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The Cop and the Anthem

O. Henry

First published April 1970
Type Short Fiction
Length Short Story

A vagrant is trying to get arrested for a petty crime so he'll be sentenced to a few months in jail during the winter to get off the streets. But he repeatedly fails to attract police attention. Then he hears a hymn coming from a church, which reminds him of better times and lost ideals, and he decides to get a job instead.

First published in the December 4th, 1904 edition of the (New York) Sunday World.

Date Publication Publisher Type Page
April 1970 Cover Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, April 1970 Davis Publications MAGAZINE 95|3
1980 Cover Angels and Awakenings Doubleday Anthology 137
November 1994 Cover Angels and Awakenings Doubleday Anthology 137
2002 Cover 101 Stories The Folio Society Collection 5