An Inadequate Fee by Ambrose Bierce
"An Inadequate Fee" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1893. The story follows a man named John who has been hired to collect an inheritance for a deceased woman. However, when he arrives at the estate, he discovers that the lawyer who handled the case before him has absconded with the entire inheritance, leaving nothing for the beneficiaries. John is left with the task of breaking the news to the beneficiaries, who are understandably outraged by the lawyer's actions. The story explores themes of greed, corruption, and the consequences of unethical behavior.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Fiction, Drama, Suspense · 148 words
First lines
An Ox, unable to extricate himself from the mire into which he sank, was advised to make use of a Political Pull. When the Political Pull had arrived, the Ox said: "My good friend, please make fast to me, and let nature take her course."
So the Political Pull made fast to the Ox's head and nature took her course. The Ox was drawn, first, from the mire, and, next, from his skin. Then the Political Pull looked back upon the good fat carcase of beef that he was dragging to his lair and said, with a discontented spirit:
"That is hardly my customary fee; I'll take home this first instalment, then return and bring an action for salvage against the skin."
What this Textopian page supports
An Inadequate Fee is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1899 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Drama, Suspense, Mystery, Historical fiction
- Length: 148 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Inadequate Fee by Ambrose Bierce
- 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 An Inadequate Fee?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Forfeited Right by Ambrose Bierce
- A Revivalist Revived by Ambrose Bierce
- One Of The Unfair Sex by Ambrose Bierce
- The Poets Doom by Ambrose Bierce
- Magnanimity by Ambrose Bierce
- The Penitent Elector by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Fiction — The book title 'An Inadequate Fee' by Ambrose Bierce gives the impression of a narrative based on a made-up story rather than something factual.
- Drama — The title suggests some level of conflict or drama associated with an 'inadequate fee', which typically signifies tension and drama for the characters.
- Suspense — The title suggests some level of unknown or pending decision-making, associated with an 'inadequate fee' which usually leads to suspenseful elements.
- Mystery — The unspecified nature of the 'inadequate fee' could suggest some mysterious element at play in the plot or setting.
Tags
humor · short story · irony · satire · fiction · literature · classic · american literature · gothic · supernatural · mystery · thriller