英语剧本 麦琪的礼物
THE GIFT OF THE MAGI
By O. Henry
人物：安琪德拉吉姆莎孚朗尼亚夫人服务员A 服务员B
第一场
人物：安琪（A），德拉（D），莎弗朗尼娅夫人（M）,服务员1（S1），服务员2(S2)
MAGI DELLA MNE.SOFRONIE SELLSGIRL1 SELLSGIRL2
地点：小街的拐角处
（背景音乐响起）
A:（面向观众，微笑）I'm the angle of love. Today is Christmas Eve; I’m coming to the earth for succeeding the massion of Maggie. Somebody is coming.
德拉带上帽子冲出门
莎弗朗尼娅夫人拿着牌子，上面写着“Madam Sofronnie,I buy all kinds of hair goods”
D: (呆呆地)Are you Madam Sofronnie?
S1：No,I am not.What is wrong?
D:I want to sell my hair.
S1:OK!Follow me.
S1:Excuse me,Mrs Sofronnie.There is alady want to meet you.
M:Let her come.
D:Hello!You must be Mrs Sofronnie.
M: (冰冷地)Yes ,I am.
D: So, will you buy my hair?
M: Yes,I buy all kinds of hair.Sit down, please.Take your hat off and let me have a look.
D:(小心翼翼地脱下帽子)Will you buy my hair?
M:(惊讶)Are you sure to sell it?
S2:How beautiful the hair is.Just like the golden fall.
D:(眷恋地摸摸头发，转而坚决)Yes,I'll sell it.Tell me , how much does it worth? S2:I have never seen such beautiful hair.It can sell a good price.
M:(绕着德拉走了一圈，强压住兴奋)Well, I'll give you the hightest price.Twenty dollars,that's enough.
D: All right,but please give it to me quickly.
M: Don't hurry,let me have your hair cut first.(拿出剪刀，并发出咔咔声)So,I'll start? D:(闭上眼睛，干脆地说)Just do it.
S2:What a pity to cut the long hair!
M:(熟练地剪完头发)Here you are.Twenty dollars.
D: Thank you(谨慎地接过钱，再看一眼头发)Thank you.(揣着钱急冲冲地下）A: Oh,what a poor woman!Why did she do that?Why did you sell her beautiful long hair?It is so unbelivable.
M: Oh,my god.How beautifl the hair is!Twenty dollars is beyond its value!Oh,so beautiful ! Ha ha！I'll take it
home and have a happy Chirstmas!(捧着头发下)
A: Della has spent two hours in the street,what does she want to buy on earth?
D:(立在一个橱窗前) Oh,what a beautiful gold watchchain.I think it must match Jim's gold watch.When he
sees it,he must be very happy.The price is twenty-one dollars,I can still have eight cents left. I'll get it.
第二场
人物：安琪（A），吉姆（J），营业员小姐（S）,老板(B)，老板娘(W) MAGI JIM SELLSGIRL BOSS BOSS'SWIFE 地点：百老汇路上的一家商店
A:Why are there so many things that we have to give up in the world?Giving up for what?
吉姆走进商店
J:Excuse me,could I sell a watch here?
S:(上下打量的眼神) You? Sell a watch? I'm sorry, I don't think a man who has a economic brain will buy a
thing which is as useless as litter.
J:(诚恳又着急)No, it is a gold watch!(脱下手腕上的手表) It's the most valuable thing I have.
S:(不屑一顾)Oh?The most valuable?I have to see how rare a watch can a poor man own like you !
J:(递表)It's the third succession of my ancesters.
A: Oh, what a reluctant give up!
S:(抢过表，忽然两眼放光) Amm, it's a true gold watch. Wait for a moment.I'll ask my boss.
S:Excuse me,boss.A young man want to sell this golden watch.
B:Let me have a look.
W:Oh!Oh, good guy! It's a true sense of gold watch!
B:Yes,I should ask how much money does he want.
B:How much do you want?
J:(指着柜台内的一套发梳) I don't want any money. I, I just want the beautiful comb! W:You mean,the comb?(拿出发梳)You just want the comb?
J:Yes, it is the very thing that my wife has wanted for a long time!
A:His wife?Comb?
S:(兴奋)Oh, look at it! What a nice comb!
J:Yes, it is quite beautiful! It would be good enough to match my wife's golden yellow hair.But,do you
want to trade with me?
B:(故做忧郁状) Let me see！
J: I'm pleasant to exchange the gold watch for the comb. I know how my wife likes it! B:You're so whole-hearted that it's hard for me to refuse you!（递过发梳）
J: Oh,thank you!(兴奋地接过发梳)Thank you!(兴奋地带着发梳下)
W:(细看金表)Oh, good guy! It's a true sense of gold watch!(窃喜)No comb can be compared with it!
A: He should not be a foolish man!But he is willing to change a gold watch for a comb!She must be a
happy wife!
第三场
人物：安琪（A），吉姆（J），德拉（D）
MAGI JIM DELLA
地点：吉姆和德拉的家
德拉拿着镜子欣赏着自己的新发型
A: What a poor woman,she looked wonderfully like a truant schoolboy.However,she is a happy wife,too.
Her husband loves her so much.
D:(对着镜子自言自语)If Jim doesn't kill me,before he takes a second look at me,he'll say I like a chorus girl
of Coney Island.But I have no choice.Oh!What can I do with one dollar and eighty-seven cents?Please God,
let Jim still consider that I'm still pretty .
D:I don't know whether he'll continue love me.
吉姆进门，愣住，用奇怪的眼神打量德拉
J：Della?
D: Jim, darling. Don't look at me in this way.I had my hair cut and sold, because I can't forgive me if I were
not give a presant to you.You won't care about it, will you?You know,my hair grows very fast. Say "Merry
Christmas", Jim! And let's happy as usual. You don't know what a nice , what a beautiful gift I've bought
for you.
J:(似乎没反应过来，吃力地) You've cut your hair?
D:Cut and sold .(握住吉姆的手)You will love me forever no matter what hapens, is it right？Without my
hair, I am the same. Don't you think so？
J:(用近乎白痴的眼神，四下张望着屋子，似乎在寻找着什么)You mean that your hair has gone?
D:You need't look for it.I'd sold it.I tell you,cut and sold. Tonight is Chirstmas Eve, Jim. I sold my hair
was all for you. My hair are countable,but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I put the
chops on, Jim？
吉姆从恍惚中清醒过来，拥住德拉
A: Oh,look at the shabby house,which costs eight dollars,or one millon room charge a year,There are
no different.
J: (吉姆从口袋掏出一包东西，扔到桌上) Don't make any mistakes about me, Della.
I don't think there's
anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less.But
if you'll upwrap the package,you may realize why you had me going while at first. 德拉敏捷地打开盒子，一阵狂喜，而后神经质地大笑了
D:My hair grows so fast, Jim. Oh,oh! Isn't it a danndy,Jim?（将盒子紧紧抱在怀中，掏出表链放到吉姆手中）
I hunted all over town to find it. You can look at the time a hundred times a day now.Give me your watch,
I want to see how it looks on it.
J:(微笑)Della,let's put our Chirstmas presents away and keep them a while.They're too nice to use just at
present. I sold the watch to get money to buy your combs. And now, suppose you put the chops on.
A: Now that, it isn't necessary.For me,the angle of love, giving the gift to the happy couple.They give the
most valuable and priceless gifts to each other. That is what I want to give -- Love!
麦琪的礼物英文讲义
Unit two: The plot and the Character Reading: O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi Plot ?A plot is a plan or groundwork for a story, based on conflicting human motivations, with the actions resulting from believable and realistic human responses. ?“The king died, and then the queen died.” ?“The king died, and then the queen died of grief.” Conflict in plot Fictional human responses are brought out to their highest degree in the development of a conflict. In its most elemental form, a conflict is the opposition of two people. They may fight, argue, enlist help against each other, and otherwise carry on their opposition. Conflicts may also exist between larger groups of people, between an individual and larger forces, such as natural objects, ideas, modes of behavior, public opinion, and the like. The existence of difficult choices within an individual’s mind may also be presented as conflict. External Conflict External conflict may take the form of a basic opposition between man and nature, or between man and society. It may also take the form of an opposition between man and man(between the protagonist and a human adversary, the antagonist. Internal Conflict ?Internal conflict, on the other hand, focuses on two or more elements contesting within the protagonist’s own character. ?Some conflicts, in fact, are never made explicit and must be inferred by the reader from what the characters do or say as the plot unfolds, as is the case in Ernest Hemingway’s Hills like White Elephants. Five Stages of Plot (1) ?Exposition:the exposition is the beginning section in which the author provides the necessary background information, sets the scene, establishes the situation, and dates the action. It usually introduces the characters and the conflict, or at least the potential for conflict. Five Stages of Plot (2) ?Complication: The complication, which is sometimes referred to as the rising action, develops and intensifies the conflict. ?Crisis: the crisis (also referred to as the climax) is that moment at which the plot reaches its point of greatest emotional intensity; it is the turning point of the plot, directly precipitating the resolution. Five Stages of Plot (3) ?Falling action: Once the crisis, or turning point, has been reached, the tension subsides and the plot moves toward its conclusion. ?Resolution:It is the final section of the plot which records the outcome of the conflict and establishes some new equilibrium. The resolution is also referred to as the conclusion or the denouement, the latter a Frenc h word meaning “unknotting” or “untying”. The Ordering of Plot (1) ?The customary way of ordering the episodes or events in a plot is to present them chronologically, i.e., in the order of their occurrence in time.
麦琪的礼物(英文版)
The Gift of the Magi① One dollar and eighty-seven cents.That was all.And sixty cents of it was in pennies.Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing(强迫;胁迫)the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony②that such close dealing implied.Three times Della counted it.One dollar and eighty eighty--seven cents.And the next day would be Christmas. There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl.So Della did it.Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs,sniffles,and smiles,with sniffles predominating.③ While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second,take a look at the home.④A furnished flat at$8per week.It did not exactly beggar description,but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.⑤ In the vestibule(门厅;前厅)below was a letter-box into which no letter would go,and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring⑥.Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name"Mr.James Dillingham Young."⑦ The"Dillingham"had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid$30per week.⑧Now,when the ①麦琪（Magi，单数为Magus）：指圣婴基督出生时来自东方送礼的三贤人，载于《圣经·马太福音》第二章第一节和第七至第十三节。 ②By...parsimony:by driving a hard bargain with the grocer,the vegetable man,and the butcher over every single cent,thus making one flush with shame for being so very stingy(吝啬的，小气的).Imputation[正式]罪名，污名。parsimony n.吝啬，小气，不大方。 ③Which...predominating:Which makes us spiritually aware of the fact that life is full of sobs,sniffles,and smiles,with sniffles being the most noticeable.Instigate v.(以行动)促使(某事发生)；发起。'moral精神上的，心理上的，道义上的。Sniffle n.抽鼻子(声)。 ④While...home:While Della's sobs are gradually turning into sniffles,let us take a look at her home.Sub'side n.(of a feeling,pain,sound,etc.)gradually become less and then stop. ⑤The flat was almost too wretched for words to describe.The phrase"to beggar description"means to cause one's resources of description to seem poor and inadequate.mendicancy squad乞丐帮。 ⑥Which...ring:no one could get a ring by pressing the electric button;obviously,the doorbell had long been out of order.Mortal:人的；人类的。 ⑦Also...young:Close to the doorbell there was also a card with the name"Mr.James Dillingham Young"written on it.Appertain(to):属于；和……有关。Thereunto ad.到那里；向那里。 ⑧The...week:The middle name"Dillingham"had been put on display on the name card during a time when Jim was better-off with a weekly wage of$30.Flung to the breeze
麦琪的礼物英文
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas. There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating. While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second, take a look at the home. A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad. In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young." The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20, though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called "Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good. Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she had calculated. They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling--something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim. There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room. Perhaps you have seen a pierglass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in a rapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairly accurate conception of his looks. Della, being slender, had mastered the art. Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood before the glass. her eyes
麦琪的礼物 英文版 The Gift of the Magi
麦琪的礼物英文版 The Gift of the Magi One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas. There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating. While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second, take a look at the home. A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad. In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young." The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20, though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called "Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good. Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she had calculated. They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling--something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim. There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room. Perhaps you have seen a pierglass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in a rapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairly accurate conception of his looks. Della, being slender, had mastered the art. Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood before the glass. her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.
the_gift_of_the_magi 麦琪的礼物英文版 欧亨利
p T h e G i f t o f t h e M a g i O NE DOLLAR AND EIGHTY-SEVEN CENTS. That was all. She had put it aside, one cent and then another and then another, in her careful buying of meat and other food. Della counted it three times. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas. There was nothing to do but fall on the bed and cry. So Della did it. While the lady of the home is slowly growing quieter, we can look at the home. Furnished rooms at a cost of $8 a week. There is lit-tle more to say about it. In the hall below was a letter-box too small to hold a letter. There was an electric bell, but it could not make a sound. Also there was a name beside the door: “Mr. James Dillingham Young.”
麦琪的礼物英文读后感
The Gift of the Magi It's a short story by O ? Henry that has moved me for a long time. Maybe most of you are familiar with its name：The Gift of the Magi. I have read it many times but every time I like to read it slowly and deliberately. I think "The Gift of the Magi" is meant to be savored. Maybe there is no necessity for me to repeat the main idea of the story. But I'm so fascinated with the short story that I want to retell it to you, and to myself. It happened to a very poor but blissful young couple named Jim and Della in the end of 18th century in England. Because of the maladies of that society and the effect of economic crisis, they worked hard but earned little. Life is very hard for them. Despite of this, their love to each other and the enthusiasm for life didn't changed at all. When Christmas day was approaching , Della used the money she got from selling her beautiful hair which she treasured very much to give Jim a fob for his grandfather's pocket watch. But Jim had already sold that watch to buy Della tortoiseshell combs to wear in her long hair, not knowing she'd cut it off. It appears that the gifts they gave each other have been useless. But I think they gave each other the best of what they had to make the other happy. Isn't that true love? We can image, in such rough conditions, as it said in the story, "Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, sniffles predominating." It is absolutely reasonable for them to be beaten by the misery. But the fact is that no matter how tough life had been, they wouldn't lose heart. With strong faith and their love , they did their best to make the other pleased." Whenever Mr. James came home and reached his flat , above he was called “Jim”and greatly hugged by Mrs. James." Maybe this account is the best description of their love and struggle against hard life. It was said that the poverties life is ,the firmer and truer love is." Actually, they'd given the very best they had out of love. Love has nothing to do with money, possession or status. It's consideration, tolerance and respect. It's giving one's best to the other even it means sacrifice. It's affection which connects two persons' hearts, and it's reinforced by adversities. Nothing did they have, at least they possess love. Never give up as long as love exists. From" The Gift of the Magi", from Jim and Della, I have learned a lot about love, life and hope.
麦琪的礼物英文
麦琪的礼物英文 THE GIFT OF THE MAGI by O. Henry 第一场 人物:安琪(A)，德拉(D)，莎弗朗尼娅夫人(M),服务员1(S1)，服务员2(S2) MAGI DELLA MNE.SOFRONIE SELLSGIRL1 SELLSGIRL2 地点:小街的拐角处 (背景音乐响起) A:(面向观众，微笑)I'm the angle of love.Today is Chirsmas Eve,I'm coming to the earth for succeeding the massion of Maggie.Somebody is coming. 德拉带上帽子冲出门 莎弗朗尼娅夫人拿着牌子，上面写着“Madam Sofronnie,I buy all kinds of hair goods” D: (呆呆地)Are you Madam Sofronnie? S1:No,I am not.What is wrong? D:I want to sell my hair. S1:OK!Follow me. S1:Excuse me,Mrs Sofronnie.There is alady want to meet you. M:Let her come. D:Hello!You must be Mrs Sofronnie. M: (冰冷地)Yes ,I am. D: So, will you buy my hair? M: Yes,I buy all kinds of hair.Sit down, please.Take your hat off and let me have
麦琪的礼物英文戏剧剧本
麦琪的礼物英文戏剧剧 本 Document number：NOCG-YUNOO-BUYTT-UU986-1986UT
THE GIFT OF THE MAGIE 第一幕 Della and her husband lived a poor life. They had two valuable things: one was Jim’s gold watch and the other was Della’s beautiful, brown hair. One day, they go out for a walk. (Della approached to a special comb，fiddling with her attractive hair. ) Della: (turned back to Jim then asked) Jim, this comb is strange, isn’t it Jim: (Got close to Della) do you like it We can buy it if you do. Dells: No. I… I am just thinking about its strange shape. (开始玩赏梳子) Jim: (Looking at and touching Della’s beautiful hair, he considered that …Maybe I can buy a beautiful comb for Della, as a Christmas gift! Her beautiful hair deserves it. Yes, she would surely like it! Della: Jim (Smile) let’s go and see what other interesting things can find. (于是挽着Jim 的手继续往前走) Della passed by a jewelry shop, and saw a golden chain. She felt happy and went into the shop. There were two wealthy women in the shop; the boss was showing them jewelry. 路过一个珠宝店，Della从橱窗里看到一条金色的怀表链子。很高兴，便往店里走。Della看到两位贵妇人在柜台前挑选珠宝。店老板谄媚地向她们介绍珠宝和夸赞她们。 Boss: (奴颜婢膝，动作夸张)Wow! Dear Madam, look, you are so perfect when you wear this ring! It’s terrific! Woman1: (美滋滋地对老板说) Really Boss: (连忙谄媚地说)Yes, yes! Woman1: (假装淡定地侧过头问woman2)w2, how do you think of it Woman2: (不屑一顾地瞟了一眼) Em…The color is good… How do you thin k about my neck chain Boss:(赶紧冲上她们跟前，夸耀说) Wow! You have chosen one of the best neck chains. The chain is perfect for you. Woman1:W1, what is you idea 这时德拉和吉姆进来了
The gift of Magi麦琪的礼物英语鉴赏
The story opens with $1.87. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her beloved husband, Jim. And the next day is Christmas. Faced with such a situation, Della promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. The short of it is they live in a shabby flat and they're poor. But they love each other. Once Della's recovered herself, she goes to a mirror to let down her hair and examine it. Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great treasures of the poor couple. The other is Jim's gold watch. Her hair examined, Della puts it back up, sheds a tear, and bundles up to head out into the cold. She leaves the flat and walks to Madame Sofronie's hair goods shop, where she sells her hair for twenty bucks. Now she has $21.87 cents. With her new funds, Della is able to find Jim the perfect present: an elegant platinum watch chain for his watch. It's $21, and she buys it. Excited by her gift, Della returns home and tries to make her now-short hair presentable (with a curling iron). She's not convinced Jim will approve, but she did what she had to do to get him a good present. When she finishes with her hair, she gets to work preparing coffee and dinner. Jim arrives at 7pm to find Della waiting by the door and stares fixedly at her, not able to understand that Della's hair is gone. Della can't understand quite what his reaction means. After a little while, Jim snaps out of it and gives Della her present, explaining that his reaction will make sense when she opens it. Della opens it and cries out in joy, only to burst into tears immediately afterward. Jim has given her the set of fancy combs she's wanted for ages, only now she has no hair for them. Jim nurses Della out of her sobs. Once she's recovered she gives Jim his present, holding out the watch chain. Jim smiles, falling back on the couch. He sold his watch to buy Della's combs, he explains. He recommends they put away their presents and have dinner. As they do so, the narrator brings the story to a close by pronouncing that Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts. They are the magi. Book Review of The Gift of the Magi Ⅰ.About the author: This book was wrote by O. Henry (1862~1910), whose real name was William Sydney Porter, and was born in North Carolina. His schooling was rudimentary, and after working in a drug store, he went to Texas in 1882; he became a rancher for a time, then a bank teller and journalist, founding a comic weekly magazine, The Rolling Stone (1894~1895) before being employed by the Houston Post to write a humorous daily column. In 1896 he was indicted for alleged embezzlement by the bank for which he had worked, and fled to Honduras. He returned three years latter to be with his dying wife, was arrested and spent three years in the federal penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. Here Porter started to write short stories under the pseudonym of O. Henry, thought to be adopted from a French pharmacist mentioned in the US