The Gift Of The Magi
(O. Henry, William Sydney Porter)
Della and James "Jim" Dillingham Young love each other. They are the modern day version of star struck lovers- they are terribly young, and not very rich. Yet, they have two things which they proudly display like a king displays his diamonds- Della's long, shiny brown hair and Jim's grand pocketwatch. Only, Jim's watch does not have a matching chain to go with it, and Della can only look wistfully at a pair of expensive combs in a shop window, just the right shade for her beautiful, long hair.
The story is set around Christmas Eve, when we find Della tortured by the thought of not being able to give Jim any present because she can't afford it. So she sells her hair and raises twenty dollars. After much searching, she buys a platinum watch chain ideal for Jim. The only trouble is, what will Jim say when he sees their treasured possession chopped off for a watch chain?
But Della need not have feared, for Jim loved her. He did not care what her appearence was like, whether she had bobbed hair or long cascading hair. But Della is frightened when she sees the strange look in Jim's eyes when he saw her hair, or the lack of it. Jim has sold his precious watch to buy a set of combs for Della's long, beautiful hair. And now, the two "foolish children" are without any of their treasures, yet richer than the three Wise Men who brought silks and jewels and myrrh to the baby Jesus in his poor cradle.
This is the most famous of O Henry's short stories, known for the twist that always comes in the end. It is a simple, as well as profound, love story at the same time. But the powerful ending has made the story popular with generations of romantics. Della and Jim are no Romeo-and-Juliet, there are no melodramatic moments. This is the way modern day love works, and this little lovestory in set in a thoroughly unromantic New York apartment still makes one smile tenderly.
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