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The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg is a short story by Mark Twain, a very famous American writer. He wrote this story in 1899. Twain is known for his clever humor and strong messages. In this story, he shows how even the most “honest” people can make mistakes when they are tempted by money and pride.
The story is about a town called Hadleyburg. The people in this town believe they are the most honest people in the world. They teach their children to be honest from a young age. One day, a stranger comes to the town. He feels hurt by something that happened there many years ago. So, he decides to teach the people a lesson. He creates a clever plan using a sack of gold coins and a fake message.
As the story continues, the people of Hadleyburg begin to lie and cheat to get the gold. Their secrets are slowly revealed in front of everyone. The town’s pride is broken, and everything changes.
This version of the story has been rewritten in simple English, especially for Level 2 English learners. It uses easy grammar, clear sentences, and some helpful new words. The story is divided into five chapters, and at the end of each chapter, you will find questions to help you understand and talk about the story.
Let’s begin the story of how Hadleyburg lost its perfect name—and learned an important lesson.
This story was rewritten by LearnEnglish-new.com for English learners. Enjoy reading the story and improve your English skills!
The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg
By Mark Twain
Contents
Chapter Two: The Contest Begins
Chapter Three: Shame in the Town
Chapter Four: The Truth Changes Everything
Chapter One
The Perfect Town
Hadleyburg was a small town. The people who lived there were proud. They believed they were the most honest people in the world. Parents always told their children, “Never lie, never cheat, and never steal.” These words were repeated so many times that even little children knew them by heart.
The people of Hadleyburg thought they were special. They believed their honesty made them better than everyone else. Other towns didn’t agree. People from outside laughed at Hadleyburg. They said, “Those people are too proud. They think they are perfect.”
One day, a stranger came to Hadleyburg. Nobody knew his name. He stayed for only a short time. While he was there, something happened. The people of Hadleyburg were unkind to him. Maybe they didn’t notice him. Maybe they were too proud. But he felt hurt and angry. As he left the town, he said to himself, “I will come back one day. I will teach Hadleyburg a lesson. They are not as honest as they think.”
Many months passed. One day, a large sack arrived in the town. It looked heavy and full. A letter was attached to the sack. People gathered to read the letter. It said:
“This sack holds $40,000 in gold coins. I want to give this money to a man in Hadleyburg. A few months ago, I passed through your town. I was poor and hungry. A kind man helped me. He gave me twenty dollars and some advice. He wrote these words on a paper: ‘You are far from being a bad man. Go, and reform.’ Those words changed my life. I am now a rich man. I want to thank the person who helped me. I don’t remember his name, but he will remember those words.”
The town was surprised. Who was the kind man? Who would get the sack of gold? The people became excited. Everyone wanted to know who the hero was. They wanted to see him get his reward.
The letter explained what to do. The man who gave the advice should write a letter to the town leaders. He must write the exact words he gave to the stranger. If the words matched, the gold would be his.
People started guessing. “It must be Mr. Wilson,” someone said. “No, maybe it was Mr. Billson,” said another. “I think I remember those words.”
But the truth was, no one remembered helping a poor stranger with those exact words. No one knew who had said them. The town leaders didn’t know what to do. But soon, something strange happened.
At night, some people sat down and wrote letters. They copied the words: “You are far from being a bad man. Go, and reform.” They added, “I gave these words to a poor man months ago.” They signed the letters and sent them to the town leaders. They hoped to get the gold.
But none of them had told the truth.
Hadleyburg had always said, “We are the most honest town.” But now, its most respected people were lying.
Chapter 1 – Vocabulary
- Proud /praʊd/ — feeling happy because of something you have or do.
Example: The people who lived there were proud. - Honest /ˈɒnɪst/ — always telling the truth and not cheating.
Example: They believed they were the most honest people in the world. - Cheat /tʃiːt/ — to act dishonestly to get something you want.
Example: Parents always told their children, “Never lie, never cheat, and never steal.” - Steal /stiːl/ — to take something that belongs to another person.
Example: Parents always told their children, “Never lie, never cheat, and never steal.”
- Stranger /ˈstreɪndʒə(r)/ — a person you do not know.
Example: One day, a stranger came to Hadleyburg. - Hurt /hɜːt/ — to make someone feel sad or unhappy.
Example: He felt hurt and angry. - Advice /ədˈvaɪs/ — an idea about what someone should do.
Example: He gave me twenty dollars and some advice. - Reward /rɪˈwɔːd/ — something you get for doing something good.
Example: Everyone wanted to see him get his reward.
Chapter 1 – Comprehension Questions
- What was Hadleyburg famous for?
- What did parents teach their children?
- Why did the stranger become angry with the people of Hadleyburg?
- What arrived in Hadleyburg one day?
- How much money did the sack supposedly contain?
- What did the kind man give the stranger?
- What did the people of Hadleyburg start doing after they heard about the gold?
- What did some people write at night?
Chapter 1 – Grammar Exercises
1. The people of Hadleyburg ___ proud of their town.
a) is
b) are
c) am
2. Parents always ___ their children to be honest.
a) teach
b) teaches
c) teaching
3. A stranger ___ to Hadleyburg one day.
a) come
b) comes
c) came
4. The stranger ___ hurt and angry after leaving the town.
a) feel
b) felt
c) feels
5. A large sack ___ to the town many months later.
a) arrived
b) arrive
c) arriving
6. The sack ___ $40,000 in gold coins.
a) hold
b) holds
c) holding
7. The people ___ guessing who the kind man was.
a) started
b) starts
c) starting
8. Some people ___ letters at night because they wanted the gold.
a) write
b) wrote
c) writes
Answer Key:
b) are 2. a) teach 3. c) came 4. b) felt 5. a) arrived 6. b) holds 7. a) started 8. b) wrote.
Chapter Two
The Contest Begins
The town leaders of Hadleyburg met to read the letters. There were nineteen letters in total. Each one said almost the same thing: “I met a poor man and gave him twenty dollars. I also gave him these words: ‘You are far from being a bad man. Go, and reform.’”
The leaders were shocked. Nineteen people had written the same thing. How was that possible? They all claimed to be the honest helper from before. But the stranger said only one person helped him.
The people in town became excited. Everyone talked about the letters. Everyone wanted to know who would win the sack of gold. Some people thought, “Maybe my husband will win.” Others whispered, “I hope it’s me.” But deep in their hearts, they all felt nervous. They knew they had lied.
A few days later, the leaders held a big public meeting. The whole town came to the hall. People stood close together. Children sat on the floor. Everyone was waiting.
Mr. Burgess, the Chair of the meeting, opened the sack. He pulled out a paper with the test-remark. He read it loudly:
“You are far from being a bad man. Go, and reform.”
People looked at each other. They waited to see whose letter matched.
Mr. Burgess then opened the first letter. It was from Mr. Billson. He read the words out loud. They matched perfectly. People clapped and shouted.
“Billson is the honest man! Give him the gold!”
But just before giving the sack, Mr. Burgess said, “Wait, there is another letter from Mr. Wilson.” He opened it and read it. It had the same words.
Now the people were confused. Two men gave the exact same words. How could that be? One of them must be lying.
Mr. Burgess looked worried. He said, “There may be more letters with the same words.” Then he read all the other letters. One by one, the people heard the same sentence again and again.
The crowd became silent. Then someone laughed. Another person shouted, “They all said the same thing!” Everyone began to laugh louder. It was a strange, nervous laugh.
The town that was once proud of its honesty was now full of liars.
The stranger’s plan was working.
One voice in the back said, “Maybe the test was a trick!” Another shouted, “Who is the stranger? He is the real problem!”
But no one really believed that. Deep down, they knew the truth. They had all tried to cheat. The gold had tempted them.
Mr. Burgess then said, “Let me read the final note from the stranger.”
He opened the paper and read:
“There was no helper. I was never given twenty dollars. The test was fake. I made it all up. I wanted to show that Hadleyburg is not really honest. And now I have.”
The people gasped. Their faces turned red. Some shouted in anger. Others looked down in shame.
Hadleyburg was not the perfect town anymore.
Chapter 2 – Vocabulary
- Leader /ˈliːdə(r)/ — a person who helps control or guide a group.
Example: The town leaders of Hadleyburg met to read the letters. - Letter /ˈletə(r)/ — a written message sent to someone.
Example: There were nineteen letters in total. - Match /mætʃ/ — to be the same as something else.
Example: The words matched perfectly. - Confused /kənˈfjuːzd/ — not understanding what is happening.
Example: Now the people were confused.
- Crowd /kraʊd/ — a large group of people together.
Example: The crowd became silent. - Shout /ʃaʊt/ — to speak very loudly.
Example: Someone shouted, “They all said the same thing!” - Tempt /tempt/ — to make someone want to do something, especially something wrong.
Example: The gold had tempted them. - Fake /feɪk/ — not real; made to look real.
Example: The test was fake.
Chapter 2 – Comprehension Questions
- Where was Hadleyburg?
- What did the people of Hadleyburg think about themselves?
- What did parents teach their children?
- Why did the stranger want to teach Hadleyburg a lesson?
- What arrived in the town one day?
- How much money was in the sack?
- What did the stranger say a kind man had given him?
- What did some people write at night to try to get the gold?
Chapter 2 – Grammar Exercises
1. The town leaders ___ to read the letters.
a) meet
b) met
c) meets
2. There ___ nineteen letters in total.
a) was
b) were
c) is
3. The people ___ excited about the gold.
a) was
b) were
c) is
4. Everyone ___ to know who would win the gold.
a) wanted
b) want
c) wanting
5. Mr. Burgess ___ the sack at the public meeting.
a) open
b) opened
c) opens
6. The words ___ perfectly.
a) matched
b) match
c) matching
7. People ___ at each other when they heard the same words.
a) looked
b) look
c) looking
8. The people ___ angry when they heard the truth.
a) became
b) become
c) becoming
Answer Key:
b) met 2. b) were 3. b) were 4. a) wanted 5. b) opened 6. a) matched 7. a) looked 8. a) became
Chapter Three
Shame in the Town
The next morning, Hadleyburg was quiet. People stayed in their homes. Shops opened late. Neighbors did not look at each other. The proud and honest town now felt ashamed.
The news spread fast. Everyone knew the truth: the letters were lies. Nineteen respected people had all tried to take money that was not theirs.
Some of them were important men. Some worked for the church. Some were town leaders. Now, they were all the same—liars.
Mr. and Mrs. Richards sat in their house. They felt afraid and guilty. Mr. Richards was one of the people who had written a fake letter. But something was different. He never sent his letter.
“I was going to send it,” Mr. Richards said. “But I couldn’t do it. I felt sick inside.”
Mrs. Richards looked at him. “Maybe we will be safe. No one knows you wrote the letter.”
“But I still tried,” he said quietly. “In my heart, I am not honest.”
Then something strange happened. A letter came to the Richards’ house. Inside the envelope was a note and a check for $20,000.
The note said:
“Mr. and Mrs. Richards, I know you were honest. I know you didn’t send the letter. You are the only ones in Hadleyburg who told the truth. Please accept this money. You deserve it.”
The couple stared at the check. Their hands shook.
“We didn’t tell the truth,” Mr. Richards said. “I almost sent the letter.”
“But you didn’t,” said his wife. “Maybe that means something.”
Still, they were not happy. The money made them feel worse. They felt dirty inside.
Later that day, people in the town heard the news. “The Richards got the money!” they said.
Some were happy. “At least someone honest wins.” Others were angry. “Why them? They are not better than us!”
Soon, reporters came to town. They wanted to hear the full story. They asked questions. They took photos. Hadleyburg was now famous—but not for its honesty. It was famous for shame.
People in other towns laughed. They said, “So much for perfect Hadleyburg!” The name became a joke.
At night, Mr. Richards sat alone. He thought about everything that happened.
He whispered, “What is honesty? Is it never doing wrong? Or is it being afraid to do wrong?”
He didn’t know the answer.
Chapter 3 – Vocabulary
- Ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/ — feeling bad because you did something wrong.
Example: The proud and honest town now felt ashamed. - Guilty /ˈɡɪlti/ — feeling bad because you did something wrong.
Example: Mr. Richards was one of the people who had written a fake letter, and he felt guilty. - Envelope /ˈenvələʊp/ — a paper cover used for sending a letter.
Example: Inside the envelope was a note and a check for $20,000. - Check /tʃek/ — a piece of paper that you can use to receive money from a bank.
Example: Inside the envelope was a note and a check for $20,000.
- Deserve /dɪˈzɜːv/ — to have something because you have earned it.
Example: You deserve it. - Safe /seɪf/ — not in danger or not likely to have a problem.
Example: “Maybe we will be safe. No one knows you wrote the letter.” - Dirty /ˈdɜːti/ — not clean; in this story, feeling bad inside.
Example: The money made them feel worse. They felt dirty inside. - Shame /ʃeɪm/ — a strong feeling of being bad or embarrassed.
Example: It was famous for shame
Chapter 3 – Comprehension Questions
- Why was Hadleyburg quiet the next morning?
- What did everyone in the town know?
- How did Mr. and Mrs. Richards feel about what had happened?
- Why did Mr. Richards feel guilty?
- What did the Richards receive in the envelope?
- Why did Mrs. Richards think they could be safe?
- How did people in the town react when they heard that the Richards got the money?
- Why did reporters come to Hadleyburg?
Chapter 3 – Grammar Exercises
1. Hadleyburg ___ quiet the next morning.
a) was
b) were
c) is
2. People ___ at each other after the truth was known.
a) did not look
b) does not look
c) do not looked
3. Mr. Richards ___ afraid and guilty.
a) feel
b) felt
c) feels
4. He ___ his letter but did not send it.
a) write
b) wrote
c) writes
5. A letter ___ to the Richards’ house.
a) came
b) come
c) comes
6. The couple ___ at the check.
a) stared
b) stare
c) staring
7. The money ___ them feel worse.
a) make
b) made
c) makes
8. Reporters ___ to town to hear the full story.
a) come
b) came
c) comes
Answer Key:
1. a) was 2. a) did not look 3. b) felt 4. b) wrote 5. a) came 6. a) stared 7. b) made 8. b) came
Chapter Four
The Truth Changes Everything
The people of Hadleyburg could not stop thinking about what had happened. The lie had become too big. The town’s pride was broken. The people felt small and weak.
Soon, the names of the nineteen people who sent the false letters were made public. The whole town saw the list. Friends stopped talking. Families argued. Trust disappeared.
Some people left town. Others stayed quiet and avoided their neighbors. The church was half empty. The school was quiet. Life in Hadleyburg was not the same.
Mr. and Mrs. Richards still had the $20,000 check. But they could not sleep. They felt sick every day. Mr. Richards said, “People think we are heroes. But we are not. I wrote that letter. I just didn’t send it.”
Mrs. Richards cried. “Let’s give the money back.”
But it was too late. A week later, Mr. Richards died. The doctors said his heart stopped. Some people thought it was sadness. Others thought it was guilt.
Mrs. Richards followed him soon after.
The money never helped them. It only brought pain.
After the Richards’ deaths, the people of Hadleyburg came together. They held a town meeting. This time, no one stood tall. No one was proud.
An old man said, “We are not honest. We were just never tested before. The stranger showed us the truth.”
Another woman added, “Let’s teach our children something better. Not just to say ‘We are honest’—but to be kind, and to admit mistakes.”
The people voted to change the town’s name. They no longer wanted to be called Hadleyburg. The name reminded them of their pride—and their fall.
Slowly, the town changed. People began to be more careful with their words. They tried to help one another more. They no longer said, “We are the most honest town.”
Now, they said, “We are trying to do better.”
The stranger never came back. No one knew his name. But his plan had worked. He had corrupted Hadleyburg—but maybe he had also helped it.
Not with gold, but with truth.
Chapter 4 – Vocabulary
- Pride /praɪd/ — a feeling that you are better or more important than others
Example: The town’s pride was broken. - Public /ˈpʌblɪk/ — known or seen by everyone
Example: The names of the nineteen people who sent the false letters were made public. - Trust /trʌst/ — believing that someone is honest and will do the right thing
Example: Friends stopped talking. Families argued. Trust disappeared. - Hero /ˈhɪərəʊ/ — a person who is admired for doing something good or brave
Example: People think we are heroes.
- Guilt /ɡɪlt/ — a bad feeling because you did something wrong.
Example: Others thought it was guilt. - Admit /ədˈmɪt/ — to say that something is true, especially when you did something wrong.
Example: They taught their children to be kind, and to admit mistakes. - Change /tʃeɪndʒ/ — to become different.
Example: Slowly, the town changed. - Honest /ˈɒnɪst/ — telling the truth and not cheating.
Example: Now, they said, “We are trying to do better.”
Chapter 4 – Comprehension Questions
- Why did the people of Hadleyburg feel small and weak?
- What happened to the names of the nineteen people?
- What happened to the trust between people in the town?
- Why could Mr. Richards not sleep?
- What did Mr. Richards tell his wife about the letter?
- Why did Mr. and Mrs. Richards want to give the money back?
- What happened to Mr. Richards?
- What did the people of Hadleyburg decide to teach their children?
Chapter 4 – Grammar Exercises
1. The people of Hadleyburg ___ ashamed after the truth was known.
a) was
b) were
c) is
2. The names of the nineteen people ___ made public.
a) was
b) were
c) is
3. Friends ___ talking to each other.
a) stopped
b) stop
c) stops
4. Mr. Richards ___ sleep because he felt guilty.
a) cannot
b) could not
c) does not
5. Mr. Richards ___ the false letter but did not send it.
a) wrote
b) write
c) writes
6. Mrs. Richards ___ to give the money back.
a) wanted
b) want
c) wanting
7. The people ___ a town meeting after the Richards’ deaths.
a) hold
b) held
c) holds
8. The town ___ to do better.
a) tried
b) try
c) tries
Answer Key:
1. b) were 2. b) were 3. a) stopped 4. b) could not 5. a) wrote 6. a) wanted 7. b) held 8. a) tried
Chapter Five
A New Beginning
After the big meeting, Hadleyburg began to change. The people no longer said, “We are the best.” They stopped telling their children that they lived in the most honest town. Instead, they taught them to be careful, kind, and real.
A new sign was placed at the edge of the town. It no longer said “Welcome to Hadleyburg.” It now said only:
“Welcome. Do your best.”
Many people moved away. Others stayed. New people came. The town slowly became quiet again—but different. The old pride was gone. In its place, people tried to live with honesty and humility.
The story of Hadleyburg spread across the country. Newspapers printed headlines like:
“Honest Town Caught Lying.”
“Pride Comes Before the Fall.”
“Gold Reveals True Character.”
Other towns talked about Hadleyburg. Some laughed. Others learned from it.
Teachers used the story in classrooms. They asked students, “What would you do?” “Would you write the letter?” “Is it wrong to lie if you think no one will know?”
Even years later, the town remembered the stranger. No one ever found him. No one knew his real name. But his message stayed in the hearts of the people.
One young boy in town asked his father, “Will the stranger ever come back?”
The father smiled. “He already did what he needed to do. He showed us who we really are.”
The boy thought for a moment. “But isn’t that a bad thing?”
“No,” said the father. “Sometimes, to become better, we must see the worst in ourselves first.”
The boy nodded. He didn’t fully understand. But he would remember those words.
And maybe one day, when he grew up, he would tell that story to someone else. Not just the story of the gold, or the stranger, or the lie—but the story of how one proud town fell, and then slowly stood back up again.
Not perfect. Not proud.
But honest.
— THE END –
The Original Version of the Story: americanliterature.com
Chapter 5 – Vocabulary
- Beginning /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/ — the start of something.
Example: A New Beginning. - Sign /saɪn/ — a board with words on it that gives information.
Example: A new sign was placed at the edge of the town. - Welcome /ˈwelkəm/ — a friendly greeting when someone arrives.
Example: It now said, “Welcome. Do your best.” - Humility /hjuːˈmɪləti/ — the quality of not thinking you are better than other people.
Example: In its place, people tried to live with honesty and humility.
- Headline /ˈhedlaɪn/ — the main title of a newspaper story.
Example: Newspapers printed headlines like “Honest Town Caught Lying.” - Character /ˈkærəktə(r)/ — the kind of person someone is.
Example: “Gold Reveals True Character.” - Classroom /ˈklɑːsruːm/ — a room where students learn.
Example: Teachers used the story in classrooms. - Remember /rɪˈmembə(r)/ — to keep something in your mind and not forget it.
Example: But he would remember those words.
Chapter 5 – Comprehension Questions
- How did the people of Hadleyburg change after the town meeting?
- What did they teach their children?
- What did the new sign at the edge of the town say?
- Why did people try to live with honesty and humility?
- What did newspapers say about Hadleyburg?
- What did teachers ask their students about the story?
- What did the father say when his son asked if the stranger would come back?
- What did the town become after its old pride was gone?
Chapter 5 – Grammar Exercises
1. The people of Hadleyburg ___ to change after the meeting.
a) begin
b) began
c) begins
2. They ___ telling their children that they lived in the most honest town.
a) stopped
b) stop
c) stops
3. A new sign ___ placed at the edge of the town.
a) was
b) were
c) is
4. Many people ___ away from Hadleyburg.
a) move
b) moved
c) moves
5. New people ___ to the town.
a) came
b) come
c) comes
6. Teachers ___ the story in classrooms.
a) used
b) use
c) uses
7. The boy ___ his father about the stranger.
a) ask
b) asked
c) asks
8. The town slowly ___ up again.
a) stood
b) stand
c) stands
Answer Key:
1. b) began 2. a) stopped 3. a) was 4. b) moved 5. a) came 6. a) used 7. b) asked 8. a) stood
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