Mr. Billings's Pockets
The story revolves around a wealthy businessman named Mr. Billings who wakes up one morning to find that his pockets have been sewn shut by an unknown person. As he tries to uncover the identity of the prankster, he discovers that his pockets are being used as a repository for stolen goods and valuables.
By Ellis Parker Butler · First published 1906 · Genre: Humor, Short Story, Satire · 8,807 words
First lines
On the sixteenth of June Mr. Rollin Billings entered his home at Westcote very much later than usual, and stealing upstairs, like a thief in the night, he undressed and dropped into bed. In two minutes he was asleep, and it was no wonder, for by that time it was five minutes after three in the morning, and Mr. Billings's usual bedtime was ten o'clock. Even when he was delayed at his office he made it an invariable rule to catch the nine o'clock train home.
What this Textopian page supports
Mr. Billings's Pockets is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ellis Parker Butler, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ellis Parker Butler
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Short Story, Satire, Fiction
- Length: 8,807 words
- Structure: 1 section, 120 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mr. Billings's Pockets by Ellis Parker Butler
- 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 Mr. Billings's Pockets?
- How does this short story by Ellis Parker Butler fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Newspaper Story by O. Henry
- You Should Worry Says John Henry by Hugh Mchugh
- The Revolt by Ellis Parker Butler
- Swatty by Ellis Parker Butler
- Goat Feathers by Ellis Parker Butler
- The Order Of The Bath by Irvin S. Cobb
Genres
- Humor — The story is primarily comedic, focusing on amusing situations and character interactions.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and fits the structure of a short story.
- Satire — The work uses humor and exaggeration to critique societal norms and behaviors.
- Fiction — The story is a work of imaginative narration, not based on real events.
Tags
Humor · Satire · Social commentary · American literature · Early 20th century · Novel · Comedy of manners · Upper class · Wealth · Materialism · Status symbol · Fashion