The Gift of the Magi
Once upon a time, in a small town in England, lived two sweethearts: James and Della. They were head over heels in love.
After finishing college, James got a job as a typist at a newspaper. With a salary of 50 pounds a month, James was thrilled and decided to ask Della to marry him.
— Della, I've been in love with you since the first time I saw you, and I want to be in love with you until the end of my days. I want us to grow old together, Della. Will you marry me? — Oh, James! I want us to grow old together too! Yes, I will marry you.
A Modest Life
And so, James and Della had a small wedding. James rented a furnished apartment for 8 pounds a week, and the couple was happy and content. It seemed that with each passing day, they loved each other more and more.
Things were going well until, one day, the crisis came, and James's salary dropped to 40 pounds.
— My love, we'll manage! Don't worry. — Of course, my darling! As long as you're by my side, I don't worry.
And so, husband and wife lived a modest life, having just enough to get by. Soon, Christmas Eve arrived. The streets of London were covered in snow, and the shops were decorated with lights, and the houses with Christmas trees. Meanwhile, Della searched through her purse to see how much she had saved.
— One pound and eighty-seven pence. That's all! Oh! And tomorrow is Christmas! What shall I do? It's not enough!
The Sacrifice
The couple had two things they were very proud of. One was James's gold watch, which he had received from his father, who in turn had received it from his grandfather. The other was Della's hair. Della had beautiful brown hair that reached almost to her knees and nearly enveloped her completely.
— Oh! That's it, I have no choice!
She quickly stood up, feeling emotional, as a tear or two ran from her eyes. Della wiped the tears from her face and, taking her old brown hat, hurried out the door, down the stairs, and into the street.
After a while, she stopped next to a building.
— This is it. Oh! — Excuse me! Would you like to buy my hair? — Hmm! Won't you take off your hat so I can see it?
Della took off her hat, and her brown hair cascaded down. Measuring it with a swift motion, the lady nodded approvingly.
— 20 pounds. Agreed.
The Perfect Gift
For the next two hours, Della walked all over the streets of London, searching for the perfect gift for James. Finally, she found it.
— I'm sure James will like it.
It was a platinum watch chain, simple and elegant in style, showing its value through the sheer quality of the material used and not through cheap ornaments, as all fine things should. It was perfect for the watch. Without a second thought, she paid 20 pounds for it and went home with what she had left, which was eighty-seven pence.
At 7 o'clock, the coffee was ready, and the pan was on the stove, ready for the meat. Della curled her hair into tiny ringlets, which made her look like a little boy. At least, that's what she thought.
— If James doesn't kill me when he sees me, he'll say I look like a nun, but what could I do? Oh, what could I do with eighty-seven pence?
Suddenly, she heard him coming and for a moment she turned pale.
— Lord, please! Make him still think I'm beautiful! Please!
The door opened and James walked in. He looked drawn and very serious. When he looked at Della, he froze. His eyes were fixed on her, with an expression she couldn't decipher, which terrified her.
She immediately got up from the table and went to him.
— James, my dear, don't look at me like that! I cut and sold my hair because I couldn't let Christmas pass without giving you a gift. It will grow back, you know. It grows very fast.
But James didn't answer.
— James, say Merry Christmas and let's be happy. You don't know what a beautiful, what a wonderful gift I got you! — You cut your hair? — Yes, I cut it and sold it. I don't like it anyway. I'm still me even without my long hair, aren't I?
James looked at her seriously.
— Don't misunderstand me, Del! I don't think any hairstyle, any change, or any shampoo could make me like you less. However, if you open that gift, you'll see why I was speechless when I saw you.
Della tore open the wrapping, and when she opened the gift, she cried out with joy.
— Oh! Wow!
But her joy didn't last long, for the gift was a set of hairbrushes that Della had admired many times from the Broadway windows. Beautiful brushes, made of tortoiseshell, inlaid with precious stones, they were very expensive, and she coveted them and longed for them, but without ever hoping she could make them her own. And now they were hers, but the tresses that were to be brushed by them were no more.
She hugged him tightly and looked at him with tear-filled eyes and smiled.
— My hair will grow back quickly, James.
Then, Della quickly sprang up like a cat, exclaiming.
— Oh, oh, James, but you haven't seen what a beautiful gift I got you!
She picked up the gift and offered it to him.
— Isn't it wonderful, James? I searched all over the city until I found it. Now you'll look at your watch a hundred times a day. Give me your watch so we can see how it looks.
Instead of listening to her, James flopped onto the sofa, put his hands behind his head, and smiled.
— Del, let's put the Christmas gifts aside for now. They're far too beautiful to use right away, aren't they? — Hmm, what do you mean? — Oh, I sold the watch so I could buy you the brushes.
Suddenly, silence fell in the room, and James spoke again.
— And now, let's get the food ready!
Della ran to him and hugged him tightly. James hugged her back.
— Oh, I love you very much, James! — I love you even more!
The Moral
The Magi, as you know, were wise men, extraordinarily wise, who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. They invented the custom of Christmas gifts. Being wise, of course their gifts were also wise, however, the quiet story of the two lovers in a London apartment, who without a second thought sacrificed what they held dearest for each other, is the ultimate proof of wisdom. They are the Magi.
