study of the charming and expressive pictures with which the artist,
Mr. L. J. Bridgman, has so sympathetically illustrated the rhymes, mothers and kinder-
gartners have easily understood what motions were intended. To elucidate still
farther, however, the playing of “ The Merry Little Men” may be thus described :

During the singing of the first verse, the children look about in every direction
for the “little men,” but keep the hands hidden. At the beginning of the second
verse, raise both hands to full view with fingers outspread and quiet. At the words,
“ The first to come,” etc., let the thumbs be shown alone, then the others as named
in turn, till all are again outspread as at the beginning of the second verse. In the
last verse the arms are moved from side to side, hands being raised and fingers
fluttering nimbly all the time. When displaying the “busy little men,” raise the
hands as high as possible.

The music, composed by Miss Cornelia C. Roeske, will be found melodious and
attractive and especially suited to the voices and abilities of the very young children
for whom it is chiefly intended.

The harmonic arrangement is also purposely simple in consideration of the many
mothers and kindergartners who cannot devote time to preparatory practice.

EmiILigc Poutsson.
Boston, 1889.