The gift of the magi It was the day before Christmas. James and Dellas first as a married couple.

Early in the morning Della said goodbye to James as he left their tiny flat for work. He turned round, smiled at her and stroked her long, straight brown hair. He wasn't broad-shouldered, or very good-looking, in fact he was kind of short and plump but he was her Jim poor, maybe, but she loved him because he was kind, patient and generous. 'I love that hair!' said Jim (as he always did), and then Della went inside. Della took our her purse. In it was one dollar and eighty-seven cents. It was all she had in the world, and she felt like crying - nor because they didn't have enough to eat (they were poor, but not that poor) but because she wanted to buy Jim a really special Christmas present - but with less than two dollars? Della went into town. She stopped to look in the jewelers window. There was the silver hair clasp she'd always wanted, and then she saw a beautiful gold watch-chain. That was it! Jim had a watch, his favorite possession: it had been his father's, but it didnt have a chain. She went in and asked how much the chain was. Five dol1ars. She walked out almost in tears. How was she going to find the rest of the money? As she walked sadly down the street she saw a sign outside another shop: We buy hair'. She looked at her long hair in her reflection in the window. She took a deep breath and went in. Jinn came home that evening, whistling happily. In his hand was the present he'd bought for Della. He went in the flat an called her name. He gasped in surprise when Della came out of the bedroom, her hair cropped short and spiky. She ran to him and asked him not to be angry with her, and then she said 'I can't wait until tomorrow', I must give you it immediately. Happy Christmas, and gave him his present. Jim unwrapped it, smiled and sat down, Then Della told him why she'd had her hair cut off 'I sold my hair to buy the chain. Jim - why are you smiling like that? Don't you like your present?' Jim looked at her. 'It's wonderful - and I'm still in love with You, with or without the hair. Bur look, here's your present.' Della didn't know what to think when she saw - the silver hair clasp. 'Oh Jim, thank you - and it's OK, I can grow my hair again. But how did you get the money for this?' Jim smiled again. 'Let's just put our presents away, Della, and have dinner. I'll tell you about it later.'