Hello Friends,
It’s Day 3 of The 12 Days of Books!
Our third gem is none other than The Gift of The Magi, by O. Henry.
One dollar and eight-seven cents is all the money Della has in the world to buy her beloved husband, Jim, a Christmas present.
The only thing that she can sell is her beautiful long brown hair…
…and so she does. Her locks are able to get her twenty dollars, which she uses to purchase a platinum fob watch chain for Jim’s watch.
As luck would have it, Jim sold his watch to buy Della a comb for her hair…which she can now no longer use.
This story is one of hope, love, sacrifice, and it truly gets at the heart of the beauty of the Christmas spirit.
The magi, as you know, were wise men–wonderfully wise men–who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as theyare wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.
Live, Love, Learn,
The Write Teacher(s)