A Years Supply by O. Henry (1911)
The story revolves around a young man who wins a large sum of money in a lottery and decides to give it away to people he has wronged in the past. He starts by giving $1000 to a woman whose husband he had killed in a duel, but she refuses the money. He then gives $500 to a man who had been wrongly accused of theft due to his testimony, but the man also declines. The young man continues this pattern, giving away large sums of money to people he has wronged, but each one rejects it.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Short Story, Social Commentary · 384 words
First lines
He was one of the city's wealthiest men, but he made no ostentatious display of his wealth. A little, thin, poorly clad girl stood looking in the window of the restaurant at the good things to eat. The man approached and touched her on the shoulder.
"What is your name, little girl? " he asked.
What this Textopian page supports
A Years Supply 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: Literary Fiction, Short Story, Social Commentary, Humor, Drama
- Length: 384 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Years Supply by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Years Supply?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- How It Started by O. Henry
- One Thousand Dollars by O. Henry
- Hearts And Hands by O. Henry
- A Call Loan by O. Henry
- The Lost Blend by O. Henry
- The Call Of The Tame by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of wealth, generosity, and human connection through nuanced character interactions.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and structured as a brief tale, typical of the short story format.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques social class disparities and highlights the impact of wealth on human relationships.
- Humor — The writing employs irony and subtle humor, particularly in the millionaire's misunderstanding and the twist ending.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Plot Twist · Fate · Chance · Luck · Poverty · Wealth