Finger Play
By Bertha A. Kleinman
Here are ten little helpers
And playfellows too,
They are tiny and small
Yet they know what to do.
They can each say “Good-morning”
And “How-do-you-do?”
They can clap for the baby
And play peek-a-boo.
They can play they are birds –
Flying ever so high,
Or bright snowy flakes
Dancing out of the sky.
They can play they are raindrops
That come down in showers,
They can play they are fairies
That wake up the flowers.
They can play they are kittens
Just learning to creep,
And make a warm bed
And go fast to sleep;
And when it is night
And they’re tired of play,
Our ten little helpers
Can help us to pray –
Dear Father, we thank Thee
For two little hands,
And ask Thee to bless them
Till each understands
That children can only be happy all day
When two little hands have
learned how to obey.
(1923)
Was this a test? Because I think I’ve got an A+ coming. This is the first draft of what became “I have two little hands folded snuggly and tight” that we sang in primary. Verse – by Bertha A. Kleinman
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=61e02ddde9c20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=198bf4b13819d110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD
Not a test, exactly, but since I was charmed by recognizing the familiar lines buried in the unfamiliar setting, I thought I’d keep my mouth shut and let you make the same discovery. Only someone who makes it thru the whole poem will have the same fun you and I had!
Grant beat me to that comparison! The first four lines even scan the same as the song.
Yay! You’re a club member,too, Alison!
I thought of that, even though I didn’t recognize any of the words. I guess we never sang the second verse.
I love this. I don’t remember singing this as a child in Primary, but I remember singing it when I was the chorister in Primary. I really liked the artwork that goes along with the whole poem.
I tend to think everything in life is a test and I rarely win the “A’s.” So, just hand over that gold star for my forhead!! Ah, Primary – those were the days! Every Tuesday Afternoon.
“forehead,” oops. A “B-” in spelling today.
brain went right to the melody… then I see I’m just late catching up!
I get a gold star too. I was suspicious and singing it before I got to words I recognize. I’m sunbeam teacher so I’ll memorize the whole thing and do it with them They love finger plays.