Just a Little Damp by O. Henry
The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for financial security. She discovers that he has been embezzling funds from his employer and plans to use the money she brings into the marriage to cover his tracks. However, her husband's plan backfires when she uses the money to pay off his debts instead of covering up his crime.
By O. Henry · First published 1909 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Short Story, Humor · 174 words
First lines
As the steamer reached Aransas Pass a Galveston man fell overboard. A life buoy was thrown him, but he thrust it aside contemptuously. A boat was hurriedly lowered, and reached him just as he came to the surface for the second time. Helping hands were stretched forth to rescue him, but he spurned their aid. He spat out about a pint of sea water and shouted:
"Go away and leave me alone. I'm walking on the bottom. You'll run your boat aground in a minute. I'll wade out when I get ready and go up to a barber shop and get dusted off. The ground's damp a little, but I ain't afraid of catching cold."
What this Textopian page supports
Just a Little Damp is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1909 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: 1909 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Short Story, Humor, Tragedy, Social Commentary
- Length: 174 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Just a Little Damp 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 Just a Little Damp?
- 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
- Three Paragraphs by O. Henry
- The Assessor Of Success by O. Henry
- The Unprofitable Servant by O. Henry
- A Righteous Outburst by O. Henry
- Telemachus Friend by O. Henry
- The Caliph Cupid And The Clock by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of human behavior and societal attitudes through a concise narrative.
- Short Story — The narrative is brief and focused, typical of the short story format.
- Humor — The protagonist's absurdity and disdain for help provide a humorous perspective on human folly.
- Tragedy — The story culminates in the character's demise, reflecting the tragic consequences of pride and isolation.
Tags
Short Story · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Wit · Literary Fiction · American Literature · 20th Century Literature · Realism · Absurdity · Dark Comedy