1 The Gif t of the Magi

Adapted from the story by O.Henry

O. Henry's real name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1862. He left school at the age of fifteen and worked in many different places. He also spent three years in prison because he took money from a bank.He started to write stories while he was in prison.O.Henry is famous for his stories with surprise endings. “The Gift of the Magi” is his most famous story. It is from the book The Four Million, stories about the everyday people of New York City. O. Henry died in 1910.

Della counted her money three times. She had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And tomorrow would be Christmas. What Christmas gift could she buy with only one dollar and eighty-seven cents? Della lay down on the old bed and cried and cried.

Let's leave Della alone for a while and look at her home. The chairs and tables were old and poor. Outside there was a mailbox without mail, and a door without a doorbell. The name on the door said MR. JAMES DILLINGHAM YOUNG—Della's dear husband, Jim.

Della knew that Jim would be home soon. She dried her eyes and stood up. She looked in the mirror. She began to comb her hair for Jim. She felt very sad. She wanted to buy Jim a Christmas gift—something good. But what could she do with one dollar and eighty-seven cents? She combed her hair in front of the mirror and thought. Suddenly she had an idea.

Now, Jim and Della had only two treasures. One was Jim's gold watch. The other was Della's hair. It was long and brown, and fell down her back. Della looked in the mirror a little longer. Her eyes were sad, but then she smiled. She put on her old brown coat and her hat. She ran out of the house and down the street. She stopped in front of a door which said, MME. SOPHRONIE. HAIR OF ALL KINDS.Madame Sophronie was fat and seemed too white.The store was dark.

“Will you buy my hair?” Della asked.

“I buy hair, ” said Madame. “Take off your hat. Let's see your hair.”

Della took off her hat. Her hair fell down like water. Mme. Sophronie lifted Della's hair with a heavy hand.“Twenty dollars, ”she said.

“Give me the money now! ” said Della.

Ah! The next two hours flew past like summer wind. Della shopped in many stores for the right gift for Jim. Then she found it—a chain for his gold watch. It was a good chain, strong and expensive. Della knew the chain would make Jim happy. Jim had a cheap chain for his watch, but this chain was much better. It would look good with the gold watch. The chain cost twenty-one dollars. Della paid for the chain and ran home with eighty-seven cents.

At seven o'clock Della made coffee and started to cook dinner.Jim would be home soon. He was never late. Della heard Jim outside. She looked in the mirror again. “Oh! I hope Jim doesn't kill me! ” Della smiled, but her eyes were wet. “But what could I do with only one dollar and eighty-seven cents?”

The door opened,and Jim came in and shut it.His face was thin and quiet. His coat was old, and he had no hat. He was only twenty-two. Jim stood still and looked at Della. He didn't speak. His eyes were strange. Della suddenly felt afraid. She did not understand him. She began to talk very fast. “Oh, Jim, dear, why do you look so strange? Don't look at me like that. I cut my hair and sold it. I wanted to buy you a Christmas gift. It will grow again—don't be angry. My hair grows very fast. Say ‘Merry Christmas', dear, and let's be happy. You don't know what I've got for you—it's beautiful.”

“You cut your hair?” Jim spoke slowly.

“I cut it and sold it, ” Della answered. “Don't you like me now? I'm still me, aren't I?”

“You say that your hair is gone?” Jim asked again.

“Don't look for it, it's gone, ” Della said. “Be good to me, because it's Christmas. Shall we have dinner now, Jim?”

Jim seemed to wake up. He smiled. He took Della in his arms.

Let's leave them together for a while. They are happy, rich or poor. Do you know about the Magi? The Magi were wise men who brought Christmas gifts to the baby Jesus. But they could not give gifts like Jim's and Della's.Perhaps you don't understand me now. But you will understand soon.

Jim took a small box out of his pocket.“I love your short hair, Della, ” he said. “I'm sorry I seemed strange. But if you open the box, you will understand.” Della opened the box. First she smiled, then suddenly she began to cry. In the box were two beautiful combs. Combs like those were made to hold up long hair. Della could see that the combs came from an expensive store. She never thought she would ever have anything as beautiful! “Oh, Jim, they are lovely! And my hair grows fast, you know. But wait! You must see your gift.”Della gave Jim the chain. The chain was bright, like her eyes. “Isn't it a good one, Jim? I looked for it everywhere. You'll have to look at the time one hundred times daily, now. Give me your watch. I want to see them together.”

Jim lay back on the bed. He put his hands under his head, and smiled. “Della, ” he said, “let's put the gifts away. They are too good for us right now. I sold the watch to buy your combs. Come on, let's have dinner.”

The Magi, as we said, were wise men—very wise men. They brought gifts to the baby Jesus. The Magi were wise, so their gifts were wise gifts. Perhaps Jim and Della do not seem wise. They lost the two great treasures of their house. But I want to tell you that they were wise. People like Jim and Della are always wiser than others. Everywhere they are wiser. They are the magi.