'Tis One by One the Father counts — Ten Commandments

'Tis One by One－the Father counts－¹
And then a Tract between
Set Cypherless－to teach the Eye
The Value of its Ten－

Until the peevish Student ⁵
Acquire the Quick of Skill－
Then Numerals are dowered back－
Adorning all the Rule－

'Tis mostly Slate and Pencil－⁹
And Darkness on the School
Distracts the Children's fingers－
Still the Eternal Rule

Regards least Cypherer alike ¹³
With Leader of the Band－
And every separate Urchin's Sum－
Is fashioned for his hand－

(F.646/J.545)

[1] Father:: a priest.
[4, 9] Ten, Slate:: hints on the Ten Commandments
[5] Student:: in a Christian school.
[12] Eternal Rule:: the Ten Commandments.
[16] hand:: way of doing things.