Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-30

| it passed unnoticed, as he was intent up
on his new companion, who inquired OF
s what he was to do with this unnun-
bered boy, the adjective being uttered
| with as much contempt as an inhabitant
Of this world would throw into the term
| unlette7ed.
"Take him to the king to be regis
| tered, " retorted s, and flew Oft to answer
| hasty summons from "a.
"What place is this?" asked Tommy,
meekly.
| f-Three Market" returned his compan-
| ion. But come, now, achat is your num-
| ber?"
| Tommy felt ashamed to confess. he
| didn't know; lie thought he'd like to be
No. 1.
Don't your replied the other, misan-
thropically. I'm l."
Cant there be another 1?'
Il wish there could" retorted his
| friend.
| Tommy ventured to ask g Why?"
=" Because it'd divide the work, but
nothing can't divide l."
"But what Is all this about divisions'
inquired Tom, whose escape from the af-
| ternoon lesson had led him into far
wider field Of figures.
"Why, don't you know that every fig
| ure may order about those that divide it?
| They're his slaves. 2, 4 and s have to
wait on IS, and 16 has to wait on 80, and
they all have to wait On 81. Some of them
may have many servants, some have but
few, but they all have me.
There was world of pathos in his
tone.
"Of course" said Tom, /" divides ev-
erything."
"Yes, everything, even and 3; and
they're the hardest masters Of all; they've
g deal of waiting to do; but they shift
most Of it ON to me. But here we are at
arithmetical progression"
"What's that?" asked Master Spratt.
| "The kings palace, of course. Stop a
moment, though" And 1 drew respect
fully back, as an elderly gentleman with
large board, on which was inscribed
4S2964, stopped up the doorway.
where are you going, /, the indiVisi-
ble?"
l grew red at the taunt; his weak point
was his indivisibility.
! 81 am going, O manyfigured 4S2964, to
the king, an aehear with me this unnum
bered boy"
492964 drew back his skirts to let them
pass and the boys hurried on through a
|
served, were all uneven multiples Of 5.
| On his requesting an explanation Of this,
| said:
"They're the army; all the SIS are SOL
diers, and all the rs are sailors, and
where the two meet, as in IS or 105, they
serve as marines on alternate days"
"Oh!" said Tommy and the matter
dropped.
| fha
courts into the inner chamber, where a
large and merry party were assem- bled
| In one corner group of princeses, the
very lowest of whom was at least mil
lion, were playing at "buzz," with such
rapidity and precision that Tommy's head
swan with the effort of following them.
In another portion of the room a little
| princess (whOse number terminated in
| five naughts, such being the royal prerog-
ative) was doing her sums by means of
her fathers subjects, who stood on one
another's heads, and whirled in and out
manner incsmprehensible to ordi-
nary mortals, accustomed to the COM
paratively tame use Of slate and pencil.
The king reclined upon couch, dictat-
ing new novel, entitled "Conic Sec
| TONS" to four secretaries at once.
"Whence comes this numberless crea
ture? And 1, too! 1, how darest thou
intrude within the groves of arithmetical
! prOgression?"
90 thou of many numbers!" answered
! /, prostrating himself, 81 have brought
hitner this boy who has descended on
this earth BY a strange conveyance, hith-
erto unknown, in order that thou, 0 most
Invisible, shOuldst bestow on him a num-
| Der and place in the royal register"
The king frowned, the secretaries fol-
lowed suit, and the unhappy 1 sank be-
meath the glow aring storm of their eyes.
"What number shall we give him?"
said the king, pensively. "Fetch hither
| the register"
A small detachment of subjects carried
in with great difficulty 5000 volumes, and
the four secretaries set to work with
will.
| After looking for some hours, one of
| the secretaries, with low bow, announc-
| ed all were occupied that the last num-
Der used was SO, 900, 800, and that there
| fore the newcomer must be 90,000,O00.
The king for one moment foamed at
the mouth ;2then, recovering his speech,
| flew at the secretary, (71032), and, tear
ing off his number, cried:
The traitor has dared to propose that
this stranger, this indivisible boy, shall
henceforth become of the royal family
one of the nearest to our own person!"
Every one hooted 1902, who hid be-
hind his fellow secretaries to escape the
popular storm.
"No," continued the prince, "some
other plan must be thought of. Who
ever brings, before to morrow at noon, an
unoccupied number, not over SO, 999, 500,
for this boy, shall have nought added to
his name"
The people shouted and withdrew but
Tommy, who had never before looked on
royalty, fingered behind to stare open
mouthed at the gorgeous rooms and grand
company.
The king continued his dictation, never
observing the absence of II ,032 so every
fourth chapter of the novel was missing +;
but this, of course, only made it the more
interesting
Tommy's curiosity soon got the better
Of his manners, and he interrupted them
| with
"What did you have for dinner what's
your name and how old are you ~
''Boy," said the prince, ''you are as
yet unnumbered."
well, come now, that amt my fault,
you Know" argued Tommy.
The king had never seen it in this light
before, and his face grew milder and
more gentle as Tommy dared to add:
whats your name or number 2"
Il" said the king, with pride, II am
the 1nnumerable Nought"
ttNbatayor iS tbat 81, tn o,,rbt TTo,,p,r