Smith by O. Henry (1916)
The story revolves around a poor man who finds a wallet containing $1,000 and returns it to its owner, a wealthy businessman. The businessman rewards the man with a large sum of money, but the man's life does not change significantly due to his humble nature.
By O. Henry · First published 1916 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Adventure, Satire · 4,540 words
First lines
Goodwin and the ardent patriot, Zavalla, took all the precautions that their foresight could contrive to prevent the escape of President Miraflores and his companion. They sent trusted messengers up the coast to Solitas and Alazan to warn the local leaders of the flight, and to instruct them to patrol the water line and arrest the fugitives at all hazards should they reveal themselves in that territory. After this was done there remained only to cover the district about Coralio and await the coming of the quarry. The nets were well spread. The roads were so few, the opportunities for embarkation so limited, and the two or three probable points of exit so well guarded that it would be strange indeed if there should slip through the meshes so much of the country's dignity, romance, and collateral. The president would, without doubt, move as secretly as possible, and endeavour to board a vessel by stealth from some secluded point along the shore.
What this Textopian page supports
Smith is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1916 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: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Adventure, Satire, Mystery, Historical Fiction
- Length: 4,540 words
- Structure: 1 section, 60 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Smith 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 Smith?
- 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
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- The Day Resurgent by O. Henry
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- Phoebe by O. Henry
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- Prompt by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of identity, societal roles, and human behavior through nuanced character interactions and rich prose.
- Adventure — The narrative involves a journey and the exploration of a foreign land, highlighting the protagonist's experiences and encounters.
- Satire — The text employs humor and irony to critique social norms and the absurdities of human nature, particularly through the character of Smith.
- Mystery — The story contains elements of intrigue surrounding the character of Smith and his true intentions, creating suspense and curiosity.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Plot Twist · Moral Lesson · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Realism · Symbolism