Mark Twain

The story humorously shows how an ordinary phone call can turn into pure comedy. The narrator, busy writing a serious article, is constantly disturbed by a telephonic conversation taking place in the room. Though uninterested, he is forced to overhear a lady’s long-distance chat with Mrs. Bagley. The funniest part is that he only hears one side of the conversation, leaving him unable to make head or tail of the talk. Why does the lady shout every word as if the phone were deaf? How many times can “Good-bye” really be said before the call finally ends? And how long can anyone hold up the receiver without fainting? Read this witty tale to discover how Mark Twain could turn even a simple phone call into complete comedy.

Humor

English

A Telephonic Conversation

Mark Twain humorously and satirically narrates the story of Mr. McWilliams, whose wife insisted on installing a burglar alarm in their house to ensure safety from burglars. A man came and installed the alarm on the first floor, promising protection. However, one night, Mr. McWilliams encountered a burglar calmly smoking a pipe while leaving with a basket of tinware, leaving him greatly confused as to why the burglar alarm didn’t go off. Determined to fix the issue, he spent another three hundred dollars to install the alarm on the second storey, but this too failed to stop burglars from entering the house. Why did the burglar alarm repeatedly fail? What made Mr. McWilliams declare that he would never spend another cent on burglar alarms? Was the alarm system truly helpful, or did it turn out to be a costly disaster for the family? Read this entertaining and thought-provoking story to find out.

Mystery

The McWilliamses and The Burglar Alarm

Aunt Rachel is a lively woman who never seems to be annoyed by satirical remarks about her color and creed. The narrator wonders how she has spent sixty years without any trouble or pain, and he asks her the reason, which makes her quiet. What could be the reason behind her sudden quietness and the disappearance of her smile? Is it possible that there have been no problems in her life, or has she disguised herself beneath a blanket of laughter? Read this heart-touching story to discover the harsh reality of Aunt Rachel’s life.

Short Story

A True Story, Repeated Word for Word As I Heard It

This story presents Twain’s unique twist on the ghost story genre, where he humorously critiques superstitious behavior. A man rents a room in an abandoned building on Broadway, only to discover that he is not alone. As night falls, strange and eerie events begin to unfold: blankets slipping away, mysterious footsteps echoing in the halls, and ghostly whispers in the dark. Gradually, his fear builds to a climax. To his astonishment, the spirit of the Cardiff Giant, a petrified man from a well-known fraud, appears, pleading for rest and peace. But what happens when the ghost discovers a shocking truth about its own remains? Will the haunting come to an end? Do you think the Cardiff Giant’s ghost deserved sympathy despite its mistakes? Read this intriguing tale to uncover a blend of humor, mystery, and a ghost with an unexpected story to tell.

Fairytale

Horror

A Ghost Story

The given story is one of Mark Twain's most famous short stories. It was adapted from a campfire story told by Jim Gillis while Twain and Gillis were prospecting for gold during the winter of 1864-65. 
Jim Baker, a miner, lived a solitary life in the woods and mountains of California, where he observed the animals and birds around him so closely that he believed he could understand their language. He claimed that animals not only communicated but had distinct dialects. Among all the creatures, Jim found blue jays to be the best talkers. An extraordinary incident convinced him that blue jays were outstanding speakers, capable of humor and reasoning. What might this remarkable event have been? Do you also believe animals and birds possess such intelligence and unique ways of communicating? Why do you think blue jays stood out to Jim as the best talkers among all the animals? Read this interesting tale to learn about the wood life.

Fable

Jim Baker's Blue-Jay Yarn

Mark Twain’s real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. He was an American writer, humorist, and essayist, best known for his novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. His family called him Sam. Sam’s father was a farmer, merchant, and postmaster, while his mother was a busy and energetic woman. As a child, Sam was delicate and started school at the age of five. He had a great passion for swimming. What adventures did Sam and his friends experience? What were his parents and siblings like? How did Sam spend his childhood? Read this biography to find out.

Adventure

Mark Twain: A Child's Biography

When the cat shares a tale of a beautiful picture, the animals become curious and eagerly want to uncover the truth behind it. However, doubt lingers as each creature questions the credibility of the others. Will their doubts be removed, and they will learn the truth? Who among the animals will emerge as the bearer of the truth? Read this intriguing fable to understand and learn the confusions and problems in the animal kingdom.

Readers

Moral

A Fable

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