About the Author
O. Henry was a famous American writer from the late 1800s and early 1900s. His real name was William Sydney Porter. He loved writing short stories full of surprises at the end, like a sudden twist in a game. Many of his tales are about ordinary people in big cities, facing funny or sad problems. He wrote over 300 stories before he passed away in 1910. Kids like his simple style and clever endings that make you smile or think.
What’s the Story About?
This is a funny and sad short story about a man named Soapy who lives on the streets of cold New York City. It's winter, and snow is falling, making everything chilly. Soapy has no home, no money, and no warm bed. But he has a plan: he wants to get caught by the police and go to jail! Why? Because jail gives free food, a warm place to sleep, and no worries for three months. It's like a free hotel for poor folks in winter.
Let me tell you the story step by step, like chatting about a movie you watched.
Soapy sits on a bench in a park called Madison Square. He sees rich people in fancy coats going by, and it makes him feel even colder. He thinks, "Time to do something bad so the cop takes me away." First, he walks to a big restaurant with shiny windows and nice smells. He sits at a table like a rich man, eats a big meal—soup, meat, potatoes, pie, and coffee. When the waiter brings the bill, Soapy says, "No money? Oh well," and waits for trouble. But the waiter just smiles and calls the manager. They don't yell or call police—they quietly take Soapy out the back door and leave him on the street. No arrest!
Soapy shakes it off and tries again. He sees a shop with a nice scarf in the window. He breaks the glass with his stick—crash!—hoping someone hears and calls the cop. But a cop is right there and sees him. Soapy thinks, "Yes! He'll grab me." Instead, the cop looks away and walks off, thinking Soapy is just a silly trick to catch thieves. No luck!
Next, Soapy spots an umbrella leaning against a shop door. He grabs it and runs down the street, waving it like a flag. People shout, "Stop, thief!" He slows down, waiting for police. A big officer comes running, but when he sees Soapy's old clothes and calm face, he laughs and says, "That man's not a thief—he's just fooling." Soapy drops the umbrella and sighs.
Feeling hungry again, Soapy goes to a cheap diner. He eats more food and says he forgot his wallet. The owner gets mad and shakes him, but then drags him to the street and warns, "Don't come back, or I'll call the cops myself!" Still no police.
Soapy tries one more thing: he throws a rock at a fancy theater's window—smash!—to make noise. But a theater worker inside yells, "Is that you, Mike? Come in for a drink!" thinking it's a friend. Soapy gives up and walks back to the park, feeling low.
In the park, Soapy sits on his bench and looks at the falling leaves. Suddenly, he feels different. He thinks about getting a job, buying nice clothes, and living like a proper man. "No more bad ways," he promises himself. "I'll go to that office tomorrow and ask for work." Just then, a real policeman walks up. He sees Soapy sitting quietly on the bench and says, "What are you doing here? Move along!" Soapy explains he's just resting, but the cop doesn't care. "You're loitering—causing trouble by sitting idle. Come with me!" And off they go to jail.
The twist? Soapy wanted jail all day but couldn't get it. When he finally wants to change his life, that's when they lock him up. It's like the world has a funny way of turning things around.
Who’s Who in the Story
The story has a few main people, like actors in a short play on the city streets:
- Soapy: The main man. He's homeless and clever but tired of street life. He tries naughty tricks to get arrested, but ends up rethinking his ways.
- The Policemen: There are a few cops. One ignores the broken window, another laughs at the umbrella thief, and the last one arrests Soapy for just sitting— the "anthem" part, like an unexpected song.
- The Restaurant Waiter and Manager: Kind but firm. They let Soapy eat but kick him out quietly without police.
- The Diner Owner: Grumpy and strong. He shakes Soapy and throws him out himself.
- The Theater Worker: Friendly but wrong. He mistakes Soapy for a pal after the window smash.
Themes and Moral
The story shares some deep thoughts wrapped in humor, like a joke with a wise point:
- City Life's Tough Side: It shows how hard it is for poor people in a big, busy place like New York. No home means cold nights and empty stomachs, and even jail looks better.
- Wanting to Change: Soapy dreams of a better life but only sees it when it's too late. It talks about hope and starting fresh.
- Funny Twists in Life: Things don't go as planned. Soapy's "anthem" is the surprise arrest just when he wants freedom.
The main lesson is: Sometimes, when we try to run from problems the wrong way, life pushes us to fix them right. Be kind to those on the streets—they might just need a chance to change. For kids like you, it says think before acting naughty, and always aim for a good path.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and short sayings from the story. I picked easy ones and explained them like sharing secrets with a school friend. Try using them in your day!
- Loitering: Hanging around doing nothing, like sitting idle on a bench. (The cop said Soapy was loitering in the park.)
- Anthem: A special song, often happy or proud. (Here, it's like the surprise end to Soapy's day—his "cop anthem.")
- Hobo: An old word for a homeless person who walks from place to place. (Soapy was a hobo sleeping on park benches.)
- Bill: The money you owe for food or stuff. (Soapy ate a big meal but had no cash for the bill.)
- Smash: To break something hard with a bang. (Soapy threw a rock to smash the shop window.)
- Umbrella: A foldable cover for rain, like a walking stick on sunny days. (He stole an umbrella to look like a thief.)
- Diner: A simple eating place with cheap food, like a roadside hotel. (The owner at the diner got mad about the unpaid meal.)
- Reformation: Changing from bad habits to good ones. (Soapy dreamed of reformation, getting a job and home.)
- Phrase: "Move along": Go away, don't stay here. (The cop told Soapy to move along from the bench.)
- Phrase: "Fool's errand": A silly task that won't work. (Soapy's tries to get arrested felt like a fool's errand.)
- Phrase: "As good as gold": Acting very well, like treasure. (The waiter treated the rich eaters as good as gold.)
Next time you read a twisty tale, remember Soapy's anthem—it'll make you chuckle!