Christmas by Injunction by O. Henry
A wealthy man dies and leaves his fortune to be divided among the poor on Christmas Day. However, he stipulates that the money can only be claimed by those who have never known a Christmas without poverty. The story follows the efforts of a lawyer to find people who meet this condition.
By O. Henry · First published 1914 · Genre: Fiction, Christmas, Humor · 5,038 words
First lines
Cherokee was the civic father of Yellowhammer. Yellowhammer was a new mining town constructed mainly of canvas and undressed pine. Cherokee was a prospector. One day while his burro was eating quartz and pine burrs Cherokee turned up with his pick a nugget, weighing thirty ounces. He staked his claim and then, being a man of breadth and hospitality, sent out invitations to his friends in three States to drop in and share his luck.
Not one of the invited guests sent regrets. They rolled in from the Gila country, from Salt River, from the Pecos, from Albuquerque and Phoenix and Santa Fe, and from the camps intervening.
What this Textopian page supports
Christmas by Injunction is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1914 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: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Christmas, Humor, Adventure, Social Commentary
- Length: 5,038 words
- Structure: 1 section, 107 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Christmas by Injunction 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 Christmas by Injunction?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Buying A Piano by O. Henry
- Compliments Of The Season by O. Henry
- From The Cabbys Seat by O. Henry
- The Pride Of The Cities by O. Henry
- The Man Higher Up by O. Henry
Genres
- Fiction — The narrative is a fictional story centered around characters and events that are not real, focusing on themes of generosity and community.
- Christmas — The plot revolves around Christmas and the spirit of giving, highlighting the holiday's significance and traditions.
- Humor — The writing style incorporates humor through character interactions and the absurdity of the situation regarding the lack of children.
- Adventure — The characters embark on a quest to find children for a Christmas celebration, showcasing elements of adventure in their journey.
Tags
Short Story · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Christmas · Holiday · Injustice · Courtroom Drama · Lawyer · Judge · Trial · Justice System