Ransome of Red Chief - Two men want to get rich in a hurry. They Kidnap the son of a rich man and write a ransom note. Then they wait for the money. What Happens? Then ending of the story will surprise you!
The Last Leaf - In a little district west of Washington Square the streets have run crazy and broken themselves into small strips called "places.'' These "places'' make strange angles and curves. One street crosses itself a time or two. An artist once discovered a valuable possibility in this street. Suppose a collector with a bill for paints, paper and canvas should, in traversing this route, suddenly meet himself coming back, without a cent having been paid on account!
The Gift of the Magi - Is about a young married couple and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been a popular one for adaptation, especially for presentation at Christmas time. The plot and its "twist ending" are well-known, and the ending is generally considered an example of comic irony. It was allegedly written at Pete's Tavernon Irving Place in New York City.
Used in the following courses:
- Junior High School Literature: Short Story Course:
- Homeschool
- Online
- Literature 7
- Digital Homeschool
- Asynchronous
- Foundations English Literature 7:
- Online
The following selections are read in this short story course:
- The Ransom of Red Chief
- The Last Leaf
- The Gift of the Magi