The Gift of the Magi

 

 

Somewhere in time, in 1908, an author named O Henry wrote a short story called “The Gift of the Magi.”  I love this story.  I have seen this plot line redone a few times, and the story is always fun to read or see performed.  I thought since gifts are such an important part of the Christmas celebration, I would add my adaptation of this story to my blog to celebrate gifts.

1908

One dollar and eighty-seven cents was all she had.  Della counted it three times refusing to believe that was all she could save by scrimping and bargaining with the butcher and the grocer.  Tomorrow was Christmas, what was she going to do?

Despair began to take hold.  She paced and worried and then paced some more.  Della sank onto her shabby little couch and almost gave into tears. She looked around her home.  A furnished flat at $8 per week, it wasn’t exactly a show piece, but it was home.  Her husband’s income had recently been reduced by a third, so it was harder to make ends meet, but still she tried.

Della stood and walked over to the window.  She looked out at the grey, snow filled sky, and saw a gray cat, walking along a grey fence, in a grey backyard.  Tomorrow would be Christmas and she only had one dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy a present for her beloved Jim.

She stared at her reflections the a small mirror she used to check her appearance before departing her flat.  Suddenly her eyes lit up, she reached around and removed the combs and let her hair fall its full length. Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her.  She examined it and quickly put it back up again.  She had an idea.  What she planned to do ripped at her heart and she faltered, holding back tears that threaten to break forth.

With her resolve firmly in place, she put on her brown jacket and her old brown hat, a determined sparkle shown from her eyes.  With a swirl of skirts, she went out the door and down the stairs to the street.

Walking along, she stopped at a sign, which read “Hair Goods of All Kinds.”  One flight up the stairs, Della gathered her courage and entered the establishment.  The proprietress was a large foreboding looking woman, but Della would not be deterred.

“Will you buy my hair?” asked Della.

“I buy hair” the woman said, “take off your hat and let me take a look at it.”

With the hat off and the combs removed, down rippled the long brown curls.

“Twenty dollars” she muttered with a flick of her wrist, as if it didn’t matter at all.

“Please, cut it quickly then.”

With the money firmly placed in her small bag, Della left to search all the stores for the perfect Christmas gift for her Jim.  She finally found it, a sterling silver chain for his watch.  With a mere eight-seven cents remaining, she went home to prepare the most special meal she could.

Jim had two things he took exceptional pride in. The first was his gold watch, handed down from grandfather, to father, to him.  The second was his wife and her beauty, especially the beauty of her hair. He knew that Solomon in all his glory did not have anything as luxurious as his wife’s gleaming hair. Jim weighed his choices in trying to find the perfect give for his wife, he finally decided, he knew what he needed to do.

Jim was never late.  Della had spent time curling her short hair to make it as lovely as she could.  As his time of homecoming approached, she put all the finishing touches on herself and made sure the table was set just perfect. She placed his watch chain in her pocket as she prayed, “Please God, make him think I’m still pretty.”

Jim stopped inside the door and froze at the sight of his wife. His eyes fixed upon Della wore an expression she could not read and it worried her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with a peculiar expression on his face.

"Jim, darling," she cried, "don't look at me that way. It’s just hair, it will grow.  I had to do something.  I wanted you to have a very special present this year.”  
 
Jim drew a package out of his pocket and handed it to Della. 

“Jim,” Della uttered with a catch in her throat, “tell me you love me still.”

“Della” he said lovingly, “there is nothing on earth that would make me love my girl any less.  If you open the package, you will find some of the reason for my surprise.”

Her fingers struggled to open the package.  When she did the most beautiful pair of tortoise shell combs with jeweled edges shined from the package. She struggled with her emotions as the beauty of the gift waged war with the knowledge she no longer had hair enough to wear them. 

Smiling up at her husband with silent adore at his thoughtful gift, she said.  “My hair grows fast, so I’ll be using these in no time.”

Astonished, Della exclaimed, “I haven’t given you your present yet.”  She reached in her pocket and pulled out the delicate silver chain.  The shine of the metal reflected in the light. “Give me your watch and I’ll attach it for you.”

Instead of obeying, Jim claimed his wife in a warm embrace and chucked.  “Let’s keep our presents for another year.  I sold my watch to purchase your combs.”

Matthew 2:1,11 (NKJV) “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.” “And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him.  And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.