Red Head and Whistle Breeches
The story follows the adventures of two young boys, Red Head and Whistle Breeches, who live in a small town in the Midwest. Red Head is a mischievous and daring boy who loves to get into trouble, while Whistle Breeches is a more timid and cautious boy who is always trying to keep Red Head out of trouble. The boys get into all sorts of adventures, from getting lost in the woods to running away from home. Along the way, they meet a variety of characters, including a mysterious old man, a talking bear, and a mysterious stranger. The boys eventually find themselves in a strange and magical world, where they must face a variety of challenges in order to find their way home. Along the way, they learn valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and the importance of doing the right thing.
By Ellis Parker Butler · First published 1915 · Genre: Humor, Fiction, Children's Literature · 4 chapters · 4,617 words
First lines
When Tim Murphy let his enthusiasm get the better of his judgment and, in the excitement of that disastrous night, joined the front rank of the strikers in a general mix-up and cracked the head of a deputy sheriff, the result was what he might have expected -- two years in the penitentiary. That was all right. The peace of the commonwealth must be preserved, and that is why laws and penitentiaries exist, but it sometimes goes hard with the mothers and wives. That is also to be expected, and the boy should have thought of it before he crowded to the front of the angry mob or struck the deputy.
What this Textopian page supports
Red Head and Whistle Breeches is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ellis Parker Butler, dated 1915 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: 1915 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Fiction, Children's Literature, Adventure, Realistic Fiction
- Length: 4,617 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 96 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Red Head and Whistle Breeches 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 Red Head and Whistle Breeches?
- 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?
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Genres
- Humor — The book is a humorous story about a young boy's adventures in a small town.
- Fiction — The book is a work of fiction, with a plot and characters that are not based in reality.
- Children's Literature — The book is written for a young audience and contains themes and stories that are appropriate for children.
- Adventure — The book follows the protagonist's adventures in a small town, with plenty of exciting and humorous moments.
Tags
Boys · Fiction · Short stories · Social life and customs · United States · baby · back · boy · breeches · came · come · day