Christmas Gift

The Gift of the Magi THE GIFT OF THE MAGI by O. Henry One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. Andsixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and twoat a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man andthe butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silentimputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- sevencents. And the next day would be Christmas. There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on theshabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Whichinstigates the moral reflection that life is made up ofsobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating. While the mistress of the home is gradually subsidingfrom the first stage to the second, take a look at the home.A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggardescription, but it certainly had that word on the lookoutfor the mendicancy squad. In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which noletter would go, and an electric button from which no mortalfinger could coax a ring. Also appertaining thereunto was acard bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young." The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during aformer period of prosperity when its possessor was beingpaid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20,though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to amodest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. James DillinghamYoung came home and reached his flat above he was called"Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young,already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good. Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks withthe powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dullyat a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard.Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 withwhich to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every pennyshe could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars aweek doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she hadcalculated. They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present forJim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning forsomething nice for him. Something fine and rare andsterling--something just a little bit near to being worthyof the honor of being owned by Jim. There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room.Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in arapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairlyaccurate conception of his looks. Della, being slender, hadmastered the art. Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood beforethe glass. her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her facehad lost its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulleddown her hair and let it fall to its full length. Now, there were two possessions of the James DillinghamYoungs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim'sgold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's.The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived inthe flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hairhang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been thejanitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement,Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed,just to see him pluck at his beard from envy. So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her ripplingand shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached belowher knee and made itself almost a garment for her. And thenshe did it up again nervously and quickly. Once she falteredfor a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed onthe worn red carpet. On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brownhat. With a whirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparklestill in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down thestairs to the street. Where she stopped the sign read: "Mne. Sofronie. HairGoods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collectedherself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardlylooked the "Sofronie." "Will you buy my hair?" asked Della. "I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let'shave a sight at the looks of it." Down rippled the brown cascade. "Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with apractised hand. "Give it to me quick," said Della. Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings.Forget the hashed metaphor. She was ransacking the storesfor Jim's present. She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jimand no one else. There was no other like it in any of thestores, and she had turned all of them inside out. It was aplatinum fob chain simple and chaste in design, properlyproclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretriciousornamentation--as all good things should do. Itwas even worthy of The Watch. As soon as she saw it she knewthat it must be Jim's. It was like him. Quietness andvalue--the description applied to both. Twenty-one dollarsthey took from her for it, and she hurried home with the 87cents. With that chain on his watch Jim might be properlyanxious about the time in any company. Grand as the watchwas, he sometimes looked at it on the sly on account of theold leather strap that he used in place of a chain. When Della reached home her intoxication gave way alittle to prudence and reason. She got out her curling ironsand lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravagesmade by generosity added to love. Which is always atremendous task, dear friends--a mammoth task. Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny,close-lying curls that made her look wonderfully like a truantschoolboy. She looked at her reflection in the mirrorlong, carefully, and critically. "If Jim doesn't kill me," she said to herself, "beforehe takes a second look at me, he'll say I look like a ConeyIsland chorus girl. But what could I do--oh! what could Ido with a dollar and eighty- seven cents?" At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan wason the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops. Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in herhand and sat on the corner of the table near the door thathe always entered. Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and sheturned white for just a moment. She had a habit for sayinglittle silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, andnow she whispered: "Please God, make him think I am stillpretty." The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. Helooked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was onlytwenty-two--and to be burdened with a family! He needed anew overcoat and he was without gloves. Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setterat the scent of quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della, andthere was an expression in them that she could not read, andit terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nordisapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that shehad been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly withthat peculiar expression on his face. Della wriggled off the table and went for him. "Jim, darling," she cried, "don't look at me that way.I had my hair cut off and sold because I couldn't have livedthrough Christmas without giving you a present. It'll growout again--you won't mind, will you? I just had to do it. Myhair grows awfully fast. Say `Merry Christmas!' Jim, andlet's be happy. You don't know what a nice-- what abeautiful, nice gift I've got for you." "You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim, laboriously, asif he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after thehardest mental labor. "Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you likeme just as well, anyhow? I'm me without my hair, ain't I?" Jim looked about the room curiously. "You say your hair is gone?" he said, with an airalmost of idiocy. "You needn't look for it," said Della. "It's sold, Itell you--sold and gone, too. It's Christmas Eve, boy. Begood to me, for it went for you. Maybe the hairs of my headwere numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness,"but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I putthe chops on, Jim?" Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. Heenfolded his Della. For ten seconds let us regard withdiscreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the otherdirection. Eight dollars a week or a million a year--what isthe difference? A mathematician or a wit would give you thewrong answer. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that wasnot among them. This dark assertion will be illuminatedlater on. Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threwit upon the table. "Don't make any mistake, Dell," he said, "about me. Idon't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or ashave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less.But if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had megoing a while at first." White fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper.And then an ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas! a quickfeminine change to hysterical tears and wails, necessitatingthe immediate employment of all the comforting powers of thelord of the flat. For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side andback, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window.Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelledrims--just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair.They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart hadsimply craved and yearned over them without the least hopeof possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses thatshould have adorned the coveted adornments were gone. But she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she wasable to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hairgrows so fast, Jim!" And them Della leaped up like a little singed cat andcried, "Oh, oh!" Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held itout to him eagerly upon her open palm. The dull preciousmetal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright andardent spirit. "Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to findit. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a daynow. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it." Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch andput his hands under the back of his head and smiled. "Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents awayand keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just atpresent. I sold the watch to get the money to buy yourcombs. And now suppose you put the chops on." The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wisemen--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. Theyinvented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise,their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing theprivilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here Ihave lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of twofoolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed foreach other the greatest treasures of their house. But in alast word to the wise of these days let it be said that ofall who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who giveand receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere theyare wisest. They are the magi. Return to Christmas Poems and Stories Hypertext format ©1996 Rosemary (Rosie) Winters rosiec@night.net . All rights reserved.

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Gift. Anniversary gift. Wedding anniversary gift. A Gift of Poetry. Birthday gift. Wedding gift. Wedding vows. Traditional first anniversary gift. Gift for first anniversary. A Gift of Poetry. Gift for birthday. A gift for every occasion. Wedding Anniversary or Birthday Gift examples . FAQ gifts guarantee home links order pricing testimonials . More information Your words, your thoughts and feelings. Meaningfully wrapped within a gift, A Gift of Poetry. Presented in a uniquely designed, boxed, hand-made card, with your verse of choice as a key emotional focal point. Truly, a 'once-in-a-lifetime' gift, a gift that inspires the heart and touches the soul. A unique gift that says it all. A gift of pure love, A G ift of Poetry is a gift that says it all Do you have something important to say? To someone you love? If so, I can help. Hello, my name is Allen Jesson and since 1998, I have specialized in writing heartfelt and inspirational gift poetry for every occasion and circumstance . Ideally suited for weddings , anniversaries , birthdays and life's other important events, you ma y have many reasons for Maybe you'd like to say " I love you , " " I miss you , " " thank you " or " I'm sorry "? Or do you have another important message that you'd like to send? Trust In The Lord - Dad, before you go, thank you "The poem bought tears to my eyes! It is perfect the way it is." There is nothing that can't be said (and everything that should be said). Our Light - Thanks for your guidance "....not a dry eye could be seen throughout the room. I'm sure you hear it often but you are truly gifted and your poem will be held in high regard always (I'm told that my parents still read it daily because each reading brings new meaning to the words). Respectfully, Thomas E. Keegan , MSPH" Every gift is uniquely written and we continue drafting until you are totally satisfied . T he final draft is then professionally presented to complete your unique gift, a gift created by you and your feelings. Never Ending Desire - I love you today, I'll love you forever "I am amazed I think it is wonderful. It's exactly what I hoped it would be. You've shown me something very special and for that I thank you." If you are looking for a truly memorable gift for that special person, please look no further. With the Deluxe Package , you will receive your first draft in less than 48 hours PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ORDER "I am going to recommend you to everyone I know who has trouble putting their feelings into words." FAQ Alternatively if you would like to ; d iscover more , look at some testimonials , view some recent poem examples , find out how much this service costs , or examine the different package options then please click on the appropriate link. Thank you, Allen (Please click on one of the images for more details of the features that are included in the packages) Are you searching for the perfect birthday wedding or anniversary gift ? Two Dollar Bills - A tale of love for Christmas "I sit here wiping my tears away...." THE CREATIVE PROCESS EXPLAINED A Gift of Poetry makes a truly romantic anniversary gift (also perfect for weddings , birthdays and life's special and sadder events ) A Gift of Poetry , the ultimate gift of love, a gift that says it all If you have any questions or would like to share any thoughts, please send me an e-mail here or please feel free to browse the Frequently Asked Questions Thank you. Best regards, Allen Full package and pricing details can be found here Your unique thoughts and feelings... ...meaningfully wrapped within Please click here to order or here for more information Wiggy and Wigster The Missing Link Oh, How The Years Go By "Wow! what a beautiful job!" "Wow!!!!! I love it!!!!" 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Allen's Recent All Of Fame All The Best Anniversary Gift Birthday Gift The Gift of Birth A Christmas Gift Father's Day Gift A Farewell Gift Inspirational Gift Mother's Day Gift Religious Gift The Gift of Speech Spiritual Gift Valentine's Gift Wedding Poems Wedding Gift Wedding Speech Wedding Vows Wedding Anniversary Wedding Gifts Birthday Gifts Anniversary Wedding Gifts Many have kindly said that I have a gift and I would like to share that gift with you. Poetic wedding vows are also a specialty, " t he perfect gift for my groom ". A Gift of Poetry also makes a perfect and traditional paper first anniversary gift and is suitable for any wedding anniversary. The ultimate first year anniversary gift . (especially for a first anniversary gift or 1st anniversary gift where the traditional gift is paper ). One of the more special and romantic anniversary gift ideas . Can anyone beat a 60th wedding anniversary ? 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If you're looking for a unique birthday gift then A Gift of Poetry is one of those truly unique birthday gifts . B irthday gift ideas . Perfect for a 40th birthday gift or a 50th birthday gift . If you're looking for the perfect gift for someone special , especially for a wedding anniversary or a 50th anniversary , then please look no further. Anniversary gift ideas . A Gift of Poetry can also be used to deal with many relationship issues and there are many examples on the site. Poem For My Daughter On Her Birthday . Poem from a mother to a son . This is not just personalized poetry , this is poetry that is personal. Weddings are just not complete without a wedding poem . Poetic wedding vows are also a specialty, " t he perfect gift for my groom ". A Gift of Poetry is one of those very special wedding gifts for bridegrooms and can be used to enhance weddings of any description. " The Perfect Gift for my Groom ". Poetic wedding vows are also a specialty. A Gift of Poetry is also one of those truly meaningful wedding gifts and obviously makes for a really unique Christmas gift . Actually, we've been working hard to make all our gifts very unique , so there is now a range of unique gifts here. On a sadder note, A Gift of Poetry can also be used to create a moving and unique eulogy . Gift Baskets - Design your own gift baskets Handy hint: Did you know that hold ing down the Ctrl key and press ing the D key automatically adds a site to your bookmark list? Give it a go and see! AFFILIATES About Contact Examples FAQ Find Out More HOME Links More Poems My Guarantee Order Privacy Search Thanks for visiting ! Please come back often ! 100% of the advertising revenues from this site are donated to charities around the world All poems, songs and stories 1995-2005 of their respective authors. This page last updated: Tuesday September 13, 2005 Click here to visit UK site This site 1998-2005 Welcome! Please don't forget to sign up for our FREE Newsletter! Weekly Words of Inspiration Name: Email: Thank you! Did you know that you can have uniquely written for any reason or occasion? A truly unique gift that says it all. From only $67.50 Please click here for details close window

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Valentine Gifts For Him - Gifts BW gifts | gifts Resources | Add URL Wine Gifts & Baskets From the casual wine drinker to the serious enthusiast, we have a gift that will make them smile. Our selection includes premium wine, gourmet baskets, distinctive champagne sets & the very finest California and Northwest wines. Valentine Gifts For Him Articles Valentines Day Gifts making valentine gifts A growing source for finding Valentine's Day craft projects that make great gifts....( Continue Reading ) Valentines: Gifts That Moms Will Love Looking for a special Valentine's Day gift for a mom of multiples? Here's a list of ten gifts that moms of multiples will love. • Talk about your plans for Valentine's Day in the message forum.......( Continue Reading ) Valentine Gifts for Her Valentine gifts for a woman....( Continue Reading ) Valentine Gifts for Women Traditional Valentine's gifts that never fail: Flowers (roses, of course!), candy, and jewelry....( Continue Reading ) Valentine Gifts for Women Traditional Valentine's gifts that never fail: Flowers (roses, of course!), candy, and jewelry....( Continue Reading ) Valentine Gifts For Him Directory Links christmas crafts and gifts new jersey gift baskets christmas crafts for gifts gifts for best man navajo wedding baskets chocolate gift baskets childrens christmas gifts send gifts to india from us gifts of the spirit business gifts peterboro baskets bath and body gift baskets great golf gifts mens valentines day gifts valentines gifts for guys gifts of sympathy creative christmas gifts office christmas gifts orlando gift baskets wedding guest gifts 60th birthday gag gifts 2nd year anniversary gifts homemade holiday gifts cute valentine gifts father day gifts wedding gifts com sweet sixteen birthday gifts uk gifts gifts graduation hot holiday gifts colorado gift baskets anniversary gifts ideas creative wedding gifts wooden baskets religious gifts and holiday india wedding gifts golf gifts christmas gifts dad newfoundland dog gifts handmade baby gifts kids valentine gifts handmade christmas gifts gifts for baby showers unique bridesmaid gifts thirtieth birthday gifts Popular Search Terms: Gifts BW © 2004 Gifts BW All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved. This site is not related to Brajeshwar or Brajeshwar.com in anyway, shape or form

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Valentines Gifts Men - Gifts BW gifts | gifts Resources | Add URL Wine Gifts & Baskets From the casual wine drinker to the serious enthusiast, we have a gift that will make them smile. Our selection includes premium wine, gourmet baskets, distinctive champagne sets & the very finest California and Northwest wines. Valentines Gifts Men Articles Valentine's Day Gifts for Him Great ideas for gifts for men on Valentine's Day....( Continue Reading ) Valentine's Day Gifts for Him Great ideas for gifts for men on Valentine's Day....( Continue Reading ) Valentine's Day Gifts for Him Great ideas for gifts for men on Valentine's Day....( Continue Reading ) Valentine Gifts for Her Valentine gifts for a woman....( Continue Reading ) Top Eleven Valentine's Day Gifts A quick list of valentine's gifts... in no particular order of popularity... for both men and women....( Continue Reading ) Valentines Gifts Men Directory Links male valentine gifts fall gift baskets gifts new york corporate gifts houston 40 birthday gifts spiritual gifts inventory test valentines day gifts for boyfriends gift baskets in north carolina gift baskets of north carolina christmas gifts in a jar seven gifts of the spirit unique texas gifts japanese gifts com gifts for family traditonal anniversary gifts longeberger baskets fruit gift baskets graduation gifts for her toys and gifts fathers day gift baskets baby christmas gifts religious christmas gifts wholesale gift baskets creative gifts international gifts for wife wedding anniversery gifts holy communion gifts wedding gifts for bride gifts for older men homemade romantic gifts employee appreciation gifts easter baskets for men personalized gifts for teachers meat gift baskets horse theme gifts flower baskets wedding gifts groom www spencer gifts com simple christmas gifts six month anniversary gifts romantic holiday gifts valentines day gifts for men gag christmas gifts fruits baskets orange county gift baskets Popular Search Terms: Gifts BW © 2004 Gifts BW All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved. This site is not related to Brajeshwar or Brajeshwar.com in anyway, shape or form