O. Henry Biography Page: 71
ix, 258 p., [10] leaves of plates : ill., front. (port.) ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
BIRTHPLACE AND EARLY YEARS
ways everything said or done or seen. He was always
shy, his exuberant humour and rare gift of story telling
seeming to take flight within the walls of a house. He
preferred the front gate or, as a halfway station, the
porch. Even in a small group out of doors, if there
was a stranger or one uncongenial companion, O.
Henry would not be heard from. But the next day
he would tell you what happened and with such a
wealth of original comment and keenness of insight
and alchemy of exaggeration, all framed in a droll or
dramatic story, that you would think you had missed
the time of your life in not being present.
"His education is about a common school one,"
said O. Henry of himself in the words already cited,
"but he learns afterward from reading and life." His
teacher and his only teacher was his aunt, Miss Evelina
Maria Porter, known to every one in Greensboro as
Miss Lina. Hers was undoubtedly the strongest
personal influence brought to bear on O. Henry during
his twenty years in North Carolina. The death of his
mother when he was only three years old and the in-
creasing absorption of his father in futile inventions
resulted in Miss Lina's taking the place of both parents,
and this she did not only with whole-souled devotion
but with rare and efficient intelligence. She was a
handsome woman with none of her father's happy-go-
lucky disposition but with much of her mother's dirce-
71- I_ r- L1
pc~ --r I I
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Smith, C. Alphonso (Charles Alphonso), 1864-1924. O. Henry Biography, book, 1916; Garden City, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth139384/m1/91/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.