William Henry and the Dairymaid by J.S. Fletcher
The story revolves around William Henry, a young man who returns to his rural home after serving in the military. He becomes involved with a local dairymaid and her family, but their social differences create tension. As William Henry navigates this new relationship, he must confront his own identity and sense of belonging.
By J.S. Fletcher · First published 1908 · Genre: Romance, Comedy, Domestic Fiction · 4,899 words
First lines
The trouble at Five Oaks Farm really began when Matthew Dennison built and started a model dairy, and found it necessary to engage the services of a qualified dairymaid. A good many people in the neighbourhood wondered what possessed Matthew to embark on such an enterprise, and said so. Matthew cared nothing for comment; he had in his pocket, he said (as he was very fond of saying), something that made him independent of whatever anybody might think or say. It was his whim to build the model dairy, just as it is the whim of some men to grow roses or to breed prize sheep at great cost, and he built it. It was all very spick and span when it was finished, and the countryside admired its many beauties and modern appliances without understanding much about them. And then came the question of finding a thoroughly expert dairymaid.
What this Textopian page supports
William Henry and the Dairymaid is listed on Textopian as a short story by J.S. Fletcher, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: J.S. Fletcher
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Comedy, Domestic Fiction, Drama, Historical Fiction
- Length: 4,899 words
- Structure: 1 section, 87 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for William Henry and the Dairymaid by J.S. Fletcher
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Romance — The central plot revolves around romantic relationships, misunderstandings, and eventual unions.
- Comedy — The narrative includes humorous situations and misunderstandings, particularly around social class and romantic entanglements.
- Domestic Fiction — The story focuses on family dynamics, social expectations, and life in a rural setting.
- Drama — The plot involves emotional conflicts and resolutions within a family and community context.
Tags
Mystery · Detective Fiction · Victorian Era · English Literature · Classic Novel · Whodunit · Small Town Setting · Gentleman Detective · Amateur Sleuth · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Romance