The Roads we Take by O. Henry (1919)
A young man inherits a large sum of money from a distant relative and decides to travel the world. He meets various people along the way who teach him about life's complexities and the importance of human connections. The story explores themes of identity, morality, and the consequences of one's choices.
By O. Henry · First published 1919 · Genre: Western, Crime, Adventure · 2,102 words
First lines
Twenty miles west of Tucson, the "Sunset Express" stopped at a tank to take on water. Besides the aqueous addition the engine of that famous flyer acquired some other things that were not good for it.
While the fireman was lowering the feeding hose, Bob Tidball, "Shark" Dodson and a quarter-bred Creek Indian called John Big Dog climbed on the engine and showed the engineer three round orifices in pieces of ordnance that they carried. These orifices so impressed the engineer with their possibilities that he raised both hands in a gesture such as accompanies the ejaculation "Do tell!"
What this Textopian page supports
The Roads we Take 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: Western, Crime, Adventure, Drama, Literary Fiction
- Length: 2,102 words
- Structure: 1 section, 36 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Roads we Take 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 Roads we Take?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Western first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Roads Of Destiny by O. Henry
- Solemn Thoughts by O. Henry
- Three Paragraphs by O. Henry
- The Whirligig Of Life by O. Henry
- The World And The Door by O. Henry
- Fox In The Morning by O. Henry
Genres
- Western — The plot centers around outlaws and a train robbery, typical of Western narratives.
- Crime — The story involves criminal activities, including robbery and betrayal.
- Adventure — The characters embark on a dangerous journey filled with action and suspense.
- Drama — The narrative explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and moral choices.
Tags
Short Story Collection · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Realism · Irony · Twist Ending · Fate vs Choice · Morality Tale · Philosophical Themes · Existential Crisis