The Office of English Language Programs

O. Henry’s
The Gift of the
Magi
and other stories
Student Learning Materials
 Published by

The Office of English Language Programs

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

United States Department of State

Washington, D.C. 20037

americanenglish.state.gov

In this publication, there are many links to other websites. These links to websites do not constitute an
endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the site or the opinions presented therein.

Photographs © Shutterstock.com

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 FROM THE CABBY’S SEAT
PRE-READING ACTIVITY 1: WORD SQUARES

The story “From the Cabby’s Seat” is about Jerry and the young woman that he just married. This activity
will help you to learn some important words needed to understand the story.

Directions:

1. Before reading the story, study the Word Squares example below.

Word Squares (Example)

Write the word: Draw a symbol or picture:

horse

Translate the word into your native Use the word in a sentence:
language:
The horse went fast at first, but
Pferd (example in German) after a little time he went more
slowly.

2. Choose two of the Glossary Words provided below and make your own Word Squares using the
empty tables on the next page.

Glossary Words

Word Definition
horse A large animal used for riding and for carrying and pulling things.
cab A taxi; in this story, it is a horse-driven carriage that carries passengers to a
place for an amount of money that is based on the distance traveled.
fare The money a person pays to travel in a cab; also what the driver may call the
passenger who pays the money to travel in a cab.
hole An opening into or through something.
roll To move smoothly on wheels.
pull To move something in a particular direction, often toward you.

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 Word Squares #1
Write the word: Draw a symbol or picture:

Translate the word into your native Use the word in a sentence:
language:

Word Squares #2
Write the word: Draw a symbol or picture:

Translate the word into your native Use the word in a sentence:
language:

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PRE-READING ACTIVITY 2: ANTICIPATION GUIDE

The story “From the Cabby’s Seat” is about Jerry and his new wife. Jerry works as
a cabby (the driver of a horse-driven carriage). It is helpful to guess the details of
the story before you read it. This activity provides some statements about the life
of a cabby in New York City in the 1910’s.

Directions:

1. Before reading the story, read the sentences from the Statement column below.
2. In the Before You Read column, write “T” if you think the statement is going to be true. Write “F” if
you think the statement will be false. An example has been provided for you.
3. As you read the story, compare your predictions with the actual events in the story.
4. Fill in the After You Read column based on what you read. Write “T” if the statement was true or “F”
if the statement was false.

Before After Statement

You Read You Read
T The seat for a cabby is relatively high.

A cabby expects his fare (passenger) will pay him generously.

A cabby does not wait for his fare while the fare stops for a drink or
meal.
A cabby does not work at night.

The cab in this story has two horses.

A cabby usually chats with his fare during a trip.

The cabby in this story didn’t drink before driving his cab.

A cabby usually tries to please his fare.

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 WHILE-READING ACTIVITY 1: CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

O. Henry uses many phrases to describe Jerry and Norah, the two main characters in the story. Many of
these descriptive phrases are listed below. This activity will help you focus on the features of these two
main characters.

Directions:

1. As you read pages 41-45, pay attention to the descriptive phrases provided below. Decide which
character each phrase describes.
2. Write each phrase in the box under the correct character. An example is given.

Descriptive phrases:

High hat (p. 42) Thick and red nose (p. 42) Fine green coat (p. 42)
A plain face (p. 44) Voice sounded like music (p. 43) Shining eyes (p. 43)
An expression of love of life (p. 44) Simple dress (p. 44) Hard voice (p. 45)
Dreaming smile (p. 45) Reddened hands (p. 45) A wide smile (p. 45)

Jerry Norah

1. High hat
1. Voice sounded like music
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
6.
6.

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WHILE-READING ACTIVITY 2: SUPPORTING DETAILS AND MAIN IDEAS

As you read “From the Cabby’s Seat”, this activity will help you understand the main ideas of the story.

Directions:

1. As you read, follow the instructions for each part below.

2. Read the supporting details in the graphic organizer. In the center box, write the main idea of the
part that you have just read.
3. Repeat the same steps for the other parts. The main idea in the graphic organizer below has been
provided as an example.

Begin reading “From the Cabby’s Seat”.

Stop after reading the following passage on page 42:

“In a cab you no longer feel like a person. You may be someone very important.
But in a cab you are no more than something in a box, being carried from one
place to another.”

Supporting Detail: Supporting Detail:

A cabby has his own special A cabby has a simple view of
place. life and people.

Main Idea:
A cabby does not care who
the customer is as long as he
gets good money from them.

Supporting Detail: Supporting Detail:

People are not important to a It is very important for a cabby
cabby unless they wish to go to get his money from the
somewhere. customers.

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Continue reading from page 42.

Stop after reading the following passage on page 43:

“The young woman stepped into the cab. The door closed. The crowd in the
street jumped away. The horse started and the fine cab rolled down the street.”

Supporting Detail: Supporting Detail:

One night there were sounds From the crowd a young
of pleasure and joy in the big woman came. She stopped
house. beside the cab.

Main Idea:

Supporting Detail:
Supporting Detail:
“A fare!” said the cabby and
A crowd of interested
made a sudden move, and
neighbors stood outside the
three or four people near him
door.
fell down.

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Continue reading from page 43.

Stop after reading the following passage on page 44:

“At fifty tables sat people who looked to her like kings and queens. She thought their
clothes and jewels were wonderfully rich. And now and then one of these people
would look at her. They saw a small woman in a simple dress. They saw a plain face.
But on that face they saw an expression of love of life, and the queens wished that
they could look the same.”

Supporting Detail:
Supporting Detail: “Want to stop at the Casino
The cabby asked the lady Restaurant, lady? Have
where she wanted to go. something to eat?” said the
Cabby.

Main Idea:

Supporting Detail:
Supporting Detail: She realized that she was
“Any place you wish,” was expected to buy something
the answer. in the restaurant. She had a
little money.

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Continue reading from page 44.

Stop at the end of the story.

Supporting Detail:
Supporting Detail:
While she sat in the restaurant,
The cabby stopped his horse,
two hours passed. Everybody
and asked for money from the
left. Waiters took everything off
young lady.
tables near hers.

Main Idea:

Supporting Detail: Supporting Detail:

The cabby opened the door The cabby knew what he could
and the young lady entered the do about this young lady
cab. without money.

POST-READING ACTIVITY 1: THE ROUTE OF THE NIGHT

In this story, Jerry gives a cab ride to Norah after their wedding. They start from the Walsh family house
beside McGary’s Family Restaurant and travel to different places in the story. Drawing their route will help
you follow the sequence of events in the story.

Directions:

1. As you read, underline the names of the places on Jerry and Norah’s route.
2. Reorder the events in the chart on the next page according to the development of the story. The
starting point of the route has already been numbered “1”.

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 Place Event Order

Walsh house beside Norah steps into Jerry’s cab. 1

McGary's Family Restaurant
Police Station Jerry finds that Norah is a special fare for him.
Casino Restaurant Norah enjoys a cold drink in the restaurant.
Fifth Avenue Jerry is half asleep.

Connect the places on Jerry and Norah’s route using an arrow. An example has been provided for you.

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POST-READING ACTIVITY 2: UNDERSTANDING THE MAIN CHARACTER

After you read a story, it is important to think about the characters’ feelings, thoughts, and decisions, and
then express your own opinions. This activity will help you think about the character of the cabby (Jerry)
and the decisions he made in the story.

Directions:

1. In the table below, read the series of events in the first column, Event in the Story.
2. Read the second column contains information from the story about the cabby’s feelings, thoughts,
and decisions.
3. Answer the questions in the third column based on the information you read in the story. An
example is provided.

Events In the Character’s Questions

Story Feelings/Thoughts/Decisions
1. The cabby’s His view of people is simpler, perhaps, Question A: Do you think the cabby’s view of life
view of life and than the view of a man who does any and people is appropriate for his job?
people. other kind of work. … People are not
important to him unless they wish to Maybe. A cabby only cares about his
go somewhere. Then they are only
business, not people.
something to be carried from one
place to another. (p. 41)
2. Getting the A fare! He made a sudden move, and Question B: What was the cabby’s attitude
customers into three or four people near him fell toward people who did not ride in his cab?
the cab. down. (p. 42)

3. The cabby They made a sudden stop at the door Question C: Do you think the cabby cared about
stops at the of the restaurant. The cab door the young lady’s feelings when he drove to the
Casino opened. The fare stepped out. At once park and stopped at the Casino Restaurant?
Restaurant. she seemed caught by the wonderful
music. (p. 44)

4.The cabby’s He was full of anger. He shouted at Question D: What would be your reaction if you
reaction when the stars in the sky. He shouted at didn’t get paid for the work you had done?
he learns that other cabs as they passed. His words
the young lady were so bad that another driver,
does not have hearing them, could not believe his
enough money. ears. (p. 45)

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