Read the excerpts from "a retrieved reformation" by o. henry. identify each excerpt as supporting one of these themes: "people can change
for the better" or "people are not able to change themselves."
"brace up, and make a man of
yourself. you're not a bad
fellow at heart. stop cracking
safes, and live straight."
"that's dandy jim valentine's
autograph. he's resumed business."
jimmy valentine looked into
her eyes, forgot what he was,
and became another man.
"it's the only life, billy—the
straight one. i wouldn't touch
a dollar of another man's money
now for a million."
"going to marry the banker's
daughter are you, jimmy? "
said ben to himself, softly.
"well, i don't know! "
"guess you're mistaken,
mr. spencer," he said. "don't
believe i recognize you. your
buggy's waiting for you, ain't it? "
people can change
for the better.
people are not able to
change themselves.