Poetry · Chapter
Jas. A. Ballard explained
A brief, humorous poem about Jas.
What happens
A brief, humorous poem about Jas. A. Ballard, Sales Manager of Semet Solvay Co. in Detroit, who praises a man named Jim for not overcharging him for coal, treating him fairly as if he were a stranger.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because the speaker confronts the painful realization that his child’s lov…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Humor and Satire
The poem uses lighthearted verse to comment on fair business dealings.
- Work and Profession
References the roles of sales manager and coal supplier in a professional transaction.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The speaker who sends a rush order for coal and appreciates fair pricing.
- James F. Stepina
Implied as 'Jim,' the person who supplies coal without overcharging.
Key passages
“When the coal pile gets dang’rously slim, I send a rush order to Jim, Who, bless his old soul, Soaks me no more for coal Than if I were a stranger to him.”
When I'm low on coal, I urgently order from Jim, who charges me the same fair price he would charge anyone else.
Highlights the narrator's appreciation for Jim's honest pricing.
