| Formation: A single circle, facing the center, hands joined. |
| SONG |
| Verse 1. Hand in hand you see us well, |
| Creep like a snail into its shell; |
| Ever nearer, ever nearer, |
| Ever closer, ever closer, |
| Very snug indeed you dwell, |
| Snail within your tiny shell. |
| Verse 2. Hand in hand you see us well, |
| Creep like a snail out of its shell; |
| Ever farther, ever farther, |
| Ever wider, ever wider, |
| Who'd have thought this little shell |
| Could have held us all so well. |
| ACTION |
| A leader is chosen, and during the first verse that child drops hands with the person on one side of him and leads the others in a spiral toward the center so that they resemble a snail crawling into its shell. |
| During the second verse the line reverses and the child at the other end of the line leads the children out to their original places. |
| Note: A short walking step is used. Repeat first verse if necessary until all are in the snail's shell. Then repeat the second verse until all are back in the circle. |
| This is a particularly charming and precious folk tune. Many songs and games have been set to it and it is the theme of a movement of one of Haydn's symphonies. |
