By Courier by O. Henry (1911)
The story revolves around a young woman who sends her lover a package via courier with a note that says she will be waiting for him at the post office. The lover assumes she means to meet him there, but in reality, she has sent the package to herself and plans to leave town as soon as he arrives.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Romance, Drama, Short Story · 1,696 words
First lines
It was neither the season nor the hour when the Park had frequenters; and it is likely that the young lady, who was seated on one of the benches at the side of the walk, had merely obeyed a sudden impulse to sit for a while and enjoy a foretaste of coming Spring.
She rested there, pensive and still. A certain melancholy that touched her countenance must have been of recent birth, for it had not yet altered the fine and youthful contours of her cheek, nor subdued the arch though resolute curve of her lips.
What this Textopian page supports
By Courier 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: Romance, Drama, Short Story, Literary Fiction, Comedy
- Length: 1,696 words
- Structure: 1 section, 27 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for By Courier 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 By Courier?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Something For Baby by O. Henry
- Her Ruse by O. Henry
- The Girl And The Habit by O. Henry
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Genres
- Romance — The central plot revolves around a romantic misunderstanding and the emotional connection between the characters.
- Drama — The story explores themes of loyalty, ideals, and personal conflict, creating a dramatic tension between the characters.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and structured as a short story, focusing on a single event and character interaction.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style emphasizes character development and emotional depth, typical of literary fiction.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Love Triangle · Deception · Betrayal · Revenge · Moral Ambiguity · Irony