<!DOCTYPE html>
<style>
    .columns {
        position: relative;
        border: 2px solid black;
        height: 300px;
    }
    .abs1, .abs2 {
        position: absolute;
        background-color: lightgray;
        width: 300px;
    }
    .abs1 {
        height: 50px;
        bottom: 0;
    }
    .abs2 {
        left: 50%;
        height: 150px;
    }
</style>
<div class="columns">
    <div class="abs1">
        This text should paginate across the columns.<br>
        This text should paginate across the columns.<br>
    </div>
    <div class="abs2">
        This text should paginate across the columns.<br>
        This text should paginate across the columns.<br>
        This text should paginate across the columns.<br>
    </div>
</div>