_If the roads are wet and muddy We remain at home and study,-- For the Goat is very clever at a sum,-- And the Dog, instead of fighting, Studies ornamental writing, While the Cat is taking lessons on the drum._ _We retire at eleven, And we rise again at seven; And I wish to call attention, as I close, To the fact that all the scholars Are correct about their collars, And particular in turning out their toes._ Here Robinson called out, in a loud voice, "First class in arithmetic!" but the animals sat perfectly motionless, sedately staring at him. "Oh! by the way," said Robinson, confidentially to Davy, "this _is_ the first class in arithmetic. That's the reason they didn't move, you see. Now, then," he continued sharply, addressing the class, "how many halves are there in a whole?" There was a dead silence for a moment, and then the Cat said gravely, "What kind of a hole?" "That has nothing to do with it," said Robinson, impatiently. "Oh! hasn't it, though!" exclaimed the Dog, scornfully. "I should think a big hole could have more halves in it than a little one." "Well, _rather_," put in the Parrot, contemptuously. Here the Goat, who apparently had been carefully thinking the matter over, said in a low, quavering voice, "Must all the halves be of the same size?" "Certainly not," said Robinson, promptly; then, nudging Davy with his elbow, he whispered, "He's bringing his mind to bear on it. He's prodigious when he gets started!" "Who taught him arithmetic?" said Davy, who was beginning to think Robinson didn't know much about it himself. "Well, the fact is," said Robinson, confidentially, "he picked it up from an old Adder, that he met in the woods." Here the Goat, who evidently was not yet quite started, inquired, "Must all the halves be of the same shape?" "Not at all," said Robinson, cheerfully. "Have 'em any shape you like." "Then I give it up," said the Goat. "So do I," said the Dog. "And I," said the Cat. "Me, too," said the Parrot. "Well!" exclaimed Davy, quite out of patience. "You are certainly the stupidest lot of creatures I ever saw." At this the animals stared mournfully at him for a moment, and then rose up and walked gravely away. "Now you've spoiled the exercises," said Robinson, peevishly. "I'm sorry I gave 'em such a staggerer to begin with." "Pooh!" said Davy, contemptuously. "If they couldn't do that sum they couldn't do anything." Robinson gazed at him admiringly for a moment, and then, looking cautiously about him, to make sure that the procession was out of hearing, said coaxingly:-- "What's the right answer? Tell us, like a good fellow." "Two, of course," said Davy. "Is that all?" exclaimed Robinson, in a tone of great astonishment.