A Pot of Jam
A Pot of Jam is a short story written by Francis Hopkinson Smith and published in 1895. The story follows the journey of a young woman named Mary who travels from her home in New York to visit her aunt in Virginia. Along the way, she meets a variety of interesting characters and experiences various adventures. The story is known for its vivid descriptions of life in the American South during the late 19th century.
By Francis Hopkinson Smith · First published 1892 · Genre: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story · 4,764 words
First lines
After a fit of choking that could be heard all over the train the left lung of the locomotive gave out. I had heard her coughing up the long grade and had begun to wonder whether she would pull through, when she gave a wheeze and then a jerk, and out went her cylinder head.
Boston was four hours away and time of value to me. So it was to all the other passengers, judging from the variety and pungency of their remarks -- all except one, an old lady who had boarded the train at a station near the foot of the long grade and who occupied a seat immediately in front of mine.
What this Textopian page supports
A Pot of Jam is listed on Textopian as a short story by Francis Hopkinson Smith, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Francis Hopkinson Smith
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Historical Fiction, Drama
- Length: 4,764 words
- Structure: 1 section, 100 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Pot of Jam by Francis Hopkinson Smith
- 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 A Pot of Jam?
- How does this short story by Francis Hopkinson Smith fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Fiction — The book is a work of narrative prose that describes imaginary events and people.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style and thematic depth suggest a focus on character development and narrative complexity.
- Short Story — The book is a concise narrative that focuses on a single plot and a limited number of characters.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and context of the story are influenced by historical events or periods.
Tags
food · jam · cooking · recipes · nostalgia · family · tradition · American culture · home · preservation · seasonal · gardening