Poetry · Chapter
Dime Story explained
A parson forgets his written sermon at home, but his wife finds it and sends a boy to deliver it in time, promising him a dime.
What happens
A parson forgets his written sermon at home, but his wife finds it and sends a boy to deliver it in time, promising him a dime. The boy fulfills his part by giving the sermon to the parson, who then delivers it to the congregation.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the boy’s childish joy and naive belief that he can see Ameri…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Moral Lessons and Domestic Virtue
The story illustrates honesty, resourcefulness, and the virtue of keeping one's word, as the boy fulfills his contract and the wife aids her husband.
Key passages
“We tell a tale, ’tis all in rhyme, To show how boy earned a dime”
This rhyming story explains how a boy earned ten cents.
Opening lines set up the moral lesson about earning money through honest work.
“She found sermon on the table, And found a boy who was able To deliver it in good time, By promising to give him dime.”
The wife discovered the forgotten sermon and hired a boy to deliver it quickly, offering him a dime as payment.
Key plot point showing domestic cooperation and a simple economic transaction.
“Said he, “My contract I did cover, I gave it to parson to deliver, And he delivers it with feeling. And the poor folks’ hearts he’s healing.””
The boy argued that he fulfilled his agreement by handing the sermon to the parson, who then delivered it effectively to comfort the congregation.
The boy's clever reasoning emphasizes the theme of fulfilling one's duty and the value of practical honesty.
