Page:Pipetown Sandy (Sousa 1905).djvu/25

Rh "We take the next figure, 6," said Gilbert, his manner a laborious copy of his teacher's. "We already have seven, and now we add the six, by counting all the fingers on one hand, and one on the other; thus seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen. Now you try it." After some hesitation on Sandy's part he succeeded in the addition.

"Then we will add the next, eleven."

Leven's a whopper !" exclaimed the older boy.

"Hold up both hands," said Gilbert. "Eleven uses up all your fingers and thumbs, and one of mine. That makes thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, and my finger, twenty-four. Take eight more fingers," counting them off, "that makes thirty-two; the thirteen, all yours and three of mine, summing up forty-five, to which we add nine fingers, making a total of fifty-four, which is the answer. Now, you try it from the beginning; you can do it all right," said the smaller boy, carefully concealing his pride in his superior knowledge.

Slowly, but with confidence, and occasionally prompted by his little preceptor, Sandy