Black Beauty Lesson Plan

Discuss Reuben Smith. What morals and/or principles does this section offer about drinking?

Reuben Smith is praised at the start of the chapter. Black Beauty claims that no one more thoroughly understood his business than he did. He was faithful, valuable, gentle, clever, and could doctor a horse almost as well as a farrier. Beyond that, he was handsome, smart, and had "very pleasant manners." He could easily hold the position of a head coachman if not for his one fatal flaw: his love of drink. The narrative represents his drinking as the only problem holding him back. His drinking is not a daily occurrence; rather, every few weeks or months, he goes through a "bout."...