gistfile1.php

function get_post_coulmns($count){
    $html=array();
    $html[0]="<div id=column1>";
    $html[1]="<div id=column2>";
    $html[2]="<div id=column3>";

    $counter = 0;
    $paged = (get_query_var('paged')) ? get_query_var('paged') : 1;
    query_posts(array(
        'posts_per_page' => 1,
        'paged'=>$paged
    ));
    if(have_posts()):
        while(have_posts()):the_post();
            $html[$counter].=get_the_post_thumbnail();
            $html[$counter].=get_the_title();
            $html[$counter].=get_the_excerpt();
            $html[$counter].='<a href="'.get_permalink().'">read more</a>';
            if($counter>=$count)$counter=0;
            $counter++;
        endwhile;
    endif;
    $html[0].="</div>";
    $html[1].="</div>";
    $html[2].="</div>";

    echo $html[0];
    echo $html[1];
    echo $html[2];
    
    // Args description here https://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/paginate_links
    $args = array(
        'base'         => '%_%',
        'format'       => '?page=%#%',
        'total'        => 2,
        'current'      => 0,
        'show_all'     => True,
        'end_size'     => 1,
        'mid_size'     => 2,
        'prev_next'    => True,
        'prev_text'    => __('« Previous'),
        'next_text'    => __('Next »'),
        'type'         => 'plain',
        'add_args'     => False,
        'add_fragment' => ''
    );
    echo paginate_links( $args );
}