Short Story by O. Henry. O. Henry is one of the leading American writers. He is best known for his short stories, which are noted for their ‘twists’ or ‘surprise’ endings. O. Henry was born William Sydney Porter in North Carolina in 1862. His father died when he was three and he never had a close relationship with his mother, who worked as a hotel cook to support her children and later married another man who abused her and her children. He began writing short stories while working in a bank in Texas, using pen names like “Olivia Henry”. He … Continue reading THE CACTUS