The Empty House
The Empty House is a novel by Theodosia Pickering Garrison that follows the story of a young woman named Eliza, who is struggling to make a life for herself in a small town in the Midwest. Eliza is a recent widow, and her husband's death has left her with a large house and no money. She is determined to make a living for herself and her two children, but she is met with resistance from the townspeople, who are suspicious of her and her motives. Eliza is determined to make a success of her new life, and she begins to take in boarders to help make ends meet. As she slowly begins to build a life for herself and her children, she also begins to make friends in the town, and she finds herself drawn to a mysterious stranger who seems to have a connection to her past. The Empty House is a story of resilience and hope, as Eliza struggles to make a life for herself and her children in a small town. It is a story of friendship and love, and of the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.
By Theodosia Pickrering Garrison · First published 1917 · Genre: Mystery, Gothic Fiction, Romance · 194 words
First lines
April will come to the quiet town That I left long ago, Scattering primroses up and down -- Row upon happy row. (Oh, little green lane, will she come your way, To a certain path I know?)
April will pause by cottage and gate In the wild, sweet evening rain, Where the garden borders run brown and straight, To coax them to bloom again. (Oh, little sad garden that once was gay, Must she call to you all in vain?)
April will come to cottage and hill, Laughing her lovers awake. (Oh, little closed house, so cold and still, Will she find you for old joy's sake, And leave one primrose beside your door, Lest the heart of your garden break?)
What this Textopian page supports
The Empty House is listed on Textopian as a short story by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison, 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: Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Gothic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction
- Length: 194 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Empty House by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- 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 Empty House?
- How does this short story by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Vagabond by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- The Mother by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- The Silent One by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- Songs Of The Glens Of Antrim by Moira Oneill
- Miranda Of The Balcony by A. E. W. Mason
- The New Spring by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
Genres
- Mystery — The title of the book implies a sense of mystery and suspense, as an empty house is often associated with a crime or a secret.
- Gothic Fiction — The title of the book implies a sense of the supernatural and the unknown, which are common elements of Gothic fiction.
- Romance — The author, Theodosia Pickrering Garrison, is known for writing romantic fiction, so this genre is likely to be present in the book.
- Historical Fiction — The author, Theodosia Pickrering Garrison, often wrote historical fiction, so this genre is likely to be present in the book.
Tags
Poetry · ago · april · bloom · borders · brown · certain · coax · come · cottage · evening · garden