Emily Dickinson

'Tis One by One — the Father counts

545 'Tis One by One — the Father counts — And then a Tract between Set Cypherless — to teach the Eye The Value of its Ten — Until the peevish Student Acquire the Quick of Skill — Then Numerals are dowered back — Adorning all the Rule — 'Tis mostly Slate and Pencil — And Darkness on the School Distracts the Children's fingers — Still the Eternal Rule Regards least Cypherer alike With Leader of the Band — And every separate Urchin's Sum — Is fashioned for his hand —