Old Sunshine
Old Sunshine is a novel by Francis Hopkinson Smith that tells the story of an old man named Old Sunshine who lives in a small town in New England. The book follows his daily life and interactions with the people around him, including his family and friends. It explores themes of aging, mortality, and the importance of community.
By Francis Hopkinson Smith · First published 1905 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Drama, Romance · 6,353 words
First lines
It was when pulling in his milk one morning that Dalny first made the acquaintance of "Old Sunshine. " The cans had become mixed, Dalny's pint having been laid at the old man's door and the old man's gill at Dalny's, and the rectifying of the mistake -- "Old Sunshine" did the rectifying -- laid the basis of the acquaintance.
What this Textopian page supports
Old Sunshine is listed on Textopian as a short story by Francis Hopkinson Smith, dated 1905 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: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Drama, Romance, Literary Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 6,353 words
- Structure: 1 section, 160 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Old Sunshine 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 Old Sunshine?
- How does this short story by Francis Hopkinson Smith fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Strawberry Acres by Grece S. Richmond
- The Shaking Of The Pear Tree by Dinah Mulock
- The Garden Of Memories by C. A. Mercer
- A Sheaf Of Roses by Elizabeth Gordon
- Peter by Francis Hopkinson Smith
- The Years End by Dinah Mulock
Genres
- Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical period with detailed descriptions of the era.
- Drama — Focuses on emotional and relational conflicts among characters.
- Romance — Contains romantic relationships as a central theme.
- Literary Fiction — Emphasizes complex character development and stylistic writing.
Tags
nostalgia · friendship · adventure · family · growth · community · nature · life lessons · self-discovery · resilience · change · love