The Baker does his sums with the Beaver, an illustration by JVL in Lewis Carroll's
The Hunting of the Snark, Artists' Choice Editions, 2006.
The Text:
89
The
Beaver brought paper, portfolio, pens,
And ink in unfailing supplies:
While strange creepy creatures came out of
their dens,
And watched them with wondering eyes.
90
So
engrossed was the Butcher, he heeded them not,
As he wrote with a pen in each hand,
And explained all the while in a popular style
Which the Beaver could well understand.
91
"Taking
Three as the subject to reason about--
A convenient number to state--
We add Seven, and Ten, and then multiply out
By One Thousand diminished by Eight.
92
"The
result we proceed to divide, as you see,
By Nine Hundred and Ninety Two:
Then subtract Seventeen, and the answer must
be
Exactly and perfectly true.
93
"The
method employed I would gladly explain,
While I have it so clear in my head,
If I had but the time and you had but the
brain--
But much yet remains to be said.
94
"In
one moment I've seen what has hitherto been
Enveloped in absolute mystery,
And without extra charge I will give you at
large
A Lesson in Natural History."
95
In
his genial way he proceeded to say
(Forgetting all laws of propriety,
And that giving instruction, without
introduction,
Would have caused quite a thrill in Society),
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