. >> up next the c-span city store visits the texas home a writer william sidney porter. while in prison on charges of embezzlement he began writing under the name o. henry. [inaudible] >> william sidney porter was a great american short story writer. he wrote about 300 to 400 short stories and he was known for having swift endings. a good example of which is "the gifts of the magi," about a poor couple who want to buy each other christmas presents. she has this long, luxurious hair that she cuts to buy her husband a fault for his pocket watch. he sells his pocket watch to buy her these combs which she has been coveting for her long hair. a lot of people know o. henry as a new york short story writer. he cut his teeth here in austin starting right here in this house. this has been a museum since 1934. what people can find is a middle-class taos that is three rooms, a parlor, there is a bedroom, and there is a dining room and a porch that used to be called a sleeping porch. he moved to texas in his early 20's from greensboro, north carolina, partly out of wanderlust and par

city storethe c-span visits the texas home a writer william sidney porter. while in prison on charges of embezzlement he began writing under the name o. henry.