A Free-Will Offering by B.M. Croker
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By B.M. Croker · First published 1850 · Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Drama · 7,178 words
First lines
"Kismiss," as the natives call it, is anything but a jovial and merry season to me, and I heartily sympathize with those prudent souls who flee from the station or cantonment, and bury themselves afar off in the jungle, until the festive season has been succeeded by the practical New Year! Christmas in India is an expensive anniversary to a needy subaltern such as I am. Putting aside the necessary tips to the mess-servants, the letter-corporal, and colour-sergeant, I have my own retinue (about ten in number), who overwhelm me with wreaths and flowers culled from my garden, and who expect, in return, solid rupees of the realm. This is reasonable enough; but it passes the limits of reason and patience when other peopled body-servants, peons, syces, and all the barrack dhobies, and every "dog" boy in the station, lie in ambush in order to thrust evil-smelling marigolds under my nose, with expectant salaams! Last Christmas cost me nearly the price of a pony -- this Christmas, I resolved to fly betimes with my house-mate, Jones of the D.P.W. We would put in for a week's leave, and eat our plum-pudding at least sixty miles from Kori.
What this Textopian page supports
A Free-Will Offering is listed on Textopian as a short story by B.M. Croker, dated 1850 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: B.M. Croker
- Date: 1850 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Drama, Adventure
- Length: 7,178 words
- Structure: 1 section, 97 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Free-Will Offering by B.M. Croker
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Genres
- Fiction — Due to the book's use of character development, narrative, and plot devices it falls into the general Fiction genre.
- Historical Fiction — The book is based on historical events and utilizes many historical characters, hence it can be categorized under Historical Fiction.
- Drama — The emotional context and conflicts between characters align the book with the Drama genre.
- Adventure — Characters in the book undertake a journey with multiple obstacles suggesting elements of the Adventure genre.
Tags
religious fiction · spirituality · inspirational · self-help · personal growth · motivation · philosophy · ethics · morality · values · beliefs · faith