The Law of Hospitality
The Law of Hospitality is a short story written by Gelett Burgess. It tells the tale of a man who goes to great lengths to show hospitality towards his guests, only to find out that they are not what they seem. The story explores themes of trust, deception, and the importance of being cautious when dealing with strangers.
By Gelett Burgess · First published 1902 · Genre: Poetry, Children's Literature, Didactic · 151 words
First lines
There is a very simple rule That every one should know; You may not hear of it in school, But everywhere you go, In every land where people dwell, And men are good and true, You'll find they understand it well, And so I'll tell it you:
To every one who gives me food, Or shares his home with me, I owe a debt of gratitude, And I must loyal be.
I may not laugh at him, or say Of him a word unkind; His friendliness I must repay, And to his faults be blind!
What this Textopian page supports
The Law of Hospitality is listed on Textopian as a poem by Gelett Burgess, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Gelett Burgess
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Children's Literature, Didactic, Fable
- Length: 151 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Law of Hospitality by Gelett Burgess
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Hospitality by Gelett Burgess
- Politeness by Gelett Burgess
- Whole Duty Of Children by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Book Manners by Gelett Burgess
- Table Manners Ii by Gelett Burgess
- At Table by Gelett Burgess
Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form with rhyming lines, characteristic of poetry.
- Children's Literature — The simple language and moral lesson suggest it is aimed at a younger audience.
- Didactic — The text explicitly conveys a moral lesson about gratitude and hospitality.
- Fable — The narrative imparts a universal truth or moral, akin to a fable.
Tags
hospitality · law · etiquette · social norms · cultural practices · interpersonal relationships · community · generosity · tradition · dining · invitation · manners