Springtime

-O.Henry

Introduction :

O.Henry's short stories are known for their wit, word play, warm characterization and clever twist Viding. The present story 'Springtime' is a fine example of all these.

Sarah and her freelance typewriting work :

Sarah was a young woman residing in a separate room in New York city. She was a freelance typewriter doing some odd jobs. She could type any matter in a neat and perfect manner.

The agreement between Sarah and Schulenberg Restaurant :

One day Sarah was dining in Schulenberg's Home Restaurant. When she took her bill of fare, she found the script unreadable and the items listed in a jumbled manner. The next day Sarah showed Schulenberg a neat card on which the menu was beautifully typewritten. Immediately the job of typing the bills of fare for the 'twenty-one tables in the restaurant was given to her. Every day new bills for breakfast, lunch and dinner were to be typed. Sarah cleverly made an agreement with the restaurant. She told Schulenberg that they had to send three meals to her room for a certain amount, daily. The next day the patrons of the restaurant found the bills of fare typed in an attractive manner.

Sarah's Love Affair :

One day, the arrival of spring season reminded Sarah her love with Walter Franklin, a modern agriculturist in the country-side. Sarah and Walter Franklin had decided to marry in spring. But for about two weeks she had not received any reply from Walter. This made her upset and she began to cry. She could not type the bills of fare as usual. She saw the next item on the bill of fare mentioned — dandelions ! It was with dandelion flowers she was crowned by Walter Franklin in the farm last summer. With her heart and mind in the farm, she fingered the typewriter keys absently for a little while. Soon the waiter came and carried away the typewritten bills of fare.

Walter search and finding of Sarah :



In the evening, surprisingly Walter Franklin entered into Sarah's room. Sarah jumped in joy and asked him why he had not replied her letters. Walter told her that he had never got them. Sarah wondered as to how he was able to locate her new address then. Walter told her that when he was dining in the Schulenberg he found in the bill of fare some peculiar remarks. He at once understood the person that would have typed the matter. When he asked the hotel manager, he guided him to Sarah's room. Now the youngman showed Sarah the bill Of fare in which was typed, "Dearest Walter, with HARD-BOILED EGG". Sarah recognised her mistake and laughed with Walter.