Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 4 Notes Hearts and Hands

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 4 Hearts and Hands – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

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About the Author
0.Henry (1862 – 1910) was born under the name William Sydney Porter in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1862. This Amercian short story writer has a rich canon and his short stories are well known through out the world; noted for their witticism, clever wordplay, and unexpected twist endings.

Like many other writers, O. Henry’s early career aspirations were unfocused and he wandered across different activities and professions before he finally found his calling as a short story writer. He started working in his uncle’s drugstore in 1879 and became a licensed pharmacist by the age of 19. His first creative expressions came while working in the pharmacy where he would sketch the townspeople that frequented the store. The customers reacted warmly to his drawings and he was admired for his artistry and drawing skills.

O.Henry’s prolific writing period began in 1902 in New York City, where he wrote 381 short stories. He wrote one story a week for The New York World Sunday Magazine for over a year. Some of his best and least known work is contained in Cabbages and Kings, his first collection of published stories, set in a central American town, in which sub-plots and larger plots are interwoven in an engaging manner. His second collection of stories, The Four Million, was released in 1906. The stories are set in New York City, and the title is based on the population of the city at that time. The collection contained several short story masterpieces, including The Gift of the Magi, The Cop and the Anthem, and many others. Henry had an obvious affection for New York City, a reverence that rises up through some of these stories.

O.Henry’s trademark is his witty, plot-twisting endings, and his warm characterization of the awkward and difficult situations and the creative ways people find to resolve them.

Unfortunately, O. Henry’s personal tragedy was heavy drinking and by 1908 his health had deteriorated and his writing dropped off accordingly. He died in 1910 of cirrhosis of the liver, complications of diabetes, and an enlarged heart. The funeral was held in New York City, but he was buried in North Carolina, the state where he was born. He was a gifted short story writer and left us a rich legacy of great stories to enjoy.

About the Story

“Hearts and Hands” by O. Henry is a story about two acquaintances who meet on a train. When Mr. Easton encounters Miss Fairchild, he is handcuffed to another man. One passenger on the train, however, realizes that things are not as they seem.

Like many of 0. Henry’s short stories, a surprise ending awaits at the end of the story in ‘Hearts and Hands.’ The story is set on a train to Denver. An elegantly attired woman named Miss Fairchild is seated on the train when two men arrive and take the seat facing her. It quickly becomes apparent that the woman knows one of the men.

She speaks to this man, Mr. Easton, and then she is rather surprised to discover that he is handcuffed to the man seated beside him. As Easton greets the young woman, ‘He slightly raised his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining ‘bracelet’ to the left one of his companion.’

Evidently, the man with Easton senses Easton’s embarrassment and volunteers an explanation: Easton is the marshal, and the two are headed for Leavenworth prison. ‘It’s seven years for counterfeiting’ Easton says. As the conversation continues, the woman is surprised to learn that Easton has discarded his life in Washington to become a marshal out west, but she finds the west agreeable as well.

The young woman continues to chat with her acquaintance, but she continues to stare at the handcuffs. To ease her concerns, the scruffy looking older man tells her, ‘Don’t you worry about them, miss,’ said the other man. ‘All marshals handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away. Mr. Easton knows his business.’ As the two men stand to go to the smoker car, the young woman bids Mr. Easton goodbye.

All the while, two passengers seated nearby have listened to the conversation. One remarks on Mr. Easton’s appearance, saying that he seems too young to be a marshal. The other eavesdropping passenger corrects the mistake—one that the young woman and readers have likely made as well. Mr. Easton is not the marshal; he is the counterfeiter. ‘Oh! didn’t you catch on?’ the passenger says. ‘Say—did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?’ The ending comes as a surprise and this is what makes the story remarkable.

Plot

The story opens in Denver, with the boarding of passengers on the eastbound B.M. Express into one of the coaches where, “a very pretty young woman,” sits. Miss Fairchild (the young woman) recognizes Mr. Easton (the young man) and strikes up a conversation with him. The handcuffs, however, worry Miss Fairchild, but the “prisoner” soothes her worries, explaining that Mr. Easton is a marshal taking him to prison. The two converse untiTthe men depart to the smoke room at the prisoner’s request.

Exposition-Miss Fairchild is on a train and she sees one of her old friends, Mr.Easton, who is handcuffed to a prisoner. She is puzzled.
Rising Action-They both start talking to each other and she finds out that he is a marshall as she is informed by the other man.
Climax-They tell each other about their lives and how they miss one another. The story cuts to another set of passengers who had been listening in on the conversation. One comments on the marshal’s good character. His companion comments on the young age of the marshal. The other seems confused before replying, “did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand.
Falling Action-Mr.Easton goes and takes the prisoner to the smoking room. The conclusion is ambiguous because the story leaves the reader to connect the dots without telling what happened after the other passenger’s comment.Mr. Easton told Miss Fairchild that he needed to go to Leavenworth, but he didn’t say whether he would be going as a marshal or a prisoner. He also said, “ My butterfly days are over,” hinting at his future imprisonment. Miss Fairchild, however, thought he was referring to his social days. Mr. Easton uneasiness and shyness a the beginning of the story also foreshadow the conclusion.
Resolution-Mr.Easton says goodbye to his old friend Miss Fairchild. The other passengers discuss the improbability of Mr Easton being the Marshall and the story ends on a note of ambiguity.

Theme

The theme in the story‘Heart and Hands’ is the idea that people are not always as they appear. We realize at the end of the story that one has been misled to believe that Mr. Easton is the marshal when in reality he is the prisoner and a criminal. This information shocks since it is a complete surprise.

Another theme is that kindness can be applied in any situation and to anyone, criminal or not. The marshal is compassionate toward Mr. Easton and helps him out of an embarrassing situation even though he does not have to.

An important idea suggested is that money is not everything. The author also wants to tell us that one must never forget our origins or where we came from. The story also puts forward the idea that one may run into old friends in the most unlikely of places. ‘Well Mr. Easton if you will make me speak first I suppose I must. Don’t you ever recognize old friends when you meet them in the west.’

Highlights of Speech/or Summary

A pair of men handcuffed together board a Denver train. There is a very elegant lady who happens to know one of the handcuffed men. The pair sit across from the elegant lady who asks if the man remembers her. The lady is horrified when she sees the handcuffs but he explains to her that he is the Marshall and is transporting the prisoner to Leavenworth prison. Mr Easton, who is acquainted with Miss Fairchild explains that money was tight and he took a job transporting prisoners. The prisoner explains that all marshals handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away after Miss Fairchild takes a nervous glance at the handcuffs. The prisoner says that he hasn’t had a drink and hasn’t smoked all day. They leave Miss Fairchild to go into the smoking car. One of the other passengers claims ‘Pretty young to hold an office like that, isn’t he?’. Another passenger says ‘why-Oh! didn’t you catch on? Say-did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?’ This is O. Henry’s way of telling the reader that Mr. Easton was actually the prisoner aiuj the ‘prisoner’ was actually the

Marshall transporting Mr. Easton to a new prison. The two men switched roles because Mr. Easton did not want Miss Fairchild to know that he was going to prison.

Like many of O. Henry’s short stories, a surprise ending awaits at the end of ‘Hearts and Hands.’ The story is set on a train to Denver. An elegantly attired woman named Miss Fairchild is seated on the train when two men arrive and take the seat facing her. It quickly becomes apparent that the woman knows one of the men.

She speaks to this man, Mr. Easton, and then she is rather surprised to discover that he is handcuffed to the man seated beside him. As Easton greets the young woman,’He slightly raised his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining ‘bracelet’ to the left one of his companion.’

Characters

Mr Eastou

Mr. Easton is a handsome young man with a “bold, frank countenance and manner.” He is a good liar, possibly likes Miss Fairchild, and cares about his reputation. He is a flat character who is directly characterized. He is described as having a handsome presence with a bold, frank countenance. Throughout the story, Miss Fairchild speaks to Mr. Easton as if he is a hero because he is marshal. “And so now you are one of thee dashing Western heroes, and you ride and shoot and go into kinds of dangers.” However, at the end, the reader finds out that he is not a hero at all. Fie uses dramatic irony with the misleading descriptions of t he marshal and Mr. Easton which cause the reader to believe that the marshal is the prisoner and the prisoner is the marshal. When Mr Easton was accosted by Miss Fairchild he was initially surprised but was quick enough to rouse himself sharply at the sound of her voice, and smart to cover his slight embarrassment instantly, and then graciously clasped her fingers with his left hand.” It’s Miss Fairchild,”he said, with a smile. “I’ll ask you to excuse the other hand; “it’s otherwise engaged just at present.”

He slightly raised his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining “bracelet” to the left one of his companion. This shows that he was a man who could use his wits to cover his real self and was accustomed to fool people with his handsome looks. When he saw that Miss Fairchild was upset on seeing his handcuffs he tried to cover up with a little laugh, as if amused.

Easton was a thick skinned con man who did not have qualms about hiding his identity from his friend “My dear Miss Fairchild,” said Easton, calmly, “I had to do something. Money has a way of taking wings unto itself, and you know it takes money to keep step with our crowd in Washington. I saw this opening in the West, and—well, a marshalship isn’t quite as high a position as that of ambassador, but—”

Miss Fairchild

Miss Fairchild is gullible, pretty, and fair skinned. She is possibly uneducated. She is a flat character who is directly characterized. She is the protagonist.

Miss Fairchild is a very pretty young woman dressed in elegant taste and surrounded by all the luxurious comforts of an experienced traveller. She appears to be rich, materialistic and self engrossed. At first she appears disinterested in the two new passengers who board the train as her ‘glance fell upon them with a distant, swift disinterest; then with a lovely smile brightening her countenance and a tender pink tingeing her rounded cheeks, she held out a little gray-gloved hand.’ Her voice was full, sweet, and deliberate, and it showed that its owner was accustomed to speak and be heard.”Well, Mr. Easton, if you will make me speak first, I suppose I must. Don’t you ever recognize old friends when you meet them in the West?”

Miss Fairchild was a lady who liked to play safe and did not want to get involved in anything wrong. So she was upset to see Easton handcuffed to the other man.’The glad look in the girl’s eyes slowly changed to a bewildered horror. The glow faded from her cheeks. Her lips parted in a vague, relaxing distress’

At heart she loved the life in the west and says, “I love the West.”. Her eyes were shining softly. She looked away out the car window. She began to speak truly and simply without the gloss of style and manner.

The Marshall

‘ The Marshall is a ruffled, glum faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. He was a man with keen, shrewd eyes. He is a flat character who is directly characterized.

The marshal is kind-hearted and compassionate toward Mr. Easton and helps him out of an embarrassing situation even though he does not have to. When he sees that Easton is embarrassed from his friend he helps out by saying that Easton is the Marshall.

“You’ll excuse me for speaking, miss, but, I see you’re acquainted with the marshall here. If you’ll ask him to speak a word for me when we get to the pen he’ll do it, and it’ll make things easier for me there. He’s taking me to Leavenworth prison. It’s seven years for counterfeiting.” ‘

“Oh!” said the girl, with a deep breath and returning color. “So that is what you are doing out here? A marshal!”

Other Passengers

The other passengers are flat characters who are indirectly characterized.

Title

The title, Of Hearts and Hands, is significantly suggestive and appropriate because it refers to the conclusion of the story where the true identities of Mr. Easton and the marshal with the knowledge that a marshal always cuff’s prisoners to their left hand. Mr. Easton is handcuffed on his right hand. It may also refer to the marshal’s good heart and the helping hand he offered Mr. Easton in relation to Miss Fairchild. It may also have something to do with the flirtatious relationship between Miss Fairchild and Mr. Easton.

Setting

The setting of this story occurs on the B&M express also known as the Denver train. It takes place during the time in American history known as the wild west, or the early colonization of the west coast. The majority of the story takes place in one of the coaches. The story feels engaging and busy with a casual, unassuming atmosphere. The passengers have a light conversation and then go their separate ways.

Style

In the story, the point of view and narrative is of the third person. The reader can tell because the narrator is subjective towards each character. This is the best point-of- view for the story to be in because it allows the reader to be surprised at the end. If it was omniscient, the reader would know Mr. Easton’s thoughts. For example, ‘Oh man, I hope she is going to believe that I’m a marshal!’ If it were omniscient, then the surprise would be ruined.

Critical Appreciation

The story opens in Denver, with the boarding of passengers on the eastbound B.M. Express into one of the coaches where, “a very pretty young woman,” sits.

Miss Fairchild (the young woman) recognizes Mr. Easton (the young man) and strikes up a conversation with him. The handcuffs, however, worry Miss Fairchild, but the “prisoner” soothes her worries, explaining that Mr. Easton is a marshal taking him to prison. The two converse until the men depart to the smoke room at the prisoner’s request.

The story cuts to another set of passengers who had been listening in on the conversation. One comments on the marshal’s good character. His companion comments on the young age of the marshal. The other seems confused before replying, ‘did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand.’

The conclusion is ambiguous because the story leaves the reader to connect the dots without telling what happened after the other passenger’s comment. Mr. Easton told Miss Fairchild that he needed to go to Leavenworth, but he didn’t say whether he would be going as a marshal or a prisoner. He also said, ‘My butterfly says are over,’ hinting at his future imprisonment. Miss Fairchild, however, thought he was referring to his social days. Mr. Easton uneasiness and shyness at the beginning of the story also foreshadows the conclusion.

This short story has three main characters and two characters who reveal the short story’s irony. Irony in literature occurs when writers portray an event or character in a surprising and unexpected way. The three main characters are Miss Fairfield, her acquaintance Mr. Easton, and the marshal. All the characters in the short story are on a train bound for Denver. Perhaps running into Easton in this manner seems like a fortuitous meeting to the young woman, and she misses the clues that might have indicated the truth of Easton’s situation. Easton is described as having a ‘handsome presence with a bold, frank countenance and manner.’ The author uses irony of situation in the fact that Mr. Easton is handsome, but he is a criminal, and the marshal is rough-looking, but he is not a criminal .An example of verbal irony is when Mr Easton says, ‘My butterfly days are over, I fear.’ He knows lie’s not talking about social days with Miss Fairchild; he’s talking about being locked up and not being free. This also denotes dramatic irony which is created when the protagonist knows the opposite of what you know; the audience knows, but Miss Fairchild doesn’t.

Throughout the story, Miss Fairchild speaks to Mr. Easton as if he is a hero because he is marshal. ‘And so now you are one of the dashing Western heroes, and you ride and shoot and go into kinds of dangers.’ However, at the end, the reader finds out that he is not a hero at all. O Henry uses dramatic irony with the misleading descriptions of the marshal and Mr. Easton which lead us to believe that the marshal is the prisoner and the prisoner is the marshal.

The handcuffs symbolize a lower standard of living, especially compared to Miss Fairchild’s standard of living. When Mr. Easton points them out, Miss Fairchild is horrified and quick to judge the situation.

The tone of the story is casual and unassuming, with the majority of the story consisting of ligh-thearted conversation between the passengers There is nothing extremely suspicious to prematurely lead us to the conclusion of the story until the surprise is revealed.

The title, Of Hearts and Hands, is significant because it refers to the conclusion of the story where the true identities of Mr. Easton and the marshal with the knowledge that a marshal always cuff’s prisoners to their left hand. It may also refer to the marshal’s good heart and the helping hand he offered Mr. Easton in relation to Miss Fairchild. It may also have something to do with the flirtatious relationship between Miss Fairchild and Mr. Easton. The conclusion is ambiguous because the story leaves the reader to connect the dots without telling what happened after the other passenger’s comment.

The author makes use of personification: T think the air agrees with me.’ And then hyperbole when the marshal says: ‘I’m half dead for a pipe.’ Imagery is also adeptly employed by O Henry : ‘The young woman’s glance fell upon them with a distant swift disinterest then with a lovely smile brightening her countenance and tender pink tingeing her rounded cheeks she held out a little gray gloved hand.’

Glossary

Influx (noun): an arrival of a large number of people or things
A passenger car of a train
Here, “B. & M. Express” is likely a reference to the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, an American railroad company in the west from the late 19th century.
Frank (adjective): honest and straightforward in speech or attitude; outspoken or blunt
Countenance (noun): a person’s face or facial expression
Glum (adjective): looking or feeling gloomy
Vacant (adjective): empty
Deliberate (adjective): purposeful; planned or decided ahead of time
Rouse (verb): to stop being inactive and start doing something; to become excited or emotional; to get up
Distress (noun): a state of extreme sorrow, suffering, or pain
Shrewd (adjective): having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute
Acquainted (adjective): familiar (with)
A marshal is a federal or municipal law officer
Slang for a penitentiary jail or prison
Counterfeiting- refers to the illegal practice of manufacturing fake money.
Irrelevantly (adverb): not connected with what you are discussing or dealing with
Sidle (verb): to walk in a quiet or cautious way

For More Resources

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 4 Hearts and Hands – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

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