Here is an example from The Friend magazine, January 1853: “‘Do you hear me, sir!’ asked the captain. ‘I give you whilst I count ten to start. I do not wish to shoot you, Wilson, but if you do not move before I count ten I’ll drive this ball through you—as I hope to reach port, I will.’ Raising his pistol until it covered the boat swain’s breast the captain commenced counting in a clear and audible tone. Intense excitement was depicted on the faces of the men and some anxiety was shown by the quick glances cast by the chief mate and steward first at the and then at the crew. Wilson with his eyes fixed in the captain’s face and his arms loosely folded across his breast stood perfectly quiet as if he were an indifferent spectator. ‘Eight! Nine!’ said the captain. ’There is but one left, Wilson, with it I fire if you do not start.”
And from Levana Or, The Doctrine of Education By Jean Paul, 1848: “Another parental delay, that of punishment, is of use for children of the second five years (quinquennium.) Parents and teachers would more frequently punish according to the line of exact justice, if, after every fault in a child, they would only count four and twenty, or their buttons, or their fingers. They would thereby let the deceiving present round themselves, as well as round the children escape the cold still empire of clearness would remain behind;”
Here is an example from The Friend magazine, January 1853: “‘Do you hear me, sir!’ asked the captain. ‘I give you whilst I count ten to start. I do not wish to shoot you, Wilson, but if you do not move before I count ten I’ll drive this ball through you—as I hope to reach port, I will.’ Raising his pistol until it covered the boat swain’s breast the captain commenced counting in a clear and audible tone. Intense excitement was depicted on the faces of the men and some anxiety was shown by the quick glances cast by the chief mate and steward first at the and then at the crew. Wilson with his eyes fixed in the captain’s face and his arms loosely folded across his breast stood perfectly quiet as if he were an indifferent spectator. ‘Eight! Nine!’ said the captain. ’There is but one left, Wilson, with it I fire if you do not start.”
And from Levana Or, The Doctrine of Education By Jean Paul, 1848: “Another parental delay, that of punishment, is of use for children of the second five years (quinquennium.) Parents and teachers would more frequently punish according to the line of exact justice, if, after every fault in a child, they would only count four and twenty, or their buttons, or their fingers. They would thereby let the deceiving present round themselves, as well as round the children escape the cold still empire of clearness would remain behind;”