The Old Soldier's Story. as Told before the New
The narrative revolves around an elderly veteran recounting his experiences during the American Civil War. He describes the harsh realities of war, including the loss of comrades and the psychological toll it took on him. The story highlights the soldier's nostalgia for a bygone era and his struggles to adapt to post-war life.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1850 · Genre: Humor, War, Satire · 1,624 words
First lines
Since we have had no stories to-night I will venture, Mr. President, to tell a story that I have heretofore heard at nearly all the banquets I have ever attended. It is a story simply, and you must bear with it kindly. It is a story as told by a friend of us all, who is found in all parts of all countries, who is immoderately fond of a funny story, and who, unfortunately, attempts to tell a funny story himself -- one that he has been particularly delighted with. Well, he is not a story-teller, and especially he is not a funny story-teller. His funny stories, indeed, are oftentimes touchingly pathetic. But to such a story as he tells, being a good-natured man and kindly disposed, we have to listen, because we do not want to wound his feelings by telling him that we have heard that story a great number of times, and that we have heard it ably told by a great number of people from the time we were children. But, as I say, we can not hurt his feelings. We can not stop him. We can not kill him; and so the story generally proceeds. He selects a very old story always, and generally tells it in about this fashion:
What this Textopian page supports
The Old Soldier's Story. as Told before the New England Society in New York City is listed on Textopian as a short story by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1850 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1850 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, War, Satire, Short Story, Oral Tradition
- Length: 1,624 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Old Soldier's Story. as Told before the New England Society in New York City by James Whitcomb Riley
- 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 The Old Soldier's Story. as Told before the New England Society in New York City?
- How does this short story by James Whitcomb Riley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- My Conscience by James Whitcomb Riley
- The Inventor by Hilaire Belloc
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Genres
- Humor — The narrative is centered around a humorous anecdote, with comedic elements and a punchline.
- War — The story is set during a battle, involving soldiers and wartime events.
- Satire — The story satirizes the ineptitude of a storyteller and the absurdity of the situation.
- Short Story — The work is a brief narrative focusing on a single incident.
Tags
Autobiographical · Memoir · Nostalgia · Soldier's Life · War Story · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Historical Fiction · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Personal Narrative · Regionalism