STORY OF THE DAY: O.HENRY'S THE GIFT OF THE MAGI

The Adoration of the Magi — Martin Schongauer, c. 1470–1490 — The Met Museum — Public Domain

THE GIFT OF THE MAGI — O. Henry

Summary

The Gift of the Magi, first published in 1905, tells the touching story of Della and Jim, a young couple with very little money but an abundance of love. In preparation for Christmas:

Della sells her beautiful long hair for $20 to buy Jim a fine platinum fob chain for his treasured pocket watch.

Jim, in turn, sells his heirloom watch to buy Della a set of elegant combs for her hair.

When they exchange gifts, each is surprised by the other's sacrifice, realizing that their love is far more valuable than the physical gifts exchanged — a beautiful example of ironic, selfless love.

This story remains an enduring testament to the true spirit of giving and the meaning of love, especially poignant during the holiday season.

If you are interested in reading the Full Original Story:

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry — Project Gutenberg

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/7256/pg7256.txt

Your Turn:

Have you ever received (or given) a gift whose worth lay not in its cost, but in the love and sacrifice behind it?

💬 Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below!

Grateful thanks to ChatGPT for the brief and beautiful summary of the story, Project Gutenberg for providing the full original story and Martin Schongauer, c. 1470–1490 — The Met Museum for the image, The Adoration of the Magi