"There are five dollars for you," he said, "and your story was
well worth it. You ARE a wonder. Some day you will make the
world realize it. I've been about a bit, and heard some good
things, but I've never enjoyed anything more than that threadbare
old story I heard in my cradle. And now, will you do me a
favour?"

"Of course," said the delighted Story Girl.

"Recite the multiplication table for me," said Mr. Campbell.

We stared. Well might Mr. Campbell be called eccentric. What on
earth did he want the multiplication table recited for? Even the
Story Girl was surprised. But she began promptly, with twice one
and went through it to twelve times twelve. She repeated it
simply, but her voice changed from one tone to another as each in
succession grew tired. We had never dreamed that there was so
much in the multiplication table. As she announced it, the fact
that three times three was nine was exquisitely ridiculous, five
times six almost brought tears to our eyes, eight times seven was
the most tragic and frightful thing ever heard of, and twelve
times twelve rang like a trumpet call to victory.

Mr. Campbell nodded his satisfaction.

"I thought you could do it," he said. "The other day I found
this statement in a book. 'Her voice would have made the
multiplication table charming!' I thought of it when I heard
yours. I didn't believe it before, but I do now."