To learn your numbers you are able,
By aid of a little Fairy table.”
Then the Funny Fairy cut out many circles, and put a number in the center of each one. He put numbers all round the circles, too. Whenever Tommy multiplied any number in the outside of the circle by the number in the center, down on the circle floated a plate of fairy food, but he was never quick enough to catch it to eat.
He said:
“The tables seem so real to me,
I’ll learn more quickly now you see.”
By and by he fell asleep by the fire, and the Funny Fairy went back into the grate and sat on a log singing:
“To study now he’s learned the trick,
He’ll soon be bright in arithmetic.”
Next day Tommy knew the “threes,” and soon he learned all the tables. He said: