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by O. Henry
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One dollar and eighty-seven There’s no introduction;
cents. That was all. And sixty the story just starts right
cents of it was in pennies. in the middle of things.
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by O. Henry
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by O. Henry
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by O. Henry
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Question 1: Why do
you think Della is in
need of money?


The questions are easy cents. That was all. And sixty the story just starts right
cents of it was in pennies.
to recognize because
they are in reverse Question 1: Why do
need of money?
text.


The questions are easy cents. That was all. And sixty the story just starts right
cents of it was in pennies.
to recognize because
they are in reverse Question 1: Why do
need of money?
text.
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turn-in.
And now, let’s begin our look at
One dollar and eighty-seven There’s no
cents. That was all. And sixty introduction; the
cents of it was in pennies. story just starts
right in the middle of
things.
This technique is
called in media res,
which is Latin for in
the middle of things.
Press <Enter> to Continue Notes
Annotated Gift of the Magi © 2007. All Rights Reserved.

One dollar and eighty-seven We’re told that
cents. That was all. And sixty someone has only
cents of it was in pennies. $1.87. That’s not
very much.
And a lot of it is in
pennies, as if
someone worked hard
to scrape it together,
a penny at a time.
Annotated Gift of the Magi © 2007. All Rights Reserved. Press <Enter> Now to Continue
Pennies saved one and two at a This part tells us
time by bulldozing the grocer and that the person who
the vegetable man and the saved the $1.87 did
it by arguing with
butcher until one's cheeks burned merchants about
with the silent imputation of prices and getting
parsimony that such close dealing them to come down a
implied. penny or two at a
time.

Pennies saved one and two at a That means that the
time by bulldozing the grocer and merchants probably
the vegetable man and the thought the shopper
was a cheapskate!
butcher until one's cheeks burned
with the silent imputation of
Being thought of as
parsimony that such close dealing cheap is what silent
implied. imputation of
parsimony means.
Three times Della counted it. One The author now tells
dollar and eighty- seven cents. us the name of the
And the next day would be person who is trying
to get some money
Christmas. together: Della.
And we find out here

that the story takes
place on the day
before Christmas.
There was clearly nothing to do Della doesn’t have
but flop down on the shabby little enough money, and
couch and howl. So Della did it. she’s upset about it.
Which instigates the moral Question 1: Why do
reflection that life is made up of you think she might
sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with need money?
sniffles predominating.

There was clearly nothing to do The author says that
but flop down on the shabby little life is made up of
couch and howl. So Della did it. sobs, sniffles, and
smiles, with sniffles
Which instigates the moral predominating.
reflection that life is made up of
This is his way of
sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with
saying that life is
sniffles predominating. happy sometimes, sad
sometimes, but
mostly in between.

There was clearly nothing to do Notice that sobs,
but flop down on the shabby little sniffles, and smiles
couch and howl. So Della did it. all begin with the
same sound.
Which instigates the moral
reflection that life is made up of That’s not an
sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with accident. Repeating
sniffles predominating. the same sound like
that is called
alliteration.
While the mistress of the home is The narrator now
gradually subsiding from the first moves the focus
stage to the second, take a look from Della, who is on
the couch crying, to
at the home. the place where she
is living.
A furnished flat at $8 per week. It A furnished flat is an
did not exactly beggar apartment that has
description, but it certainly had furniture already in
it, which is rented.
that word on the lookout for the
mendicancy squad. The rent on the
apartment is $8 a
week, which means
it’s probably not very
nice or new.

A furnished flat at $8 per week. It To beggar
did not exactly beggar description means
description, but it certainly had something that is so
nice that it’s hard to
that word on the lookout for the describe in words.
mendicancy squad.

A furnished flat at $8 per week. It When the narrator
did not exactly beggar says that the
description, but it certainly had apartment did not
exactly beggar
that word on the lookout for the description, he means
mendicancy squad. that it is probably a
little old, shabby, and
run-down. It is not
new and nice.

A furnished flat at $8 per week. It “Mendicancy” means
did not exactly beggar being poor and having
description, but it certainly had to beg for money or
food.
that word on the lookout for the
mendicancy squad. The part it certainly
had that word on the
lookout for the
mendicancy squad
means that it’s a
place where poor
people might live.
In the vestibule below was a A vestibule is an
letter-box into which no letter entryway that leads
would go, and an electric button to several
apartments.
from which no mortal finger could
coax a ring. The letter-box is the
mailbox, and it’s
broken, and so is the
doorbell—more
evidence that the
apartments are
shabby and rundown.
Also appertaining thereunto was On the mailbox for
a card bearing the name "Mr. one of the
James Dillingham Young." apartments is a card
to identify who lives
there: Mr. James
Dillingham Young.
The "Dillingham" had been flung Almost everyone has
to the breeze during a former a middle name, but
period of prosperity when its using it on the
mailbox that way
possessor was being paid $30 per would have been
week. something that rich
people would do.

The "Dillingham" had been flung “Flung to the breeze”
to the breeze during a former here means using the
period of prosperity when its middle name in public.
possessor was being paid $30 per We’re told that the
week. person used his
middle name that way
when he was being
paid $30 a week.

The "Dillingham" had been flung That was a lot of
to the breeze during a former money then, and so
period of prosperity when its the person might
have thought he
possessor was being paid $30 per would soon be rich,
week. making that kind of
money.
But we’re told he’s

not making that much
anymore.
Now, when the income was Now he’s only making
shrunk to $20, though, they were $20 a week, so
thinking seriously of contracting maybe the
“Dillingham” part
to a modest and unassuming D. should be changed to
“D.”

Now, when the income was What the narrator is
shrunk to $20, though, they were doing here is telling
thinking seriously of contracting the reader that the
person isn’t doing
to a modest and unassuming D. well financially right
now.
But whenever Mr. James The narrator tells us
Dillingham Young came home and here that even
reached his flat above he was though Mr. Young
isn’t making as much
called "Jim" and greatly hugged money as he used too,
by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, his wife isn’t angry
already introduced to you as about it.
Della.
And we find out that
Della and Jim are the
husband and wife in
the story.
Which is all very good. Now we turn the
Della finished her cry and focus back to Della,
attended to her cheeks with the who is done crying.
powder rag.
A powder rag is a
cloth that a woman
uses to put on and
take off her makeup.
She stood by the window and Della is worried
looked out dully at a gray cat about not having
walking a gray fence in a gray much money, and so
everything looks gray
backyard. to her as she
wonders what to do.
Question 2:
Describe a situation
when you were
worried about
something.
Tomorrow would be Christmas Now the author
Day, and she had only $1.87 with comes right out and
which to buy Jim a present. tells us what the
problem is—not
enough money to buy
a nice present for
her husband for
Christmas.
She had been saving every penny The narrator gives us
she could for months, with this more information
result. Twenty dollars a week about how hard it has
been for Della to
doesn't go far. Expenses had been scrape together
greater than she had calculated. money.
They always are.
The twenty dollars a
week is her husband’s
salary, as we’ve
already been told.

She had been saving every penny Isn’t it true that
she could for months, with this expenses are always
result. Twenty dollars a week more than you think
they will be?
doesn't go far. Expenses had been
greater than she had calculated.
They always are.
Only $1.87 to buy a present for The narrator gives us
Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour the impression that
she had spent planning for it has made Della
happy to think about
something nice for him. giving Jim something
nice for Christmas.
But what can you get

that’s nice for just
$1.87?
Something fine and rare and Sterling in this sense
sterling--something just a little bit means genuine, as in
near to being worthy of the honor the phrase sterling
silver. That means
of being owned by Jim. real silver, not plated
or painted, but real
all the way through.
There was a pier-glass between Pier-glass is a kind of
the windows of the room. cheap mirror, made in
Perhaps you have seen a pier- long, narrow strips.
glass in an $8 flat.
It would have been
used in cheap
apartments instead
of expensive plate-
glass mirror.
A very thin and very agile person By placing the strips
may, by observing his reflection in of mirror together,
a rapid sequence of longitudinal you can make kind of
an uneven mirror.
strips, obtain a fairly accurate
conception of his looks.
Della, being slender, had The narrator tells us
mastered the art. here that Della can
see herself pretty
well in the cheap
pier-glass mirror.
That’s important for

what is to come in
the story.
Suddenly she whirled from the Della sudden
window and stood before the brightens up—maybe
glass. her eyes were shining she has an idea?
brilliantly, but her face had lost its
color within twenty seconds.
Rapidly she pulled down her hair
and let it fall to its full length.
Now, there were two possessions The narrator will now
of the James Dillingham Youngs spend some time
in which they both took a mighty describing two things
that Della and Jim
pride. have that are
important to them.
One was Jim's gold watch that Jim has a nice watch,
had been his father's and his that belonged to his
grandfather's. family and that is
now his.
The other was Della's hair. And Della has long,
beautiful hair.
Had the queen of Sheba lived in The queen of Sheba
the flat across the airshaft, Della was a legendary
would have let her hair hang out beauty from the
Bible.
the window some day to dry just
to depreciate Her Majesty's The author is saying
jewels and gifts. here that Della’s hair
is so nice that it
would have made the
queen’s jewels and
gifts look shabby.
Had King Solomon been the King Solomon was a
janitor, with all his treasures piled famous wise man
up in the basement, Jim would from the Bible.
have pulled out his watch every
The narrator is
time he passed, just to see him saying here that Jim
pluck at his beard from envy. watch is so nice that
it would have made
the king jealous.
So now Della's beautiful hair fell Della’s hair, besides
about her rippling and shining like just being beautiful,
a cascade of brown waters. It is really long—it
stretches all the way
reached below her knee and past her knees.
made itself almost a garment for
her.
And then she did it up again Della puts her hair
nervously and quickly. Once she back up, and cries
faltered for a minute and stood just a little bit while
she does so.
still while a tear or two splashed
on the worn red carpet. Question 3: Why do
you think Della is
crying here?
On went her old brown jacket; on Della gets dressed
went her old brown hat. With a quickly and hurries
whirl of skirts and with the out of the apartment.
brilliant sparkle still in her eyes,
she fluttered out the door and
down the stairs to the street.
Where she stopped the sign read: Mne. is an
"Mne. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All abbreviation for
Kinds." One flight up Della ran, Madame. It is a word
that comes from
and collected herself, panting. French that is used
with the person’s last
name to address a
married woman, like
we might use the
term Mrs.

Where she stopped the sign read: Mne. Sonfronie. Hair
"Mne. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Goods of All Kinds. is
Kinds." One flight up Della ran, a shop that buys and
sells hair.
and collected herself, panting.
This was common in
the days before
there was a manmade
substitute for human
hair to make wigs for
people.

Where she stopped the sign read: Sofronie is a French
"Mne. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All name.
Kinds." One flight up Della ran,
Many times, sellers
and collected herself, panting. of hair and clothes
would pretend they
were French, because
the French were the
leaders in ladies
fashions.
Madame, large, too white, chilly, The narrator tells us
hardly looked the "Sofronie." here that the woman
who is calling herself
Madame Sofronie
doesn’t look much like
we would expect a
French woman to
look.
"Will you buy my hair?" asked Now we understand
Della. Della’s plan—she’s
going to sell her hair
to get money to buy
Jim a gift.
"I buy hair," said Madame. "Take The narrator shows
yer hat off and let's have a sight us here that
at the looks of it." “Madame Sofronie”
doesn’t speak the way
a French woman
would. She’s
probably not French
at all—but no one
really expects her to
be anyway.
Down rippled the brown cascade. The word practised
"Twenty dollars," said Madame, looks funny to us, as
lifting the mass with a practised if it might be
misspelled, but it
hand. isn’t.
That way of spelling

it was acceptable
when this story was
written.
"Give it to me quick," said Della. Della asks for the
money quickly, before
she has a chance to
change her mind.
Oh, and the next two hours The narrator means
tripped by on rosy wings. Forget that the time went
the hashed metaphor. She was by quickly, as if it
were flying by.
ransacking the stores for Jim's
present. But he doesn’t say
flew by on rosy
wings, instead, he
says tripped by on
rosy wings.

Oh, and the next two hours He uses the word
tripped by on rosy wings. Forget tripped instead of
the hashed metaphor. the more natural
word, flew.
That’s why he calls it
a hashed metaphor.
Hashed in this sense

means a metaphor
that’s not a very good
one.
She was ransacking the stores for Della has a lot of fun
Jim's present. She found it at last. shopping—especially
It surely had been made for Jim now that she has
some money to spend
and no one else. There was no —and finds a nice
other like it in any of the stores, gift for Jim.
and she had turned all of them
inside out.
It was a platinum fob chain A fob chain is a chain
simple and chaste in design, that’s meant to
properly proclaiming its value by attach to a pocket
watch.
substance alone and not by
meretricious ornamentation--as The other end of the
all good things should do. chain attaches to the
man’s belt.

It was a platinum fob chain The point of the
simple and chaste in design, chain is so that if the
properly proclaiming its value by watch slips out of
the person’s hand, it
substance alone and not by won’t drop to the
meretricious ornamentation--as ground and maybe
all good things should do. break.
It was a platinum fob chain Meretricious here
simple and chaste in design, means something
properly proclaiming its value by that’s flashy.
substance alone and not by
meretricious ornamentation--as What the narrator is
all good things should do. saying is that the
chain was plain, but
still very expensive-
looking.
It was even worthy of The Watch. The narrator calls it
As soon as she saw it she knew not just the watch
that it must be Jim's. It was like but the Watch.
him. Quietness and value--the Capitalizing the word
description applied to both. watch tells us that
it’s a very special
watch—maybe the
only one of its kind.

It was even worthy of The Watch. Della thinks that the
As soon as she saw it she knew fob chain is perfect
that it must be Jim's. It was like for Jim because, like
her husband, it is
him. Quietness and value--the quiet (meaning its
description applied to both. just a plain chain) and
it has value.
Twenty-one dollars they took The fob chain cost
from her for it, and she hurried $21. Della had $1.87
home with the 87 cents. saved, and earned
$20 from the sale of
her hair, so she has
only 87 cents left.
But that’s okay,

because she got a
nice gift for Jim.
With that chain on his watch Jim Della thinks that Jim
might be properly anxious about might be eager to
the time in any company. pull out his watch to
“check the time” a
lot, now that he will
have a nice chain to
show off.
Grand as the watch was, he The narrator tells us
sometimes looked at it on the sly that since Jim has
on account of the old leather only a leather strap
to tie up his watch,
strap that he used in place of a he sometimes is shy
chain. or embarrassed
about pulling it out to
check the time.
When Della reached home her Della’s been
intoxication gave way a little to intoxicated from the
prudence and reason. pleasure of finding
and buying Jim’s gift.
But now she must

face the reality of
having lost her
beautiful long hair.
She got out her curling irons and In the days before
lighted the gas and went to work electricity, curling
repairing the ravages made by irons for hair were
heated up by gas
generosity added to love. Which burners, used, then
is always a tremendous task, placed back on the
dear friends--a mammoth task. burner to heat up
again.

She got out her curling irons and Della is trying to do
lighted the gas and went to work what can be done
repairing the ravages made by with the short hair
she has left.
generosity added to love. Which
is always a tremendous task,
dear friends--a mammoth task.

She got out her curling irons and The author uses the
lighted the gas and went to work words ravages made
repairing the ravages made by by generosity added
to love to describe
generosity added to love. Which what’s left of Della’s
is always a tremendous task, hair after she’s cut it
dear friends--a mammoth task. off to sell it.
She got out her curling irons and What the author
lighted the gas and went to work means is that when
repairing the ravages made by we love someone and
want to be generous
generosity added to love. Which to them—as Della
is always a tremendous task, loves Jim—we often
dear friends--a mammoth task. do things that are a
sacrifice to
ourselves.

She got out her curling irons and To repair these
lighted the gas and went to work “ravages,” the author
repairing the ravages made by says, is very hard to
do—and that’s very
generosity added to love. Which often true.
is always a tremendous task,
dear friends--a mammoth task.
Within forty minutes her head Della uses the curling
was covered with tiny, close-lying iron to curl what hair
curls that made her look she has left.
wonderfully like a truant
This sort of curls
schoolboy. made in short hair is
the hairstyle that
schoolboys of the
period might have.
She looked at her reflection in the Question 4: Why do
mirror long, carefully, and you think Della is
critically. now so concerned
with the way she
looks?
"If Jim doesn't kill me," she said Now Della’s starting
to herself, "before he takes a to get worried about
second look at me, he'll say I look what effect the loss
of her hair will have
like a Coney Island chorus girl. on Jim.
Coney Island was an

amusement park in
New York City.

"If Jim doesn't kill me," she said Young women who
to herself, "before he takes a worked as singers in
second look at me, he'll say I look a chorus at Coney
Island might have
like a Coney Island chorus girl. worn short curly
hairstyles.
At 7 o'clock the coffee was made Della has gotten
and the frying-pan was on the things ready for Jim
back of the stove hot and ready to come home.
to cook the chops.
Jim was never late. Della doubled Della continues to
the fob chain in her hand and sat worry about what
on the corner of the table near Jim is going to think
about her missing
the door that he always entered. hair.
Then she heard his step on the And here comes Jim.
stair away down on the first
flight, and she turned white for
just a moment.
The door opened and Jim stepped The narrator says
in and closed it. He looked thin that Jim was
and very serious. Poor fellow, he burdened with a
family. That doesn’t
was only twenty-two--and to be mean that he and
burdened with a family! He Della have children.
needed a new overcoat and he
was without gloves.

The door opened and Jim stepped It just means that
in and closed it. He looked thin Della doesn’t have a
and very serious. Poor fellow, he job, as was the
tradition in those
was only twenty-two--and to be days.
burdened with a family! He
needed a new overcoat and he
was without gloves.

The door opened and Jim stepped Since Della doesn’t
in and closed it. He looked thin have any income, Jim
and very serious. Poor fellow, he has to be the bread-
winner for both of
was only twenty-two--and to be them.
burdened with a family! He
needed a new overcoat and he Again, the narrator
was without gloves. tells us that Jim’s
clothing is old and
worn, suggesting that
he doesn’t have much
money.
Jim stopped inside the door, as The phrase setter at
immovable as a setter at the the scent of quail
scent of quail. refers to a breed of
dog that hunters
went hunting with.
The dog was trained
to stop and point
when he noticed a
bird in the grass
ahead.

Jim stopped inside the door, as The dog would
immovable as a setter at the continue to stand
scent of quail. completely still, even
when the hunter
would fire his gun
over the dog’s head
at the bird.
A quail is a kind of
bird that the hunter
might be after.
His eyes were fixed upon Della, Della sees that her
and there was an expression in husband notices, but
them that she could not read, and she’s not sure what
his expression means.
it terrified her.
Question 5: Do you
think that Jim is
going to be angry
about her missing
hair?
It was not anger, nor surprise, nor Della knows what her
disapproval, nor horror, nor any of husband’s expression
the sentiments that she had been is when he’s angry,
surprised, when he
prepared for. disapproves of
something, or is
horrified.
She can tell that this

expression is none of
those things.
He simply stared at her fixedly Jim has a peculiar
with that peculiar expression on expression on his
his face. face because he
knows something that
Della does not know.
We’re about to find

out what it is.
Della wriggled off the table and Della is nervous
went for him. about what Jim’s
expression means, so
she finally went for
him and is going to
explain.
Went for him means

she runs right up to
him.
"Jim, darling," she cried, "don't Della wants to quickly
look at me that way. I had my explain about why
hair cut off and sold because I she is missing her
hair.
couldn't have lived through
Christmas without giving you a
present.
It'll grow out again--you won't The reader can
mind, will you? I just had to do it. imagine her saying all
My hair grows awfully fast. Say this hurriedly, trying
to smooth over the
`Merry Christmas!' Jim, and let's problem by explaining
be happy. You don't know what a that she got Jim a
nice-- what a beautiful, nice gift nice gift.
I've got for you."
"You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim is in shock about
Jim, laboriously, as if he had not the hair, but not for
arrived at that patent fact yet the reason that Della
thinks!
even after the hardest mental
labor. We’re about to find
out why.
"Cut it off and sold it," said Della. Yes, of course, she’s
"Don't you like me just as well, the same person with
anyhow? I'm me without my hair, or without her hair.
ain't I?" But having beautiful
long hair and then
suddenly not having it
is a bit of a shock!
Jim looked about the room Jim still can’t quite
curiously. "You say your hair is believe what he’s
gone?" he said, with an air almost seeing, but not for
the reason that Della
of idiocy. thinks!
out why.
"You needn't look for it," said Della picks up on
Della. "It's sold, I tell you--sold Jim’s looking around
and gone, too. the room, and she
tries to make a joke
—You needn’t look
for it, she says.
It's Christmas Eve, boy. Be good Again, Della is trying
to me, for it went for you. to soothe what she
imagines might be
Jim’s anger at her
missing hair.
But he’s not angry.

It’s something else
that we’re about to
find out.
Maybe the hairs of my head were Della’s comment
numbered," she went on with about the hairs on
sudden serious sweetness, "but her head being
numbered refers to
nobody could ever count my love the Bible.
for you.

Maybe the hairs of my head were The Bible says that
numbered," she went on with our days are
sudden serious sweetness, "but numbered, just as
are the hairs on our
nobody could ever count my love head.
for you.

Maybe the hairs of my head were What it means is
numbered," she went on with that none of us are
sudden serious sweetness, "but going to live forever.
nobody could ever count my love
Della here is saying,
for you. yes, the hairs of her
head were numbered,
but her love for Jim
is not.
Shall I put the chops on, Jim?" This is Della’s way of
asking if he would
like her to start
dinner.
Maybe Della thinks

that doing something
ordinary and routine
will bring Jim back to
reality a little bit.
Out of his trance Jim seemed Finally, Jim seems to
quickly to wake. He enfolded his snap out of it.
Della.
Enfolded his Della
means that Jim gave
her a great big hug.
For ten seconds let us regard Here, the narrator
with discreet scrutiny some asks the reader to
inconsequential object in the turn away and look
somewhere else for a
other direction. few seconds.
It was impolite to
stare at a husband
and wife while they
were hugging—or
maybe even kissing a
little, too.
Eight dollars a week or a million a Remember that the
year--what is the difference? A apartment where
mathematician or a wit would they live costs $8 a
week.
give you the wrong answer.

Eight dollars a week or a million a The author here says
year--what is the difference? A that although they
live in a shabby little
mathematician or a wit would apartment, they are
give you the wrong answer. as happy as if they
lived in a million
dollar mansion.

Eight dollars a week or a million a That is to say that it
year--what is the difference? A makes no difference
mathematician or a wit would to them.
give you the wrong answer. But a mathematician
would certainly say
there’s a difference
between a million a
year and $8 a week!

Eight dollars a week or a million a And to a wit—a
year--what is the difference? A person who is smart
mathematician or a wit would and can say there’s a
big difference
give you the wrong answer. between a million a
year and $8 a week.
But they would be
wrong, because to
Jim and Della,
they’re happy either
way.
The magi brought valuable gifts, The Magi were the
but that was not among them. three wise men that
This dark assertion will be brought gifts to the
infant Jesus at
illuminated later on. Bethlehem.
The Magi brought

gifts that were
valuable at the time.

The magi brought valuable gifts, The author is giving
but that was not among them. us a hint of what is
This dark assertion will be to come later in the
story.
illuminated later on.
The hint is that
there’s something
about Della’s gift
that’s even better
than the gifts that
the Magi brought the
baby Jesus.
Jim drew a package from his Well, it looks like Jim
overcoat pocket and threw it has a gift of his own.
upon the table.
It’s a package small
enough to fit in his
pocket—what could it
be?
And how could he

have money to buy a
gift?
"Don't make any mistake, Dell," Jim reassures Della
he said, "about me. I don't think that her hair being
there's anything in the way of a there or being gone
is not something that
haircut or a shave or a shampoo would make him
that could make me like my girl angry.
any less.
But if you'll unwrap that package But there is
you may see why you had me something that made
going a while at first." him have that
strange expression—
something that the
package will explain.
What could it be?
White fingers and nimble tore at Della opens the
the string and paper. package in a rush.
And then an ecstatic scream of She squeals with joy
joy; and then, alas! a quick when she sees what
feminine change to hysterical it is—and then
suddenly starts
tears and wails, necessitating the crying all over again!
immediate employment of all the
comforting powers of the lord of Crying so hard that
the flat. Jim—the lord of the
flat—has to try to
comfort her.

And then an ecstatic scream of And it’s not happy
joy; and then, alas! a quick crying, either—Della
feminine change to hysterical is really sad all of a
sudden.
tears and wails, necessitating the
immediate employment of all the What could the small
comforting powers of the lord of package possibly be?
the flat.
Question 6: What
do you think the
package might be?
For there lay The Combs--the set The package turns
of combs, side and back, that out to be a set of
Della had worshipped long in a combs—we would call
them barrettes—
Broadway window. Beautiful that women use to
combs, pure tortoise shell, with hold their hair in
jewelled rims--just the shade to place.
wear in the beautiful vanished
hair.

For there lay The Combs--the set These particular
of combs, side and back, that combs are some that
Della has wanted
Della had worshipped long in a badly for a long time.
Broadway window. Beautiful
combs, pure tortoise shell, with They’re just the
jewelled rims--just the shade to right color and
everything.
wear in the beautiful vanished
hair.

For there lay The Combs--the set Do you see why she
of combs, side and back, that was very happy at
Della had worshipped long in a first and then all of a
sudden very upset?
Broadway window. Beautiful
combs, pure tortoise shell, with She forgot for a
jewelled rims--just the shade to minute that her hair
wear in the beautiful vanished is gone!
hair.
They were expensive combs, she They were expensive
knew, and her heart had simply combs, we’re told.
craved and yearned over them
But we already know
without the least hope of that Jim and Della
possession. don’t have much
money.
Question 7: How do
you think Jim might
have gotten the
money to buy them?
And now, they were hers, but the She has the combs,
tresses that should have adorned but no hair to wear
the coveted adornments were them in.
gone. Now we see why Jim
had that strange
expression on his
face when he saw
Della and saw that
her hair was gone.
But she hugged them to her Yes, eventually,
bosom, and at length she was Della’s hair will grow
able to look up with dim eyes and long again, and she’ll
be able to wear the
a smile and say: "My hair grows combs in it.
so fast, Jim!"
It will probably be a
long time, though.
And them Della leaped up like a All of a sudden, Della
little singed cat and cried, "Oh, remembers the nice
oh!" gift she has for Jim!
She wants him to

have it right away
because Jim was so
nice to buy her the
combs she wanted.
Jim had not yet seen his beautiful Della rushes to get
present. the fob chain she
bought with the
money she got from
selling her hair.
She held it out to him eagerly Ardent here means
upon her open palm. The dull eager, and Della is
precious metal seemed to flash eager to please her
Jim with the nice
with a reflection of her bright and gift.
ardent spirit.
Question 8: What
do you think Jim’s
reaction to the nice
gift will be?
"Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all Della wants to see
over town to find it. You'll have to what the chain looks
look at the time a hundred times like with the watch
attached to it, and
a day now. Give me your watch. I she want to see it
want to see how it looks on it." right away!
Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled What is Jim smiling
down on the couch and put his about? And why
hands under the back of his head doesn’t he give her
the watch?
and smiled.
out.
"Dell," said he, "let's put our Jim says a strange
Christmas presents away and thing here.
keep 'em a while. They're too
nice to use just at present. But he probably
knows that Della
won’t let him get
away with that—she’s
going to insist on
seeing what the
watch looks like with
the new chain.
I sold the watch to get the money And now we find out
to buy your combs. why Jim smiled when
he saw that his gift
was a watch fob
chain.
His gift is as useless
to him now as Della’s
gift is to her.
And now suppose you put the Jim suggests that
chops on." Della start dinner,
and that’s the last
that we hear in the
story about Jim and
Della.
The magi, as you know, were The narrator wants
wise men--wonderfully wise us to know that the
men--who brought gifts to the Magi were the first
Christmas gift givers,
Babe in the manger. They and that they were
invented the art of giving wise enough to
Christmas presents. choose good gifts.
Being wise, their gifts were no Maybe the gifts they
doubt wise ones, possibly bearing gave were gifts that
the privilege of exchange in case could be returned, if
need be.
of duplication.
Being able to be
returned might be
one quality of a good
gift.
And here I have lamely related to The narrator calls
you the uneventful chronicle of Jim and Della two
two foolish children in a flat who foolish children, and
says that they most
most unwisely sacrificed for each unwisely sacrificed
other the greatest treasures of their greatest
their house. treasures.
Question 9: Do you
think Jim and
Della’s gifts were
foolish?
But in a last word to the wise of But it’s hard to
these days let it be said that of explain what makes a
all who give gifts these two were good gift, and the
narrator wants to say
the wisest. that Jim and Della’s
gifts to each other
were the best gifts—
even better than the
Magi’s gifts to baby
Jesus.
To all who give and receive gifts, The narrator again
such as they are wisest. states that of all
Everywhere they are wisest. They people who have given
and do give gifts, Jim
are the magi. and Della’s gifts were
the wisest.
The narrator ends

the story by saying
they—Jim and Della—
are the Magi.
The End

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And we find out here

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