Tobin's Palm
From O' Henry's 'The Four Million': Two young sons of Ireland , John and Daniel (Tobin) head for Coney Island Amusement Park in order that good palm John can relieve Daniel of his worries over his girlfriend's not having arrived yet from County Sligo with his money. It's been three moneths and no sign of her. He consults a fortune teller who tells him things are not going his way and that he will soon see a pale girl, a dark man, and a man with a crooked nose who ( we can assume) holds the key to his future.
The Coming Out Of Maggie (also called Cinderella's Ball)
Warning : Racial slurs by today's standards, New York City as it really was by 1915 standards.
The story begins by explaining the Clover Leaf club, an Irish organization, and its exclusive dances. These dances are held at the Give-and-Take Athletic Association. To attend, you must be a part of the club or work for Rhinegold's paper-box factory. However, each member has the option to take an outsider to one dance.
Maggie Toole and Anna McCarty work together at the factory and are basically inseparable. Anna and her ''fellow,'' Jimmy Burns, would pick up Maggie every Saturday and bring her to the dance. It seems Maggie is a plain-looking girl who isn't sought after by any man.
One Saturday, the girls are leaving the factory when Anna tells Maggie to be ready, per usual, by 7pm. Instead of the usual response, Maggie says the ride will not be necessary; a gentleman is coming to get her to escort her to the dance. Anna is blown away and a little angry with Maggie's lack of information. ''You'll see to-night,'' Maggie says to Anna, and assures her she will see them at the dance.
The Secret Date
Around 8:30pm, Maggie and her gentleman friend enter the hall. Anna, whose eyes have been glued to the door since her arrival, is taken aback by how stunning the man is. Jimmy makes a few jealous comments, but Anna pulls him toward the couple.
The Four Million is the second published collection of short stories by O. Henry originally released on April 10, 1906, by McClure, Phillips & Co. in New York. There are twenty-five stories of various lengths including several of his best known works such as "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Cop and the Anthem". The book's title refers to the then population of New York City where many of the stories are set. O. Henry was responding to a newspaper editorial by Ward McAllister, who claimed that there were only four hundred people in New York City worth knowing, by instead opining that every human being in New York is worthy of notice.[1]
Contents
"Tobin's Palm"
"The Gift of the Magi"
"A Cosmopolite in a Cafe"
"Between Rounds"
"The Skylight Room"
"A Service of Love"
"The Coming-Out of Maggie"
"Man About Town"
"The Cop and the Anthem"
"An Adjustment of Nature"
"Memoirs of a Yellow Dog"
"The Love-Philtre of Ikey Schoenstein"
"Mammon and the Archer"
"Springtime à la Carte"
"The Green Door"
"From the Cabby's Seat"
"An Unfinished Story"
"The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock"
"Sisters of the Golden Circle"
"The Romance of a Busy Broker"
"After Twenty Years"
"Lost on Dress Parade"
"By Courier"
"The Furnished Room"
"The Brief Debut of Tildy"