[Illustration: WASHINGTON IRVING] THE SHORT-STORY With Introduction and Notes BY W. PATTERSON ATKINSON, A.M. VICE-PRINCIPAL OF THE LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL JERSEY CITY ALLYN AND BACON Boston New York Chicago COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY ALLYN AND BACON. Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. FOREWORD This book is the result of actual work with first year High School pupils. Furthermore, the completed text has been tried out with them. Their difficulties, standards of reading, and the average development of their minds and taste have constantly been remembered. Whatever teaching quality the book may possess is due to their criticisms. Hearty thanks are due Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons, Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons, The Thomas Y. Crowell Company, and The Houghton Mifflin Company for gracious permission to use copyrighted material. CONTENTS PAGE PORTRAITS OF AUTHORS vii INTRODUCTION I. Definition and Development ix II. Forms xvi III. The Short-story as Narration xvii IV. Representative Short-stories xxi V. Bibliography xxv WASHINGTON IRVING: Rip Van Winkle (1820) 1 EDGAR ALLAN POE: The Gold Bug (1842) 23 The Purloined Letter (1845) 69 NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE: Howe's Masquerade (1838) 93 The Birthmark (1843) 112 FRANCIS BRET HARTE: The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1869) 134 ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON: The Sire de Malétroit's Door (1878) 148 Markheim (1885) 174 RUDYARD KIPLING: Wee Willie Winkie (1888) 196 NOTES 211 LIST OF PORTRAITS WASHINGTON IRVING _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE EDGAR ALLAN POE 23 NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE 93 FRANCIS BRET HARTE 134 ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON 148 RUDYARD KIPLING 196 INTRODUCTION I DEFINITION AND DEVELOPMENT