Arbor Day by Ambrose Bierce (1892)
"Arbor Day" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1892. The story follows a man named John Hovey, who has been hired to plant trees on a large estate owned by a wealthy man named Mr. Bell. Hovey is tasked with planting 500 trees on the property, but he soon realizes that the land is not suitable for tree growth due to its poor soil quality and lack of water supply. Despite these challenges, Hovey perseveres and manages to plant all 500 trees. However, when Mr. Bell returns from his trip, he is disappointed to find that none of the trees have grown, as they were not properly cared for during his absence. The story highlights the importance of proper care and maintenance in ensuring the growth and survival of plants.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1892 · Genre: Short Story, Satire, Humor · 50 words
First lines
Hasten, children, black and white -- Celebrate the yearly rite.
Every pupil plant a tree: It will grow some day to be Big and strong enough to bear A School Director hanging there.
What this Textopian page supports
Arbor Day is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Satire, Humor
- Length: 50 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Arbor Day by Ambrose Bierce
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Arbor Day?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
- The Milkmaid And Her Bucket by Ambrose Bierce
- A Word To The Unwise by Ambrose Bierce
- An Optimist by Ambrose Bierce
- The King Of Bores by Ambrose Bierce
- The Sportsman And The Squirrel by Ambrose Bierce
- The Man And His Goose by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Short Story — The book is written in a compact form that focuses on a single theme and is typically less than 20,000 words long.
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is known for his satirical style and 'Arbor Day' utilizes irony and sarcasm to critique social norms and customs.
- Humor — Elements of humor can be found in the story’s sarcastic tone contributing to its satirical nature.
Tags
fiction · short story · nature · environment · trees · planting · growth · nurturing · conservation · sustainability · community · inspiration