noon
`` There are only three like it in the world , '' explained Miss Mason . `` They were raffled off at a fair for a children 's hospital , and a friend of mine , one of the artists , won a copy . She sent it to me . '' Miss Mason said the second grade might examine the book at recess or at noon , because they had been busy with their writing lesson while she was showing it to the younger children . Then , while the first grade was set to work to make a page of `` S 's , '' Miss Mason called the second grade to order for their arithmetic lesson . `` You will not need pencils and paper this morning , '' she announced . `` We are going to have a little mental arithmetic . ''