I don’t think I’ve read O. Henry’s classic Christmas story since grade school, actually. The copy I have on hand is nicely illustrated by P.J. Lynch.
Story in a nutshell – Della and Jim are not well off. It’s a day before Christmas and all Della’s got for gift money is $1.87. So, she sells her long, luxurious hair for $20 and with the dollar she had already, can afford to buy her husband a platinum chain for his gold heirloom watch. Fast forward to when Jim gets home and sees her hair lopped off; he’s a little shocked by her sudden short style because the gift he got her turns out to be a couple fancy hair clips. Nowhere in the story does it say how he afforded them but when Della gives Jim the watch chain, he doesn’t take his watch out to put it on. Instead, he tells his wife that the gifts are too beautiful to use right now anyway, and besides, it’s time for dinner.
So, the moral of the story here is, no matter how grand a plan you have, a loved one can screw it up in a heartbeat. Okay, not really. Actual moral – it’s the thought that counts. She gives up something she values to get her husband something practical yet stylish. He gives up something he probably also loves to get her something practical yet stylish. Ain’t love grand?
The magi reference has to do with the wise men who supposedly brought gifts to Christ when he was born. It’s a fanciful tale but likely didn’t happen anywhere, let alone in a manger, in a stable near the shortest night of the year. But it is a nice enough story for all that.
