The King of Peru

I guess that you have to be over 60 to remember A.A. Milne and his incredible Winnie the Pooh series of books.
One of the series was called "Now We are Six" and was written I believe, in 1927.
This was one of the poems from that book. No wonder I grew up to be an accountant.

The Emperor's Rhyme, by A.A. Milne

The King of Peru (who was Emperor too)
Had a sort of a rhyme which was useful to know,
If he felt very shy when a stranger came by
Or they asked him the time when his watch didn't go;
Or supposing he fell (by mistake) down a well,
Or he tumbled when skating and sat on his hat,
Or perhaps wasn't told till his porridge was cold,
That his breakfast was waiting - or something like that;

Oh, whenever the Emperor got in to a temper, or felt himself sulky or sad,
He would murmer and murmer, until he felt firmer, this curious rhyme which he had:

Eight eights are sixty-four, multiply by seven.
When it's done, carry one
And take away eleven.
Nine nines are eighty-one multiply by three,
If it's more carry four,
And then it's time for tea.

So whenever the queen took his armour to clean,
And she didn't remember to use any starch;
Or his birthday (in May) was a horrible day,
Being wet as November and windy as March;
Or, if sitting in state with the Wise and the Great
He just happened to hiccup while signing his name,
Or the Queen gave a cough, when his crown tumbled off
As he bent down to pick up a pen for the same;

Oh, whenever the Emperor got into a temper or felt himself awkward and shy,
He would whisper and whisper, until he felt crisper, this little odd rhyme to the sky;

Eight eights are eighty-one multiply by seven
If it's more carry four
And take away eleven.
Nine nines are sixty-four; multiply by three.
When it's done, carry one,
And then it's time for tea.

by A.A. Milne
from the book "Now We Are Six"
Sept. 1927