Hooking Watermelons

Name: Hooking Watermelons
Author: Edward Bellamy

Hooking Watermelons is a novel by Edward Bellamy that follows the story of a young man named John, who is struggling to make ends meet in the small town of Hooking Watermelons, Alabama. John is a hardworking, honest man who is trying to make a living as a farmer, but he is constantly struggling to make enough money to support his family. John's life is further complicated when he meets a mysterious stranger named Mr. Smith, who offers him a job that could potentially make him a lot of money. John is hesitant to accept the offer, but he eventually agrees and finds himself in the middle of a dangerous and mysterious plot involving a powerful family in the town. John soon discovers that the family is involved in a scheme to control the town's water supply, and he must find a way to stop them before they can succeed. Along the way, he meets a variety of characters, including a beautiful young woman named Sarah, who helps him in his quest. John's journey takes him through a variety of dangerous and exciting situations, and he must use his wits and courage to survive. In the end, John is able to save the town and its people from the powerful family's scheme, and he is able to find a way to make a living for himself and his family.

By Edward Bellamy · First published 1898 · Genre: Fiction, Humor, Romance · 8,940 words

First lines

The train slackened, a brakeman thrust his head in at the door and shouted "Bah," -- a mysterious formality observed on American trains as they enter towns, -- and an elderly lady, two drummers, and a young man with a satchel got out, followed by the languid envy of the other passengers, who had longer or shorter penances of heat and dust before them. The train got under way again, while the knot of loafers about the station proceeded to eye the arrivals as judicially as if they were a committee of safety to protect the village from invasion by doubtful characters. The old lady, apparently laboring under some such impression, regarded them deferentially, as nervous travelers on arriving in strange places generally do regard everybody who seems to feel at home. The drummers briskly disappeared down the main street, each anxious to anticipate the other at the stores. The young man with the satchel, however, did not get away till he had shaken hands and exchanged a few good-natured inquiries with one of the loungers.

What this Textopian page supports

Hooking Watermelons is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edward Bellamy, dated 1898 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Edward Bellamy
Date: 1898 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fiction, Humor, Romance, Adventure, Mystery
Length: 8,940 words
Structure: 1 section, 145 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Hooking Watermelons by Edward Bellamy
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 Hooking Watermelons?
How does this short story by Edward Bellamy fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fiction — The book is a work of fiction, as it is written by Edward Bellamy.
Humor — The title of the book suggests that it may contain humorous elements.
Romance — The title of the book may suggest that it contains romantic elements.
Adventure — The title of the book may suggest that it contains adventurous elements.