The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-07-26
THE BLACK SHEEP.

There's always black sheep IN every
flock"
The above was a concluding sentence ut
tered by Rachel Winters one calm, beau
tiful day IN the month Of roses; perfect
June day, when all nature woos us to good
and beautiful thoughts, and bids her lovers
to forget for time that sin and misery ez
ist in the busy, practical world, and give
themselves up to perfect enjoyment. The
speaker was little above the average of her
country surroundings in intelligent alta in
ments. but she possessed enough common
sense to discriminate rather keenly, with
out reasoning from cause TO effect She
often gave expression to vague ideas which
proved that, with early facilities for cul-
ture and training, she would have devel-
oped into superior woman; but as it was,
she was so hampered with domestic duties
and responsibilities which she assumed by
an early marriage, that she found little
time for cultiyating the mind. Her condi-
ton has its counterpart in many house
hold, for what else can country girl of
the times do surrounded by such environ
ments
Being ambitious to keep pace with her
| neighbors, if not to excel them in what
pertains to a well kept household, she ex-
erted herself beyond her powers of endu-
rance, and, early in life, was mach broken
in health. Fortunately for her and all his
patients, Doctor Black was grand old
| Humanitarian, far in advance of the times
in his theories and modes Of practice.
On that particular June day the doctor
had called, and, after inquiring of the vel
fare of his patient, had drifted into HARM
less neighborhood gossip about wedding
which had just occurred.
The bridegroom was the son of local
minister of the Gospel, who owned and
lived upon a farm in the neighborhood.
! This minister had five sons and a daughter,
all bright and intelligent, except James,
the eldest, who was the man chiefly con-
cerned in the marriage commented upon.
James was peculiar; SO much SO, that his
father had made excuses for him by saying
| that he had fallen from the barn and in
iured his mind early in life. After the
doctor and his listeners had discussed the
matter awhile, Mrs. Winters had made the
remark which opens this true story.
If there was anything in which Doctor
Black de- GIFTED more than another, it was
to give expression to some of his advanced
ideas when he thought there was an oppor-
tunity Of doing good. Mr.. Winters had
Joined them on the Teranda. The old doc
tor knew that love of the tardent' was a
leading cause of Mr.. Winters spells" OF
indisposition frequently complained Of,
and so he replied; "Yes, he is the black
sheep Of the flock, and I can tell you why.
You do not know as much of the past life
of Benjamin Brown. James father, as l do.
He has only lived in this part of country
since his marriage. He, like those here,
was brought up to believe that morning
dram keeps off the ague; that it warns us
| in winter and cools us in summer; in fact,
that it is a specific for every i'll, and sure
preventive, if literally used in time. Ben
jamin was jolly, impulsive boy, favor
tie with all, and of course never refused
treat or a good time with the boys.
s'He has finely organized temperament,
and is consequently of a nervous DISPOSE
ton, and it did not take long for whiskey
to get the mastery.
People in those times thought little harm
in a man getting tipsy once in awhile, but
Benjamin was such a tall, ungainly youth
that he furnished much sport for the young
people when he would get past locomotion,
and once at a log-rolling, where the fair
sex were also gathered for a quilting bee,
he became sick from too much drinking
and had to vomit. He wanted to get ont
of sight of the girls, but, not being able to
walk, be started off through the orchard
on all tours, furnishing much sport for the
young ladies, one of whom called out in
high key; Don't root up our orchard, Ben
n.y.
''But these sprees were not SO frequently
INDUCED in by him as by some young men.
He had great thirst for knowledge and inn
proved his time to study until he began to
teach. School teachers were not required
to be as proficient then as now, however.
''Finally he met his fate in the person of
a very lovely young woman. according to
his idea, and, indeed, her influence over
him was very strong, for she finally sue
ceeded in getting him to give up the habit
of drinking, but not without much effort,
however, for he had INDUCED so long that
the condition of his organism had so
changed that it was long time before na-
ture regained her normal power.
benjamin had been married scarcely
year when son was born. How proud
and happy he wasi He had already begun
to study for the ministry and had given
few lectures on temperance, and he could
now realize as never before what terrible
thing 1t would have been to continue to set
such an example for his children to follow.
His wife was no less happy and when he
kissed her and the babe, she said; oh,
Benjamin, how happy it makes me to
know that now there is no danger of your
ever coming home drunk and killing baby
and me like Sam Watkins did his wife
and child