Bertie's Ride by Edward Everett Hale
The story revolves around a young boy named Bertie who dreams of riding a horse in the annual military parade on Fourth of July. Despite his small stature and lack of experience, Bertie is determined to participate in the event. He finds an old, neglected horse and, with the help of a kind-hearted farmer, trains it to ride. On the day of the parade, Bertie successfully rides the horse, earning admiration from the crowd and proving that even the smallest can achieve great things with perseverance and hard work.
By Edward Everett Hale · First published 1870 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama · 6,466 words
First lines
"Here's a nice state of things! We have run short of candles for the Tree, and of course the shops will be shut to-morrow, and the day after. What _is_ to be done? Almost anything else might have been managed in some way, but a Christmas Tree in semi-darkness -- can anything more dismal be imagined? " And Alice Chetwynd's usually bright face looks nearly as gloomy as the picture she has called up.
What this Textopian page supports
Bertie's Ride is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edward Everett Hale, dated 1870 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 Everett Hale
- Date: 1870 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama, Literary Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 6,466 words
- Structure: 1 section, 117 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Bertie's Ride by Edward Everett Hale
- 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 Bertie's Ride?
- How does this short story by Edward Everett Hale fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The South American Editor by Edward Everett Hale
- Alices Christmas Tree by Edward Everett Hale
- The Inn Kitchen by Washington Irving
- The Flag Paramount by O. Henry
- Yah Yah Yah by Jack London
- Asaph Sheafes Christmas by Edward Everett Hale
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The plot is set in a specific historical period and incorporates real historical events and figures.
- Adventure — The narrative focuses on exciting and risky undertakings, often involving physical danger.
- Drama — The story explores intense emotional and relational conflicts among the characters.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style emphasizes character development and thematic depth over plot.
Tags
American Literature · 19th Century · Short Story · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Fiction · Comedy · Adventure · Travel · Transportation · Horseback Riding