An Assisted Emigrant
The narrative follows a young boy named Guido, an immigrant from Genoa, who arrives in New York City just before Christmas. He stands on a busy street attempting to sell plaster figures, including a Virgin Mary, but struggles to attract customers amidst the bustling holiday shoppers. Guido reflects on his past, revealing that he was coerced into leaving his home to meet a so-called uncle, who is merely a guise to satisfy immigration requirements. As the day progresses, Guido's hopes of selling his wares diminish, and he grows increasingly cold and hungry. He decides to move to a busier area, but in the chaos, he accidentally collides with a passerby, causing his figures to scatter and break. Overwhelmed by despair, he flees the scene and wanders through the city, feeling lost and alone. Eventually, he finds a place to rest but is discovered by a group of sailors who take him in. They provide him with warmth and food, and Guido shares his story, revealing the hardships he faced as an immigrant. The sailors, moved by his plight, help him recover and offer him a sense of belonging. As Christmas Day dawns, Guido awakens in a ship's cabin, realizing he is on a vessel bound for Italy. The chief engineer informs him that he will return home, and Guido finds solace in the presence of the Virgin figure he had cherished. The story concludes with a sense of hope and the promise of returning to his roots, symbolizing the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity.
By Richard Harding Davis · First published 1892 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Realism, Coming-of-Age · 3,291 words
First lines
Guido stood on the curb-stone in Fourteenth Street, between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, with a row of plaster figures drawn up on the sidewalk in front of him. It was snowing, and they looked cold in consequence, especially the Night and Morning. A line of men and boys stretched on either side of Guido all along the curb-stone, with toys and dolls, and guns that shot corks into the air with a loud report, and glittering dressings for the Christmas trees. It was the day before Christmas. The man who stood next in line to Guido had hideous black monkeys that danced from the end of a rubber string. The man danced up and down too, very much, so Guido thought, as the monkeys did, and stamped his feet on the icy pavement, and shouted: "Here yer are, lady, for five cents. Take them home to the children. " There were hundreds and hundreds of ladies and little girls crowding by all of the time; some of them were a little cross and a little tired, as if Christmas shopping had told on their nerves, but the greater number were happy-looking and warm, and some stopped and laughed at the monkeys dancing on the rubber strings, and at the man with the frost on his mustache, who jumped too, and cried, "Only five cents, lady -- nice Christmas presents for the children."
What this Textopian page supports
An Assisted Emigrant is listed on Textopian as a short story by Richard Harding Davis, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Richard Harding Davis
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Realism, Coming-of-Age, Historical Fiction, Drama
- Length: 3,291 words
- Structure: 1 section, 27 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Assisted Emigrant by Richard Harding Davis
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering An Assisted Emigrant?
- How does this short story by Richard Harding Davis fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Curious Experience by Mark Twain
- Johnny Greer by Mark Twain
- The Guardian Of The Accolade by O. Henry
- My Disreputable Friend Mr Raegen by Richard Harding Davis
- The Vagrant by Richard Harding Davis
- Cope Enlivens The Country by Henry Blake Fuller
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores deep themes of immigration, identity, and the human condition through the experiences of the protagonist, Guido.
- Social Realism — The story depicts the harsh realities faced by immigrants in New York City, highlighting social issues and the struggles of the working class.
- Coming-of-Age — Guido's journey reflects his growth and adaptation to a new environment, marking a transition from innocence to experience.
- Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical context, the story provides insights into the immigrant experience during the early 20th century.
Tags
American Literature · 19th Century Fiction · Travelogue · Immigration · Social Commentary · Realism · Satire · Humor · Adventure · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Identity Crisis