Easy Money by W. W. Jacobs (1843)
The story follows the life of a young man named Tom, who is desperate for money. He takes a job as a night watchman at a large warehouse, but soon discovers that the job is not as easy as it seems. He is constantly harassed by a mysterious figure who lurks in the shadows, and he soon finds himself in a dangerous situation. Tom must use his wits to outsmart the mysterious figure and find a way to make some easy money. Along the way, he learns valuable lessons about life and the importance of being honest. In the end, Tom is able to make some easy money and escape the dangerous situation he finds himself in.
By W. W. Jacobs · First published 1843 · Genre: Humor, Fiction, Realism · 4,367 words
First lines
A lad of about twenty stepped ashore from the schooner Jane, and joining a girl, who had been avoiding for some ten minutes the ardent gaze of the night-watchman, set off arm-in-arm. The watchman rolled his eyes and shook his head slowly.
Nearly all his money on 'is back, he said, and what little bit 'e's got over he'll spend on 'er. And three months arter they're married he'll wonder wot 'e ever saw in her. If a man marries he wishes he 'adn't, and if he doesn't marry he wishes he 'ad. That's life.
What this Textopian page supports
Easy Money is listed on Textopian as a short story by W. W. Jacobs, dated 1843 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: W. W. Jacobs
- Date: 1843 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Fiction, Realism, Satire
- Length: 4,367 words
- Structure: 1 section, 135 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Easy Money by W. W. Jacobs
- 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 Easy Money?
- How does this short story by W. W. Jacobs fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Third String by W. W. Jacobs
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Genres
- Humor — The book is a humorous short story about a man who makes a bet with a stranger and the consequences of his actions.
- Fiction — The book is a work of fiction, as it is a short story with a humorous plot and characters.
- Realism — The book is written in a realistic style, with a focus on the consequences of the protagonist's actions.
- Satire — The book is a satire of the idea of 'easy money' and the consequences of taking risks for a quick payoff.
Tags
Humorous stories · Short stories · afore · agin · arter · bit · coming · day · dollar · evening · eyes · gal