Only with the most painful efforts did his wholly untrained fingers trace the copy that the master had set.

His mouth, too, followed the struggles of his fingers; and the facial grimaces that resulted set the school into a gale of laughter.

In fact, the master--a good deal amused himself--was wholly unable to calm the room so long as old Zack continued his exercise in writing.
The children of course carried home accounts of what went on at school; and certain of the parents complained to the school agent that their children were not learning properly.

The complaints continued, and finally the agent--his name was Moss--visited the schoolroom and informed old Zack that he must leave.
"I don't think you have any right to be here," Moss said to him.

"And you're giving trouble; you raise such a disturbance that the children can't attend to their studies." Old Zack appealed to Master Cobb, "Have I broken any of your rules ?" he asked.