Black Sheep
Black Sheep is a novel by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison that follows the story of a young woman named Abigail, who is struggling to find her place in the world. Abigail is a black sheep in her family, and she is constantly trying to prove her worth to her parents and siblings. She is determined to make something of herself, but she is constantly met with resistance from her family. Abigail's journey takes her from her small hometown in the Midwest to the bustling city of Chicago. Along the way, she meets a variety of people who help her to discover her true identity and to find her place in the world. She also learns to accept her family for who they are, and to appreciate the differences between them. Black Sheep is a story of self-discovery and acceptance, and it is sure to resonate with readers of all ages.
By Theodosia Pickrering Garrison · First published 1917 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Romance · 244 words
First lines
"Black Sheep, Black Sheep," "Have you any wool?" "That I have, my Master," "Three bags full."
One is for the mother who prays for me at night -- A gift of broken promises to count by candle-light.
One is for the tried friend who raised me when I fell -- A gift of weakling's tinsel oaths that strew the path to hell.
And one is for the true love -- the heaviest of all -- That holds the pieces of a faith a careless hand let fall.
What this Textopian page supports
Black Sheep is listed on Textopian as a short story by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Romance, Drama
- Length: 244 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Black Sheep by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Black Sheep?
- How does this short story by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Broken Lute by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- A Salem Mother by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- Magdalen by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- The Silent One by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- The Ring And The Book by Robert Browning
- Wyndham Towers by Thomas Bailey Aldrich
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in the early 20th century and follows the story of a young woman's journey to find her place in society.
- Coming of Age — The protagonist's journey is one of self-discovery and growth as she navigates the complexities of life.
- Romance — The protagonist's journey is also one of love and romance as she finds her place in the world.
- Drama — The book is filled with dramatic moments as the protagonist struggles to find her place in society.
Tags
Poetry · bags · bid · black · broken · candle · count · fell · friend · full · gift · heaviest