Mrs. R. [Who has regarded Amelia from the first doubtfully] Now you ‘re runnin’ to 3’s, just as you run to naughts and ciphers. You could run it around the world, at that rate.
A. That’s what teacher said. You can run it on, just as long as you bring down ciphers.
Mrs. R. [With superiority] That ’s a lot of nonsense. What’s your answer, Amelia?
A. [Glibly] I don’t know yet. I have n’t counted up. It depends on where I put this dot. If I put it here [Makes large dot], the answer is thirty-three cents; and if I put it here, it is three dollars and thirty-three cents; and if I put it here, it’s thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents; and if I put it here, it ’s three hundred and thirty-three dollars and—
Mrs. R. Well, that ’s gettin’ more likely, ‘cause it don’t stand to reason that those children has got a millionaire for a father and only thirty-three cents apiece. [All shake heads negatively] But I can do that sum a great deal better in my head, anyway, than with figgerin’. Now, I should say this way. [Amelia leaves the blackboard and joins others] In the first place, how many thousand in a million?
Miss S. I don't know exactly, but I should say about a hundred.
Mrs. D. [Smiling] I was goin’ to say a hunderd. [Neighbors all acguiesce]
Mrs. R. Well, we'll call it a hundred, then, so long as we ’re all agreed. You ‘re satisfied with that, ain’t you, Mrs. Tubbs, to have a million mean a hundred thousand?
Mrs. T. Whatever you say, Mrs, Raven.
Mrs. R. Well, then, the way I should do this sum in my head is this: There’s a hundred thousand to be divided among the three children, Now, if there had been a hundred children each would have had a thousand; wouldn’t they? [All nod at one another and at Mrs. Raven in agreement] Now wait a minute; I’ve got this all in my head. [Presses her temples with both hands] Don’t speak to me. [All watch Mrs. Raven intently] Now, you see, there ain’t but three children, so that leaves ninety-seven children who have got to give their share to the three children. Now each of these ninety-seven children says: “I have a thousand,” “I have a thousand,” and so on, You can represent the children. [Motions with hand to each one before her, who says in turn, “I have a thousand”, Mrs. Donnell smiling blandly as she speaks, Miss Simpkins snapping off her words, as usual, the children as though it were a game, and all following, with intention, Mrs. Raven’s lead] Now, you see, there are not enough of us to be all the ninety-seven children, but we get the idea all right that each child has a thousand of its own. Now, the next step is—[Hands on temples—apparently holding head together] It's all here. [Agitatedly] Don’t speak to me. [All watch intently as before] These ninety-seven children give away their shares to the other three. These three chairs can stand for the three children. [Arranges chairs in group, dislodging the occupants to do so. Extends her hand graciously toward the three empty chairs] I give you my thousand. [Motions to next to follow, and one after another, inclining head toward chairs or making a gesture of handing over something, Says: “I give you my thousand,” until all have said it, the children being especially enthusiastic, going up to chairs and bowing as they say, “I give you my thousand,” now quite convinced they are playing some game] Now, you see, the money is all with these three children [Motions to chairs], and we must see how many times three will go into ninety-seven. [All go into calculation, some on their fingers, others doing imaginary sums in the air, etc., etc.]
Miss S. [Hesitatingly] Would n’t it be a little over thirty-two?
Mrs. D. [Smiling blandly] That is just what I was goin’ to say.
Mrs. R. [Emerging from deep head-work] Yes, we can call it thirty-three. These children [Motions to chairs] will have thirty-three thousand dollars apiece. [Hearers are duly impressed]
Amelia. [Crying] That 's just what I got [Points to board], and you said it was n’t right.
Mrs. R. [Opens her mouth and eyes wide in astonishment as she looks toward blackboard] Why, did you get that, Amelia? Why, so you did! [Leniently] That was all right, Amelia. [All nod approvingly at Amelia.] And by doing it both ways we are sure it’s right. But, you see, by doing it in our heads we all understand just how the three come by their share.
