A Service of Love

Joe Larrabee dreamed of becoming a great artist. Even when he was six, people in the little western town where he lived used to say, “Joe has great talent, he will become a famous artist.” At twenty, he left his home town and went to New York. He had his dreams — but very little money.

O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.