The Good Boy by O. Henry (1915)
A young man returns to his hometown after a long absence and is met with suspicion and hostility by the townspeople due to rumors of his supposed involvement in a crime. He tries to clear his name but faces resistance from those who are determined to believe the worst about him.
By O. Henry · First published 1915 · Genre: Children's Literature, Humor, Fiction · 213 words
First lines
James was a good boy.
He would not tease his cat or his dog.
He went to school.
One day as he went home he saw a lady cross the street, and some rude boys tried to guy her.
What this Textopian page supports
The Good Boy is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1915 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: 1915 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Humor, Fiction, Moral Tale, Social Commentary
- Length: 213 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Good Boy 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 Good Boy?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Other Side Of It by O. Henry
- The Unprofitable Servant by O. Henry
- An Expensive Veracity by O. Henry
- An Inspiration by O. Henry
- Did You See The Circus by O. Henry
- The Elusive Tenderloin by O. Henry
Genres
- Children's Literature — The story features a young protagonist and conveys moral lessons suitable for a child audience.
- Humor — The interactions between characters, particularly the misunderstanding and playful dialogue, create a humorous tone.
- Fiction — The narrative is a fictional account of a boy's experience, focusing on character development and social interactions.
- Moral Tale — The story emphasizes moral values, such as kindness and respect, through the actions of the protagonist.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Morality Tale · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Realism · Irony · Twist Ending