John Black, now on fire with a high purpose, threw himself with all his
soul into his studies. He at once took a high place in the school. The
shepherd lad from the Gair school in far-off Eskdale reflected credit on
his old teacher, Mr. Roddick. He planned a course of study in the
needful branches of mathematics, but his chief delight was in classics.
So excellent a scholar was he in Greek that the original Greek oration
delivered by him on leaving the institution was for many years spoken of
as being unusually meritorious. His metrical translations of Latin
authors, such as Horace, were well done, and though not so often as
formerly, yet now and then his muse took a poetic flight.
Like many Scottish students, John Black lived very economically in his
school life in Delhi, "cultivating," as has been said, "the muses on a
little oatmeal." With him were two of his cousins as room-mates, William
and David Murray. These three lads, living in a little upstairs room,
cooking for themselves the provisions received from home, gained in
after life, though in different spheres, high and honorable distinction.
William Murray became Judge of the Supreme Court of New York, and Dr.
David Murray was the organizer of the educational system of Japan, and
for several years chief superintendent of education there. When he left
Japan to return to America he was invested by the Emperor with the
highest order of Japanese nobility. He has since been State Librarian at
Albany, New York. John Black may not have received such earthly honors
as fell to the lot of his cousins, although he had his share of these,
too, but he has the joy of those of whom it is said "they shall shine as
the stars for ever and ever."
CHURCH LIFE.
Though baptized in the Church of Scotland, and attached to its forms,
John Black became, on his arrival in Bovina, an active member of the
"Associate Church." This was one of the bodies which afterwards were
united and became the "United Presbyterian Church of North America." The
minister of the Bovina congregation was Rev. John Graham, a native of
Montrose, Scotland, a man of ability, especially as a writer. Before his
death he published his "Autobiography," a most interesting book. Of Mr.
Graham it was said that he "was a man with eccentricities, but far more
excellencies." In Mr. Graham John Black found a true friend, as he did
also in the other members of the congregation. True piety prevailed
among them. Perhaps some would call them narrow, but they were genuine.
They had brought with them from the old land customs such as the regular
observance of family worship, the keeping of the Sabbath, and the habit
of churchgoing, and these they put into practice in their new world
home. As the country settled, many congregations, which are now strong,
hived off from the original one in Bovina.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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