Our First Burglar
The story revolves around a group of people who decide to burglarize a wealthy neighbor's house, but their plan backfires when they mistakenly break into the wrong residence, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings and mishaps.
By Ellis Parker Butler · First published 1906 · Genre: Humor, Crime, Domestic Fiction · 3,688 words
First lines
When our new suburban house was completed I took Sarah out to see it, and she liked it all but the stairs.
"Edgar," she said, when she had ascended to the second floor, "I don't know whether it is imagination or not, but it seems to me that these stairs are funny, some way. I can't understand it. They are not a long flight, and they are not unusually steep, but they seem to be unusually wearying. I never knew a short flight to tire me so, and I have climbed many flights in the six years we have lived in flats."
What this Textopian page supports
Our First Burglar 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, Crime, Domestic Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 3,688 words
- Structure: 1 section, 27 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Our First Burglar 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 Our First Burglar?
- 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
- Perkins Of Portland by Ellis Parker Butler
- The Water Goats by Ellis Parker Butler
- Who Ate The Pink Sweetmeat by Edward Everett Hale
- The Revolt by Ellis Parker Butler
- Philo Gubb by Ellis Parker Butler
- Whiskey Did It by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The story is primarily comedic, focusing on humorous situations and character interactions.
- Crime — The plot revolves around a burglary, which is a central element of crime fiction.
- Domestic Fiction — The narrative is set within a household, dealing with family dynamics and domestic life.
- Short Story — The work is a brief narrative, fitting the characteristics of a short story.
Tags
Humor · Satire · Short Story · Comedy · Crime Fiction · Burglary · Mystery · Small Town Life · Rural Setting · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Social Commentary