gistfile1.txt

$list = @'
1 Partridge in a pear tree
2 Turtle Doves
3 French Hens
4 Calling Birds
5 Golden Rings
6 Geese a laying
7 Swans a swimming
8 Maids a milking
9 Ladies dancing
10 Lords a leaping
11 Pipers piping
12 Drummers drumming
'@

## Sorting by length
$list -split "`n" | Sort-Object { $_.Length }

## Sorting without number
$list -split "`n" | Sort-Object { ($_ -replace '^\d+ ').Length }

## Custom object
$list -split "`n" | ForEach-Object {
	[PSCustomObject]@{ 'Count' = $_.Split(' ')[0]; 'Item' = ($_ -replace '^\d+ ') }
}

## Bird-related items
($list -split "`n" | where { $_ -match 'Partridge|Dove|Hen|Bird|Geese|Swan' } | Select @{ 'Name' = 'Number'; 'Expression' = { $_.Split(' ')[0].Trim() } } | Measure-Object -Sum -Property Number).Sum

## Total count
($list -split "`n" | Select @{ 'Name' = 'Number'; 'Expression' = { $_.Split(' ')[0].Trim() } } | Measure-Object -Sum -Property Number).Sum