Xmas Story: Needle in Foot.
Dates: 4/9/02,12:09 PM through 4/9/02,12:09 PM (1 posting)
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Fiction_L Archives
Xmas Story: Needle in Foot.
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FROM: David Wright <dwright333@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 4/9/02, 12:09 PM
"I wonder if you can help me with a question? I
am trying to locate the author and title of a
short story I 1st read 30 years ago.
For years I was sure that the author was/is O
Henry, but having checked every O Henry
publication that I can find, I have still not
found the story. I seem to recall that the
premise for the story included the Great
Depression, so perhaps the author is Damon
Runyon....I am at a loss.
The story is along these lines. (It's a short
novelette or a long short story!)
The main character has a regular job, I think
he's an insurance salesman. The depression hits
and he finds himself out of work. Knowing that
his last financial security for his family rests
in the insurance policy on his life, he manages
to keep up the payments, even though he has no
job.
He is sweeping sidewalks, with Christmas looming,
and he meets an old man who has a farm. The old
fellow tells the main character that he can bring
himself and his family to live on the farm, that
there is no money to be had, but in return for
work, they will be housed and fed.
They make the move and the life on the farm is
not too bad. He keeps up the payments on the
insurance policy though. One day, coming out of
the bathroom, he treads on something sharp. He
examines his foot - his wife is in another part
of the house - and discovers a sewing needle in
his foot. He removes the needle but only half of
it comes out; the other half is buried in his
foot. He recalls reading that the half a needle
in his body will gradually migrate to his heart
and kill him! He remembers the insurance policy
and realizes with his accidental death, the
policy will pay out and his family will get taken
care of. He decides to leave the broken half
needle in his foot.
As time passes, life on the farm is going well.
He finds the time, with Christmas approaching, to
make wooden gifts in the workshop for his
children, and a beautiful kitchen closet for his
wife. He keeps up the payments on the insurance
policy, and dimly regrets his decision to not
remove the needle as life seems to be working out
- but it's too late to do anything about the
needle which by now must be approaching his
heart.
When Christmas arrives, he gives his children
their presents which he has made. He calls his
wife to the barn and reveals his gift to her, the
beautiful furniture he has made.
She asks him to come inside and she gives him her
Christmas present to him, a little box and in it,
buried in some cotton wool, is the missing half
of the needle....
Who wrote this wonderful story and what is it
called? I would be so grateful if you could
assist me, or suggest how I could trace this
story."
David Wright
Seattle Public Library
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