His Pension by O. Henry (1919)
A wealthy man's will stipulates that his entire fortune be given to the first person who can make him laugh. The story follows a series of individuals attempting to achieve this goal, each with their own unique approach and motivations.
By O. Henry · First published 1919 · Genre: Humor, Satire, Short Story · 93 words
First lines
"Speaking of the $140,000,000 paid out yearly by the government in pensions," said a prominent member of Hood's brigade to the Post's representative, "I am told that a man in Indiana applied for a pension last month on account of a surgical operation he had performed on him during the war. And what do you suppose that surgical operation was?"
"Haven't the least idea."
"He had his retreat cut off at the battle of Gettysburg! "
What this Textopian page supports
His Pension is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1919 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: 1919 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Satire, Short Story, Social Commentary, Fiction
- Length: 93 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for His Pension 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 His Pension?
- 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
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- Whiskey Did It by O. Henry
- The Pride Of The Cities by O. Henry
- The Elusive Tenderloin by O. Henry
- Had A Use For It by O. Henry
- A Departmental Case by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The story employs wit and irony to highlight the absurdity of the pension system.
- Satire — It critiques societal norms and government practices through exaggerated scenarios.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and focused, typical of the short story format.
- Social Commentary — It reflects on the implications of government policies and their impact on individuals.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Pension · Retirement · Comedy · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Struggle · Wealth Inequality · Irony · Twist Ending · Plot Twist