Three of a Kind by Ambrose Bierce
Three of a Kind is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1893. The story follows three men who are each given a magical wishing machine that grants them their deepest desires. However, the wishes come with unintended consequences, leading to chaos and hilarity among the three friends. Throughout the story, Bierce explores themes of greed, selfishness, and the unpredictability of life.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1883 · Genre: Short Stories, Fantasy, Horror · 119 words
First lines
A Lawyer in whom an instinct of justice had survived the wreck of his ignorance of law was retained for the defence of a burglar whom the police had taken after a desperate struggle with someone not in custody.
In consultation with his client the Lawyer asked, "Have you accomplices?"
"Yes, sir," replied the Burglar. "I have two, but neither has been taken. I hired one to defend me against capture, you to defend me against conviction."
This answer deeply impressed the Lawyer, and having ascertained that the Burglar had accumulated no money in his profession he threw up the case.
What this Textopian page supports
Three of a Kind is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1883 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: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy, Horror
- Length: 119 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Three of a Kind by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Three of a Kind?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Stories first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Johndonkey by Ambrose Bierce
- T A H by Ambrose Bierce
- Magnanimity by Ambrose Bierce
- A Dampened Ardor by Ambrose Bierce
- One Of The Saints by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Short Stories — This book is a collection of three different short stories, each individually complete and distinct.
- Fantasy — Many of the stories and elements within the book involve the use of imagination, myths, and the supernatural.
- Horror — The stories in the book often feature eerie and frightening scenarios, a common characteristic of the horror genre.
Tags
mystery · thriller · detective · crime · suspense · whodunit · plot twist · surprise ending · psychological · supernatural · ghost story · haunting