The Giant Arithmos
This story was told to the author by her teacher, Mrs. A. R. Hornbrook, of the Hornbrook Correspondence School of Mathematics, 5622 Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Ill.
Great Jack-the-Giant-Killer brave, he killed all giants bad,
But one good giant's life was spared by this bold warrior lad.
ARITHMOS was this giant great, and all bright girls and boys
Should love the famous Giant-King far more than all their toys.
He's very old, and very great, and also wondrous wise,
For he can count all things on earth and even tell their size.
He knows how many birds there are; how high each bird can fly,
But never does he boast, or brag, or stoop to tell a lie.
He is so tall that he can reach up to the starry sky
And count the stars and meteors bright as swiftly they go by.
'Tis he alone can tell you when a great eclipse will come
And darken the moon's lady or the old man in the sun.
He's always so good natured and obliging to us all;
He'll help us with our lessons hard when for his aid we call,
And tell us just the number of ripe apples on a plate,
How far away Chicago is, and if the train is late.
In fact he always answers us whene'er we ask "HOW MANY?"
And for his work and trouble never thinks to ask a penny.
All teachers and professors couldn't teach without his aid,
And men in every business know through him they will be paid.
We cannot sing in perfect time, nor even play a drum,
Divide an apple, buy a doll nor do the smallest sum,
And even BRIDGE by ladies fair cannot at all be played
Unless this mighty GIANT-KING will kindly lend his aid.
So as we cannot get along without "ARITHMOS LORE,"
We all should learn his wondrous truths and love him more and more.
