The Complete Works. O. Henry

they pass, each head is raised in wonderment, and then reverently bowed, for, arm in arm march the Nations of the World, — all united in a common bond and no longer enemies, for at their head moves a tiny child, carrying in its hands a wee banner, but of mighty import, — for on it in letters of gold is “The Ruler of all the World” - “Love”

Action-reaction

       Table of Contents

       Action

      A VILLAGE nestling among the pines. Only the buzz of insects and hum of bees, together with the accompaniment of rustling branches, breaks the silence.

      All is peace and harmony.

      Hark!

      From afar sounds a discordant blatant note. Nearer it comes, ever growing harsher, until at last, at the end of the street is seen a mounted horseman, with a bugle at his lips. With one final blast he summons all the peaceful souls, who crowd about him. He watches them, as they gather, with an appraising eye, and then with uplifted hand commands silence.

      “All men and boys past the age of twelve follow me.

      “In the name of the Law you must obey! Come!”

      Raising his bugle, once more he shatters the peace of that little hamlet and moves on, followed in silence by all the men and boys over twelve.

      No sound but that of moving feet can be heard. No tears, no lamentations from the stricken statues left behind.

      The hush of even-tide —

      The drone of insects —

      The hum of bees —

      The swaying of branches,

      Thrilled by the breeze —

      and silence once more descends upon the street

      Furroughed ground —

      Booming guns —

      Shrieking shells —

      Smoke-laden air —

      Young, old-men boys, automatons of men, ply their trade at the command “By order of the Law! Obey!”

      Daylight passes —

      The hues of even-tide caress,

      And speak of rest,

      but the command rings out:

      “Forward! Attack!”

      Night comes forth

      With gleaming mantle,

      And lays it over all that remains —

      Furroughed ground!

       Reaction

      A bugle sounds in a hamlet town, and streaming forth come stricken souls, who with outstretched arms go forth to meet that straggling band which passes through the street — but they pay no heed.

      Luminous are their faces, radiant their robes, as they gaze straight ahead, with never a look to the right or the left.

      Morning breezes —

      Buzz of insects

      Hum of bees —

      Branches bending

      To the breeze.

A Vision

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      In the far distant East gleams a light — faint but effulgent, and as I watch it moves slowly, majestically, westward.

      Still I gaze, and watch it ever going higher, moving more swiftly, and growing ever brighter and larger.

      Still I gaze:

      Swifter becomes its movement, more dazzling its light, and lo! from what seemed a speck when I first gazed upon that light, has grown a golden bird with outstretched wings gleaming and sending showers of golden radiance with each movement.

      Westward it moves, ever expanding, ever more dazzling, until at last all the face of the world has been showered with the glimmering gold from its wings.

      Still I gaze:

      High in the heavens is motionless this wonderful golden bird — then, slowly, with scarcely moving pinions it descends, and with a final quiver takes under the shelter of its mighty wings a world of sorrow.

      Still I gaze:

      No movement, but ever the light increasing and dazzling in brilliancy and beauty.

      Still I gaze:

      A flutter — an unfolding of the mighty pinions and then a swift flight upwards — ever swifter — ever higher, until at last all sight of its wonder is lost.

      Then I gaze where it rested, and behold! a new earth of dazzling gold and everywhere gleaming lights of rainbow tints Then I muse:

      And from out of the silence comes a voice:

      “Thus will the world appear when Peace has folded it within its wings, and Love shines out from each and every window.”

      O Henryana

       Table of Contents

       The Crucible

       A Lunar Episode

       Three Paragraphs

       Bulger’s Friend

       A Professional Secret

       The Elusive Tenderloin

       The Struggle Of The Outliers

      The Crucible

       Table of Contents

      HARD ye may be in the tumult,

      Red to your battle hilts,

      Blow give for blow in the foray,

      Cunningly ride in the tilts;

      But when the roaring is ended,

      Tenderly, unbeguiled,

      Turn to a woman a woman’s

      Heart, and a child’s to a child.

      Test of the man, if his worth be

      In accord with the ultimate plan,

      That he be not, to his marring,

      Always and utterly man;

      That he bring out of the tumult,

      Fitter and undefiled,

      To a woman the heart of a woman,