An Afternoon Miracle by O. Henry
A wealthy man's daughter is dying and he wants to save her life but cannot afford the expensive treatment. He decides to rob a bank to get the money for her operation. However, his plan goes awry when he gets caught by the police. The story ends with the daughter recovering from her illness due to an unexpected turn of events.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Western, Adventure, Humor · 5,051 words
First lines
At the United States end of an international river bridge, four armed rangers sweltered in a little 'dobe hut, keeping a fairly faithful espionage upon the lagging trail of passengers from the Mexican side.
Bud Dawson, proprietor of the Top Notch Saloon, had, on the evening previous, violently ejected from his premises one Leandro Garcia, for alleged violation of the Top Notch code of behaviour. Garcia had mentioned twenty-four hours as a limit, by which time he would call and collect a painful indemnity for personal satisfaction.
What this Textopian page supports
An Afternoon Miracle 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: Western, Adventure, Humor, Romance, Drama
- Length: 5,051 words
- Structure: 1 section, 77 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Afternoon Miracle 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 An Afternoon Miracle?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Western first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Friendly Call by O. Henry
- Knew What Was Needed by O. Henry
- A Narrow Escape by O. Henry
- The Green Door by O. Henry
- A Call Loan by O. Henry
- The Lonesome Road by O. Henry
Genres
- Western — The story is set in a border town and features themes of bravery, danger, and the rugged life of rangers, typical of Western literature.
- Adventure — The plot involves action, conflict, and a quest, as characters navigate threats and personal challenges.
- Humor — The writing style includes witty dialogue and situational irony, particularly in the contrast between Buckley's perceived bravery and his actual cowardice.
- Romance — There is a romantic subplot involving the interactions between Buckley and Alvarita, highlighting themes of attraction and admiration.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Realism · Humor · Irony · Plot Twist · Fate vs Free Will · Moral Lesson · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Poverty · Deception