Stránka:roll 1910.djvu/174

THE FIRE-FLY DANCE By Ernest Thompson Seton, 1906 (All rights reserved) This should be played in an open space at night, or late enough in the evening to insure a dim light. The fire-flies are ten to thirty children in any costume, each bearing a stick that is afire, but not blazing. If played indoors, dim little candle-lamps on sticks could be used, and in any case out of doors it would be well to have prepared torches of fire- holding punk which can be bought of fireworks dealers, or made by soaking rotten wood in saltpetre solution. This can be car- ried in a split stick. In some cases electric lamps might serve. The fire-flies come in, making many dazzling and beautiful figures of fire. They dance and evolute, waving their torches. A good figure is made by all standing in a circle and each revolv- ing his torch overhead in an upright circle; another, by every other one zigzagging it up and down like lightning. The best singer stands in the centre and sings. (Air: Jingle-bells) We are the merry Fire-flies, A-glinting through the trees. We pirouette in gloomy spots. Or skate upon the breeze. (All join in Chorus) Chorus. Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, glancing, Sleepy all the day. But with shade of night advancing Comes our time to play. 158