The Deep Well by Catharine Shaw
A weary traveller stops to rest at an ancient well during the heat of the day. When a local woman arrives to draw water, he asks her for a drink. She is initially dismissive, pointing out the social divisions that would typically prevent such an exchange between their two peoples. Rather than engaging with her objection, the traveller speaks to her of something far greater than ordinary water. He tells her of a gift that, once received, means a person will never truly thirst again — a living water that leads to eternal life. The woman, thinking only in practical terms, is at first confused, since the traveller has no bucket and the well is deep. Yet she is intrigued enough to ask for this water, imagining relief from her daily labours under the burning sun. The traveller then turns the conversation in an unexpected direction, revealing detailed knowledge of her private life — knowledge no stranger could possess. This revelation shakes her deeply. She begins to wonder whether the man before her might be the long-awaited figure her people have heard spoken of. He confirms that he is precisely that person. Overwhelmed and transformed by the encounter, the woman abandons her waterpot and rushes back into the town. She urges her neighbours to come and see a man who told her everything she had ever done, asking whether this could be the one they had been waiting for. Her excitement is contagious, and a crowd follows her out to the well. Many who come to hear the traveller for themselves become believers — not merely on the strength of the woman's testimony, but because his own words speak directly to something within them, offering the promise of life that does not end.
By Catharine Shaw · First published 1925 · Genre: Mystery, Crime Fiction, Thriller · 559 words
First lines
Jesus was taking a long journey. He had to walk many, many miles, and at last, when He came near a large town called Samaria, He sent His disciples on in front to buy food.
He was very tired, and while He waited for them, He sat down to rest by the well which, hundreds of years before, Jacob had dug, which has been called ever since Jacob's Well.
What this Textopian page supports
The Deep Well is listed on Textopian as a short story by Catharine Shaw, dated 1925 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Catharine Shaw
- Date: 1925 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Crime Fiction, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Literary Fiction
- Length: 559 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Deep Well by Catharine Shaw
- 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
Genres
- Mystery — The novel centers on a puzzle involving a deep well and hidden secrets that must be uncovered, which is central to the mystery genre's core appeal.
- Crime Fiction — The plot involves criminal elements and investigations that drive the narrative forward as characters seek to solve a serious crime.
- Thriller — The story maintains suspense and tension throughout as characters navigate dangerous situations and uncover dark truths.
- Psychological Thriller — The narrative explores the mental states and motivations of characters as they grapple with the psychological implications of discovered secrets.
Tags
Victorian literature · children's fiction · religious fiction · Christian themes · moral instruction · didactic narrative · family life · faith · virtue · redemption · poverty · social class