The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock
A wealthy man's daughter falls in love with a poor artist who cannot afford to marry her. The Caliph offers the couple a large sum of money if they can prove their love by spending it all on each other within a certain time frame. They succeed, but the Caliph then reveals that he has been testing them and that the true test was not how much money they spent, but how little.
By O. Henry · First published 1910 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romantic Fiction, Social Commentary · 2,717 words
First lines
Prince Michael, of the Electorate of Valleluna, sat on his favourite bench in the park. The coolness of the September night quickened the life in him like a rare, tonic wine. The benches were not filled; for park loungers, with their stagnant blood, are prompt to detect and fly home from the crispness of early autumn. The moon was just clearing the roofs of the range of dwellings that bounded the quadrangle on the east. Children laughed and played about the fine-sprayed fountain. In the shadowed spots fauns and hamadryads wooed, unconscious of the gaze of mortal eyes. A hand organ -- Philomel by the grace of our stage carpenter, Fancy -- fluted and droned in a side street. Around the enchanted boundaries of the little park street cars spat and mewed and the stilted trains roared like tigers and lions prowling for a place to enter. And above the trees shone the great, round, shining face of an illuminated clock in the tower of an antique public building.
What this Textopian page supports
The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1910 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: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Romantic Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor, Short Story
- Length: 2,717 words
- Structure: 1 section, 46 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock 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 The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock?
- 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
- Just A Little Damp by O. Henry
- The Unprofitable Servant by O. Henry
- An Inspiration by O. Henry
- A Universal Favorite by O. Henry
- Telemachus Friend by O. Henry
- The Shamrock And The Palm by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of identity, wealth, and human connection through rich character development and philosophical dialogue.
- Romantic Fiction — The plot centers around romantic relationships and the emotional turmoil associated with love and forgiveness.
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques societal norms regarding wealth, status, and the constraints of time on human behavior.
- Humor — The writing style incorporates wit and irony, particularly in the interactions between characters and their perceptions of life.
Tags
Romance · Short Story · Fiction · Literary Fiction · American Literature · 20th Century Literature · Classic Short Stories · Love Story · Comedy of Errors · Misadventure · Social Commentary · Satire