A Cheering Thought by O. Henry
The story revolves around a young woman who has been wronged by her lover and seeks revenge through a clever scheme involving a lottery ticket.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Humor, Fiction, Social Commentary · 660 words
First lines
A weary-looking man with dejected auburn whiskers, walked into the police station yesterday afternoon and said to the officer in charge:
"I want to give myself up. I expect you had better handcuff me and put me into a real dark cell where there are plenty of spiders and mice. I'm one of the worst men you ever saw, and I waive trial. Please tell the jailer to give me moldy bread to eat, and hydrant water with plenty of sulphur in it."
What this Textopian page supports
A Cheering Thought is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1911 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Fiction, Social Commentary, Short Story, Character Study
- Length: 660 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Cheering Thought by O. Henry
- 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 Cheering Thought?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- An Inspiration by O. Henry
- Hush Money by O. Henry
- Did You See The Circus by O. Henry
- Ulysses And The Dogman by O. Henry
- A Valedictory by O. Henry
- The Day We Celebrate by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The narrative employs wit and irony, showcasing the absurdity of the protagonist's self-deprecation and the officer's responses.
- Fiction — The story presents a fictional scenario with developed characters and a plot that explores themes of self-perception and redemption.
- Social Commentary — The dialogue reflects societal attitudes towards guilt, morality, and the human condition, critiquing self-judgment and hypocrisy.
- Short Story — The work is concise, focusing on a single incident and character interaction, typical of the short story format.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Twist Ending · Plot Twist · Literary Fiction · Realism · Symbolism · Allegory