The Song and the Sergeant
A young woman's life is turned upside down when she marries a soldier who turns out to be a deserter. She tries to help him escape from the law but ultimately decides to turn him in, leading to his capture and her own redemption.
By O. Henry · First published 1917 · Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance · 2,803 words
First lines
Half a dozen people supping at a table in one of the upper-Broadway all-night restaurants were making too much noise. Three times the manager walked past them with a politely warning glance; but their argument had waxed too warm to be quelled by a manager's gaze. It was midnight, and the restaurant was filled with patrons from the theatres of that district. Some among the dispersed audiences must have recognized among the quarrelsome sextet the faces of the players belonging to the Carroll Comedy Company.
What this Textopian page supports
The Song and the Sergeant is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1917 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: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Theatrical, Slice of Life
- Length: 2,803 words
- Structure: 1 section, 67 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Song and the Sergeant 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 Song and the Sergeant?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Telegram by O. Henry
- The Third Ingredient by O. Henry
- The Romance Of A Busy Broker by O. Henry
- Her Ruse by O. Henry
- By Courier by O. Henry
- Led Astray by O. Henry
Genres
- Comedy — The narrative revolves around humorous situations and character interactions, particularly among actors in a comedic setting.
- Drama — The story explores emotional conflicts and character development, particularly the tensions between the actress and her colleagues.
- Romance — A romantic subplot develops between the main characters, highlighting themes of love and misunderstanding.
- Theatrical — The setting and characters are deeply rooted in the world of theater, focusing on actors and their performances.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · War Fiction · Soldier's Life · Music · Love Triangle · Deception · Betrayal · Redemption