In his short story, “Miss Tooker’s Wedding Gift,” John Kendrick Bangs shows that, in order for a relationship to thrive, honesty must prosper. Through this story, Bangs demonstrates that until he admits what he has done, Harry Van Buren doesn’t feel that can marry Miss Tooker.
A Refused Proposal
After Miss Tooker refuses his marriage proposal, she sends Harry a letter in which she promises that she‘ll reconsider his offer, if he makes something of himself. She writes: “Come to me at the end of a year and show me the record of something accomplished, ... and my ’no‘ of this afternoon may be turned into a ’yes.'”Since he was so clever at writing in his college days, she advises him to try and publish a book. Should he publish a book and it become a success, she might have better news for him.
