After Twenty Years by O’ Henry Question and Answers

After Twenty Years 

O’ Henry

Introducing the author

William Sydney Porter (1862 -1910), known by his pen name O Henry, was an American writer. His short stories are known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and surprise.

Unit I

Warm Up

Do you value personal relationship? What will you prefer if personal relationship comes in the way of your duty? O’ Henry narrates this story to show - ‘Devotion to duty triumphs over personal relationship’. The story depicts the irony and pathos of life in a subtle and dramatic manner. Read the following unit of the text and note how two friends meet after twenty years at the appointed time and place:

The Text

The policeman on the beat moved up the quiet road smartly. His smartness was

habitual and not for show, for spectators were few. The time was only 10 o’clock at night.

But the locality was one that kept early hours, and chilly winds and a drizzle had almost

depeopled the streets.

Examining closed doors as he went, making various interesting and playful movements with his small stick, the officer, with his stalwart figure and smart movements made a fine picture of the guardian of the law. He could see a few lights coming from a cigar store, an all-night hotel, and one or two tailoring shops completing the day’s work.

The majority of the houses were business places that had long since been closed. Now and then he would suddenly turn about, and cast his watchful eye along the peaceful road. He was thinking of what his boss had said in the morning: “Pale face, square jaws, deep and dark eyes, and a little white scar near the right eyebrow.” As a part of the police organization, he felt a little ashamed that the name of this notorious criminal was still unknown, and that he was still at large. Printing counterfeit notes was a serious affair, he knew; and the criminal must be caught. He took out his pocket-book under a lamp-post, and looked at the five-dollar note and the reconstructed photograph. He became thoughtful: Chicago - a thousand miles away. What chance?” Then he said to himself aloud, ‘Never mind, my boy, you have been a dutiful one these last eighteen years, and luck owes you a debt.’

He was in the habit of talking to himself, sometimes, - when nobody was by. And

he liked to refer to himself as a boy, though he was forty.

There was another thing in his mind. He looked at his watch, - a quarter past ten; fifteen minutes more. It was a long road; but there was enough time. After a minute he descried about five hundred metres ahead the outline of a man near the doorway of a darkened hardware store. He quickened his steps. The place was slightly dark, lying exactly midway between two lampposts. He was about to address the man, but changed his mind and allowed the man to begin. The man realised that the way he was standing there must look suspicious to one who didn’t know his story. So he said, as the policeman walked up to him : ‘It’s all right, officer; l’am just waiting for a friend. It is an appointment made twenty years ago. It sounds a little funny to you, doesn’t it ? Well, I’ll explain so as to remove all suspicion from your mind: About twenty years ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands, “Brady’s Restaurant.”

‘Until five years ago,’ said the officer, ‘It was torn down then.’ He was about to take the hand of the stranger, but checked himself. The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The policeman had a chance to look at the face of the man.

Explanation in Odia

Questions and Answers

1.    How does the writer describe the atmosphere of the story?

Ans. The story begins with the policeman doing the patrolling duty in a street of New York. The time was 10 ‘O’ clock at night. The strict was almost calm and quiet and people had gone home in the early hours of the evening because of bad weather. The business houses were mostly closed and darkness has covered the major part of the street. It was all due to chilly winds and light raining. Few lights were coming from a cigar store, an whole-night hotel and one or two tailoring shops completing the day's work. The area coming under the lamp-posts were little lighted. Thus, the atmosphere was somewhat unsuitable and unfavourable.

2.    How did the policeman perform his duties?

Ans. The policeman was on the route doing patrol duty. He was moving smartly. His smartness was real and not for the show. It was night and most of the business houses in the street were closed early due to bad weather. There was darkness everywhere except light coming from few shops and lamp-posts. In spite of this, the policeman was inspecting every closed doors. He was holding a lathi and making some funny movements. The policeman, with his well-built figure and smart movements was proving himself as the guardian of law. He was very watchful and cast his eyes on the entire peaceful road. He was seriously searching a notorious criminal from Chicago. This duty was assigned to him by his boss and he was very confident as a dutiful officer for the last eighteen years to do the job perfectly.

3.    What picture of the wanted criminal do you get from the text ?

Ans. The picture of the wanted criminal given to the policeman in the morning of the said duty was as follows. The criminal had a pale face, square jaws, deep and dark eyes, and a little white scar near the right eyebrow. The criminal’s name was not known and he was involved in a serious affairs of printing counterfeit notes. The criminal was from Chicago. The policeman had five dollar note and reconstructed photograph of the criminal in his pocket.

4.    How did the stranger try to interact with the policeman ?

Ans. The stranger, who was standing in front of a darkened hardware store, saw a policeman coming towards him . He thought that the policeman would suspect him as he did not know his story. So when the policeman walked up to him, he said to him that he was just waiting for a friend. It was an appointment made twenty years ago. It was the truth, thought it seemed funny. To remove the doubts of the policeman, he narrated that about twenty years ago there was a restaurant where this store stands. Its name was “Brady’s Restaurant”. Then the policeman said that it was changed into a store just five years ago. In this way the stranger interacted with the policeman.

5.    How did the policeman see the stranger's face ?

Ans. The stranger standing at the doorway of the hardware store, was interacting with the policeman. As the place was dark the face of the stranger could not be seen. In the meanwhile, he wanted to smoke and thus struck a match and lit his cigar. This provided a chance to the policeman to see the face of the man.

Unit II

Warm up

When old friends meet after a long period of time, they usually exchange pleasant words and talk about old times. Read the following unit of the text and note how two friends meet each other as agreed:

The Text

‘Twenty years ago tonight,’ said the man, ‘I dined here at “Brady’s with Jimmy Wells, my best chum, and the finest chap in the world. We were both born and brought up here in New York, just like two brothers. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the West to make my fortune, Jimmy was a homing bird.

You couldn’t have dragged Jimmy out of New York; he thought it was the only place on earth. Well, we agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time, no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance

we might have to come. We felt that in twenty years each of us would have had his career made, and got what life had to give.

‘It sounds pretty interesting,’ said the policeman. ‘Rather a long time between meets, it seems to me. Haven’t you heard from your friend since you left’?

‘Well, yes, for a time we corresponded,’ said the other. ‘But after a year or two we lost track of each other. Though Chicago was, what you call, my headquarters, I kept moving around a lot. But I know Jimmy will meet me here if he’s alive, for he always was the truest, staunchest old chap in the world. He’ll never forget. I came a thousand miles to’ stand at this door tonight. and it’s worth it if my old partner turns up.’

The waiting man pulled out a handsome watch, the lid of it set with small diamonds.

‘Ten twenty-five,’ he said. ‘It was exactly half-past ten when we parted here at the restaurant door,’ ‘Made lots of money out in the West, didn’t you?” asked the policeman.

‘Well, it wasn’t bad, I must admit. I hope Jimmy has done half so well. He was somewhat slow in the brain, though he was a good fellow. I’ve had to compete with some of the sharpest wits in the world to earn my dollars. A man gets into the rut in New York.

The West requires fighting and teaches it.’

The policeman took a step or two. ‘I hope your friend comes around all right,’ he said. ‘Are you going to wait for some time in case he doesn’t turn up at the appointed time?’ he asked.

‘I’ll give him half an hour’, said the other. ‘If Jimmy is alive on earth he’ll be here by the time. So long, officer.’

‘Goodnight, sir,’ said the policeman, passing on along his beat, examining doors as he went.

Explanation in Odia

Questions and Answers 

1.    What was the appointment made between two friends twenty years before?

 Ans. The two friends in the story are Bob and Jimmy Wells. Both were born and brought up in New York and bred like two brothers. When they come of age. Bob went to the West to make his fortune but Jimmy stayed in New York. On the day of parting, they had dined together in a restaurant and agreed that night that they would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time in spite of their distant living and conditions. This appointment was made between two friends twenty years ago.

2.    What information about the friends do you gather from their conversation?

Ans. After listening, to the man about their appointment that was made twenty years ago. the policeman expressed his curiosity to know more about them. He asked the man about their correspondence, if any, during this long gap. The man said that they were in touch for a year or two but after that they lost contact of each other. It was perhaps due to increase of work and personal involvement. He said that though Chicago was his main place of living, he moved extensively in and outside of it. Then shifting his mind to his friend the man said that his friend Jimmy was always very sincere and true to his words. He would never forget their appointment. He would meet him definitely. He had come from a distance of thousand miles to meet him and it would be worthwhile if his old friend comes back. Saying so he looked at his diamond watch and the time was ten twenty-five. He said that it was exactly half past ten when they parted there at the restaurant door twenty years ago. This Brady Restaurant had been changed into a hardware store. The policeman asked about his good income in the West which he admitted. He also expressed that his friend Jimmy would be earning at least half of his income. Though a good human being. Jimmy was very slow in brain. He had to compete with the cleverest people of the world in Chicago for his livelihood. He said that life in the West was very fast and one had to struggle hard for earning and living. But in New York one became very ordinary. The policeman listened to all these and said him that his friend would be coming around. Before leaving him, he asked him whether he would wait for his friend or not. The man said that he would wait for his friend for an hour only. He would definitely come by that time. In short, two friends naturally exchanged pleasant words and talked old times without recognizing each other.

Unit III

Warm up

Writers often give an unexpected twist to their stories to surprise the readers.Does Saki do the same? Read the following unit of the text and note the irony of situation that a person comes from a long distance to meet his friend after twenty years but the friend gets him arrested:

The Text

The wind was growing more chilly, and the drizzle was thickening. The few people who were out quickened their steps, their coat collars turned up and hands pocketed. And near the door of the hardware store the man who had come a thousand miles to fill an appointment with the friend of his youth, smoked his cigar and waited. About twenty minutes he waited, and then a tall man in a long overcoat, with collar turned up to his ears, hurried across from the opposite side of the street. He went directly to the waiting man. ‘Is that you, Bob?’ he asked doubtfully.

‘Is that you, Jimmy Wells?’ cried the man near the door.

‘Bless my heart!’ exclaimed the new arrival grasping both the other’s hands with his own. ‘It’s Bob, sure as fate. I was certain I’d find you here if you were still in existence.

Well, well, well, twenty years is a long time. The old restaurant is gone, Bob; I wish it had lasted, so that we could have had another dinner there. How has the West treated you, old man?’

‘Nothing to complain of, it has given me everything I asked for. You have changed a lot, Jimmy. You look taller by eight or ten centimetres than when we met last. Doing well in New York, Jimmy?’ ‘Not so bad. I work in a departmental store as assistant manager. Good pay and other benefits. Come on. Bob, we’ll go round to a place I know of and have a good long talk about old times.’

The two men started up the streets, arm in arm. The man from the West, somewhat puffed up by success, was talking of his possessions and of his important friends in Chicago and elsewhere. The other, covered with his overcoat, was listening with rapt attention. They had not yet taken a good look at each other’s face. They neared a medicine store lit brilliantly, with electric lights. There each of them turned simultaneously to gaze at the other’s face.

The man from the West stopped suddenly and let go the other’s arm. ‘You’re not Jimmy Wells’, he faltered. ‘Twenty year is a long time, but not long enough to change a man’s sharp nose to a flat one?’

‘It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one’, said the tall man. ‘You’ve been under arrest for ten minutes, Bob, or whatever your name is. The Commissioner of police, Chicago, longs to have a chat with you in connection with some bundles of five-dollar notes, which have come his way. Come quietly, please, and no tricks. Before we go to the station, here’s a note I was asked to give you. It’s from Assistant Sub-Inspector Jimmy Wells’.

The man from the West unfolded the little piece of paper handed to him. His hand was steady when he began to read, but it trembled a little by the time he had finished. The note was rather short: 

‘Bob: I was at the appointed place on time. When you struck the match to light your cigar I saw it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow I couldn’t do it myself, so I went around and got a plain-clothes policeman to do the job’.

Explanation in Odia

Questions and Answers 

1.    How long did the man from the West wait ? What was weather then ?

Ans. The man from the West waited about twenty minutes and then a tall man in a long overcoat came from the opposite side of the street to meet him. The weather then Was very bad. The wind was too cold and the rain was continuing. People who were out hurried up home.

2.    How did the man from the West and the man in a long overcoat greet each other ?

Ans. When the man from the West was waiting at the doorway of the hardware, store, the man in a long overcoat appeared. Looking at the man at the hardware store, he doubtfully asked, "Is that you, Bob " "Is that you, Jimmy Wells " asked Then they could know each other and shook hands. "Bless my heart " exclaimed the new arrival. In this way they greeted each other.

1.    When did Bob realize that the tall man he had met was not Jimmy Wells?

Ans. When Bob and the tall man reached at the medicine store walking arm in arm, they could see each other's face in the electric lights. Bob suddenly stopped by leaving his arm. He thought that how this tall man with flat nose would be Jimmy Wells who had a sharp nose. One could be 6 to 8 inch long in twenty years’ time but it is not long enough to convert a sharp nose to a flat nose. Thus Bob realized that the tall man he had met was not Jimmy Wells.

2.    Why did Jimmy get Bob arrested ?

Ans. Jimmy, who was a policeman, was a man of principle, honest and dutiful Bob, on the other hand, was a professional criminal who printed counterfeit notes and earned easy money. Once upon a time in twenty years ago they were good friends. Before they got separated, they had promised to meet each other at the Brady's Restaurant where they had taken their last dinner. But when they meet, Jimmy saw the face of the man who was wanted in Chicago. The responsibility and devotion of his duty made him to ignore his personal relationship. Therefore, he got him arrested.

3.    Did Jimmy keep his appointment with Bob after twenty years ? What consideration did he show for his old friend ?

Ans. Yes, Jimmy did so because he was exactly on time at the hardware store where they decided to meet after twenty years. He kept his appointment. At the same time, he was assigned the duty to catch a notorious criminal from Chicago. He had the reconstructed photograph of the criminal with him which matched the face of his friend. So he did not disclose his identity. As a policeman he considered his duty more than his friendship. Thus instead of enjoying with his old friend Bob after twenty years, he made him arrested by another policeman who played the role of jimmy Wells. Though he did not arrest his friend directly he did it by another policeman. This could be his only consideration for his old friend.

 

EXTRA

 

1.    Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Examining closed doors as he went, making various interesting and playful movements with his small stick, the officer, with his stalwart figure and smart movements made a fine picture of the guardian of the law. He could see a few lights coming from a cigar store, an all-night hotel, and one or two tailoring shops completing the day’s work. The majority of the houses were business places that had long since been closed. Now and then he would suddenly turn about, and cast his watchful eye along the peaceful road. He was thinking of what his boss had said in the morning: “Pale face, square jaws, deep and dark eyes, and a little white scar near the right eyebrow.” As a part of the police organization, he felt a little ashamed that the name of this notorious criminal was still unknown, and that he was still at large. Printing counterfeit notes was a serious affair, he knew, and the criminal must be caught. He took out his pocket-book under a lamp-post, and looked at the five-dollar note and the reconstructed photograph. He became thoughtful: Chicago - a thousand miles away. What chance?” Then he said to himself aloud, ‘Never mind, my boy, you have been a dutiful one these last eighteen years, and luck owes you a debt.’ He was in the habit of talking to himself, sometimes, - when nobody was by. And he liked to refer to himself as a boy, though he was forty. There was another thing in his mind. He looked at his watch, - a quarter past ten; fifteen minutes more. It was a long road; but there was enough time. After a minute he descried about five hundred meters ahead the outline of a man near the doorway of a darkened hardware store. He quickened his steps. The place was slightly dark, lying exactly midway between two lamp-posts. He was about to address the man, but changed his mind and allowed the man to begin. The man realized that the way he was standing there must look suspicious to one who didn’t know his story. So he said, as the policeman walked up to him: ‘It’s all right, officer; I’m just waiting for a friend. It is an appointment made twenty years ago. It sounds a little funny to you, doesn’t it? Well, I’ll explain so as to remove all suspicion from your mind: About twenty years ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands, “Brady’s Restaurant."

Questions :

(i)            Describe the policeman's feelings while doing patrol duty?

(ii)           ‘There was another thing in his mind.’ What was that?

 

(i) The policeman was assigned a duty to catch a die-hard criminal. He was in search of that notorious criminal. He was quite sure to be successful in performing his duty. He thought that he had been a sincere and dutiful policeman since last eighteen years and luck always remained with him. At the same time he felt a little ashamed that the name of such a notorious criminal was still unknown to the police department. Thus, the policeman had serious feelings while doing patrol duty.

 

(ii) Though policeman was assigned a duty to catch a notorious criminal, still there was another thing in his mind. Perhaps he had to meet someone or to do something on a particular time. Therefore, he looked at his watch and said that there was more fifteen minutes in his hand.

 

2. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.

 

The two men started up the streets, arm in arm. The man from the west, somewhat puffed up by success, was talking of his possessions and of his important friends in Chicago and elsewhere. The other, covered with his overcoat, was listening with rapt attention. They had not yet taken a good look at each other's face. They neared a medicine store lit brilliantly, with electric lights. There each of them turned simultaneously to gaze at the other’s face.

The man from the West stopped suddenly and let go the other’s arm.

‘You’re not Jimmy Wells’, he faltered. ‘Twenty year is a long time, but not long enough to change a man's sharp nose to a flat one ?’

It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one’, said the tall man. ‘You’ve been under arrest for ten minutes, Bob, or whatever your name is. The Commissioner of police, Chicago, longs to have a chat with you in connection with some bundles of five-dollar notes, which have come his way. Come quietly, please, and no tricks. Before we go to the station, here’s a note I was asked to give you. It’s from Assistant Sub-Inspector Jimmy Wells.’

The man from the West unfolded the little piece of paper handed to him. His hand was steady when he began to read, but it trembled a little by the time he had finished. The note was rather short.

Bob; I was at the appointed place on time. When you struck the match to light your cigar I saw it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow the job. I couldn't do it myself, so I went around and got a plain-clothes policeman to do the job.

 

Questions

 

1.    Give a picture of Bob and Jimmy when they were in the streets.

2.    Comment on the ending of the story.

 

(1)  We find the two friends, Bob and Jimmy, in the streets walking arm in arm. Bob who had now come from the West was in high spirits. Unprecedented success had made him as if he were over the moon. He kept on talking of his wealth and of his great friends in Chicago. Jimmy, covered with his overcoat, was listening with deep attention. In spite of being with each other for some time, they had not looked distinctly at each other. The inevitable happened. They gazed at each other’s face at the same time.

 

(2) The two friends, Bob and Jimmy, have kept their appointment after twenty years, but there is a turning point in the end. Bob is shocked in disbelief when the man tells him that he has been under arrest. The man talking to him is asked to hand over him a note which outlines Jimmy’s arrival at the appointed place on time and recognition of his face wanted in Chicago while lighting his cigar and his inability to arrest his friend and hence through a plain-clothes policeman. This is the consideration Jimmy Wells showed for his old friend Bob. Honest and dutiful as he is, Jimmy Wells has done his job perfectly. The ending is superb for its ‘O’ Henry Twist, or surprising ending.