Margaret's voice speaking to Absalom Puntz, who stood at the foot
of the composition class, now before her on the platform.

"You may read your composition, Absalom."

Absalom was one of "the big boys," but though he was sixteen years
old and large for his age, his slowness in learning classed him
with the children of twelve or thirteen. However, as learning was
considered in New Canaan a superfluous and wholly unnecessary
adjunct to the means of living, Absalom's want of agility in
imbibing erudition never troubled him, nor did it in the least
call forth the pity or contempt of his schoolmates.

Three times during the morning session he had raised his hand to
announce stolidly to his long-suffering teacher, "I can't think of
no subjeck"; and at last Miss Margaret had relaxed her Spartan
resolution to make him do his own thinking and had helped him out.

"Write of something that is interesting you just at present. Isn't
there some one thing you care more about than other things?" she
had asked.

Absalom had stared at her blankly without replying.

"Now, Absalom," she had said desperately, "I think I know one
thing you have been interested in lately--write me a composition
on Girls."

Of course the school had greeted the advice with a laugh, and Miss
Margaret had smiled with them, though she had not meant to be