William Sydney Porter (1862—1910), known by his pen name O. Henry, was an outstanding American writer, world-famous master of a short story genre. By his humor and humanism, he turns the humdrum of the humble folk’s life into edifying fairy-tales about eternal values, and it’s of no consequence where the scene is laid: though it were in the Wild West or in the concrete gutter of New York. The present collection includes the most vivid, more than once screened O. Henry’s works from his extremely rich and varied creative heritage.

The Gift of the Magi .............................................................. 3
The Skylight Room ............................................................. 11
A Service of Love................................................................. 20
The Cop and the Anthem ................................................. 28
After Twenty Years............................................................... 37
Lost on Dress Parade ....................................................... 42
By Courier ............................................................................ 51
The Trimmed Lamp ........................................................... 57
The Pendulum .................................................................... 74
Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen ................................. 81
Vanity and Some Sables.................................................... 89
The Purple Dress................................................................ 98
The Lost Blend ................................................................. 106
The Last Leaf .................................................................... 114
The Count and the Wedding Guest .............................. 123
Hearts and Crosses ........................................................ 132
Hygeia at the Solito ........................................................... 148
The Princess and the Puma ........................................... 168
“Little speck in garnered fruit” ......................................... 177
A Comedy in Rubber.......................................................... 185
The Roads We Take.......................................................... 192
Makes the Whole World Kin............................................. 199