The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-10

49, fellows, Sometimes they fall under the
E6IWNAE sharp shears Of the penny scrapIng Chris
ES0HS6F tian but oftener clipped clean by the
pOt-beIIed seller Of fusel oil Of course,
they SILVER being parted from their WOOL and perhaps
they should; but. after al. It sometimes seems pity
that the winds tempered for them since God, or
something almost invariably gives a black sheep 4
thin and tender skin Besides. black sheep wrong
IN the head, down al the heart breathed uDos
BY inaming winds often not raised by themselves or
felt Of other men, yet the black sheep, burning sin
compelling, horrible.
II opportunity is half OF greatness environ
ment half OF gOOdness2 If the human animal uncon-
scously catches moral insanity from conditions
how IS It that he IS more cupabe than one who sucks
IN sickness from the invisible sewers air? Why
IS Il the first should be stoned and despised and the
last pitied and caressed? Are both diseased the
IN the soul the other IN the blood? Yes you
but the first should throw it on; for the latter
well. that IS different Well both. fancy
would throw it on had God o. something, made them
strong enough
due them; they reap what they SOW. say you All true
True as gospel-poss;bly But they also reap
what others have sown. and kick them for that
Yes it is fun 10 pe black sheep but the feat Is not
& pretty Rocks thrown softly hurt; then
too We nearly ali slightly of color, and where
there is much hnging. liable to get hit ourselves
Indeed, some white sheep come 20 seem absolutely
black-with bruises!
This is not gay tale nor the words Of It at all
happy. StIl. It has signal feature-it is tue-Or
al least told FOR truth not long since by one OF
makes vice even Of frankness. This was on his
last legs tO0-Or bed. which is the same thing
End therefore had little for Juggling with the
facts He had been good deal cheered by straw
colored fluid kept bottle by his bed-even whisky
has certain mercy in It when it has certainly
kiled-and doubt would have told cheerier story
had he possessed one tell AS It was, owing 70 the
straw coIored liquid him perhaps the story did not
seem bad. At any rate. he told IL willingly and
without tear he said;
We were born in the same neighborhood on the
same day-Furness and land that perhaps, had much
10 do with making Us friends He the lustier
yOungser Of the doubt OF that for almost be
fore had teeth he licked beautifully.
But the prettier-at least my mother so main
tanned, God bless her, and mothers lie We were
active little animals, chewing rubber rings and
each others fingers with great appetite and, for that
matter, whatever else CHANGED get between gums.
I know that as long ego as I can remember 1 liked
him inmeasurably. How could I help It when he
licked easiIy2 What greater cause for reverence
could one boy possibly find IN another than that7
Other boys too. got sound hoggings from him after
they had logged me That made worship him.
often, too. when he had won every marble had
On earth he would give them back 10 ne, that he
might win them again He generous that
way. He always patronized ne, but II onhand.
prOdigaI sort OF fashion that greatly impressed
We certainly had exceedingly good times together
I him stu IN the old swimming hole moon
1T summer nights. the water brown mirror OF shin
ing OIL with his naked body floating mOtionless upon
It Ike prone statue Of silver And how infinitely far
there by the swimming hole!
And what odd things he said. I can recall
q them still Once IN particular how he shook my
faith IN the wisdom Of God BY asking Why, Il he
rs wise 7 made him TO be. he did make cats
with long necks and long bills. like ducks, they
could pull the rats OF their holes and why he did
not place the calves the front side of legs
rs protect shins instead OF the back side,
where they were Of no account He was born black
sheep, you see; environment. I think made one.
Well. grew up together and the years pro
gressed he licked less often, but. If possible
beautifully, and after certain fashion continued 20
adore him Ny mother still thought me the hand
Eomer; he certainly continued the stronger. Ours
swell community. though notions Of culture
plenty enough, IN due tine Furness and L the
being UncommOnly strong the other uncOmmony pretty.
were sent away 20 college. Neither families
could really afford but, he being strong and
pretty, If could not have gone it would certainly
have been great pity
I've had poor luck however: he at least for BY
the middle OF the second term he had gotten himself
expelled. and home with him and refused 10
turn Would I 20 back a school lost TO sense OF
honor opportunity refuse the shelter Of
roof strong a youth FUrness? Not I Why,
licked every fellow IN the college, To him
away was preposterous, As for FUrness, he liked my
fealty, patronized ;he After all. he had
really done much IN collegiate way I little;
was real hero I but the shadow. I worshfped him
Wei. in due course We began TO straighten out
little. I went into ny fathers store he into his
mothers MILL his father being dead and presently.
having young mustaches pull and caress we ceased
fighting and became respectable Nature certainly made
happy stroke when she nit the idea OF decorating
the young mans upper lip Il IS without question.
ma gnifyng 10 cJin term; the youth being lifted by
these few hairs 10 a plane impossible attainment
otherwise. through the employment OF absolute
moral derrick The unfortunate thing certainly
following the labal decoration is the fact that
young falls in love-sometmes before he acquires
musache be sure but never permanently dan
EeroUsIy until after il appears.
With the fall the more lsmentabIe for the
reason that we both feu in love with the same girl
She was yellow headed canaryish little creature then
with big light blue eyes like morning glories She
could not have dubbed more with laughter had she
been fountain Furness went wild over her: so did
/ but kept It TO myself. for was far from being
as sure OF her as was he However he suspicioned
respectable To be sure. went Of into the woods
violation Of social ethics The surprising thing how
licked him
Though he has been n his grave these seven
years and hate him. and helped 10 put him there
still feel odd twinge Of sorrow when remember
the look that into his face when at last I had
him beaten still shocked at the insane fury with
which I fought him. surely would have served him
nothing had he been once again strong as ne was
It seems 10 I should have torn him in pieces had
be not cried enough
But with that. as with victories attained BY
violence It gained nothing-the girl gave herself
TO him. He was unquestionably well grown fellow
big and generous looking and I could not blame her
And, after all it Furness; it seemed only fitting