<html>
<head>
<style>
div:first-letter { float: left; }
div { -moz-column-count: 2; width: 0; }
</style>
<script>
function boom()
{
var v = document.getElementById("v");
v.firstChild.remove();
}
</script>
</head>
<body onload="boom();">
<div id="v">a b<span>c</span></div>
</body>
</html>