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The Gift of the Magi①One dollar and eighty-seven cents.That was all.And sixty cents of it was in pennies.Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing(强迫;胁迫)the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony②that such close dealing implied.Three times Della counted it.One dollar and eightyeighty--seven cents.And the next day would be Christmas.There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl.So Della did it.Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs,sniffles,and smiles,with sniffles predominating.③While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second,take a look at the home.④A furnished flat at$8per week.It did not exactly beggar description,but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.⑤In the vestibule(门厅;前厅)below was a letter-box into which no letter would go,and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring⑥.Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name"Mr.James Dillingham Young."⑦The"Dillingham"had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid$30per week.⑧Now,when the①麦琪（Magi，单数为Magus）：指圣婴基督出生时来自东方送礼的三贤人，载于《圣经·马太福音》第二章第一节和第七至第十三节。
The Gift of the Magi by O. HenryOne dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it in the smallest pieces of money - pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by negotiating with the men at the market who sold vegetables and meat. Negotiating until one's face burned with the silent knowledge of being poor. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.There was clearly nothing to do but sit down and cry. So Della cried. Which led to the thought that life is made up of little cries and smiles, with more little cries than smiles.Della finished her crying and dried her face. She stood by the window and looked out unhappily at a gray cat walking along a gray fence in a gray back yard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy her husband Jim a gift. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result.Jim earned twenty dollars a week, which does not go far. Expenses had been greater than she had expected. They always are. Many a happy hour she had spent planning to buy something nice for him. Something fine and rare -- something close to being worthy of the honor of belonging to Jim. There was a tall glass mirror between the windows of the room. Suddenly Della turned from the window and stood before the glass mirror and looked at herself. Her eyes were shining, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. Quickly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length.Now, Mr. and Mrs. James Dillingham Young had two possessions which they valued. One was Jim's gold time piece, the watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.Had the Queen of Sheba lived in their building, Della would have let her hair hang out the window to dry just to reduce the value of the queen's jewels.So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her, shining like a brown waterfall. It reached below her knees and made itself almost like a covering for her. And then quickly she put it up again. She stood still while a few tears fell on the floor.She put on her coat and her old brown hat. With a quick motion and brightness still in her eyes, she danced out the door and down the street.Where she stopped the sign read: "Madame Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." Della ran up the steps to the shop, out of breath."Will you buy my hair?" asked Della."I buy hair," said Madame. "Take your hat off and let us have a look at it."Down came the beautiful brown waterfall of hair."Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the hair with an experienced hand."Give it to me quick," said Della.The next two hours went by as if they had wings. Della looked in all the stores to choose a gift for Jim.She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. It was a chain -- simple round rings of silver. It was perfect for Jim's gold watch. As soon as she saw it she knew that it must be for him. It was like him. Quiet and with great value. She gave the shopkeeper twenty-one dollars and she hurried home with the eighty-seven cents that was left.When Della arrived home she began to repair what was left of her hair. The hair had been ruined by her love and her desire to give a special gift. Repairing the damage was a very big job.Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny round curls of hair that made her look wonderfully like a schoolboy. She looked at herself in the glass mirror long and carefully."If Jim does not kill me before he takes a second look at me," she said to herself, "he'll say I look like a song girl. But what could I do--oh! what could I do with a dollar and eighty-seven cents?"At seven o'clock that night the coffee was made and the pan on the back of the stove was hot and ready to cook the meat.Jim was never late coming home from work. Della held the silver chain in her hand and sat near the door. Then she heard his step and she turned white for just a minute. She had a way of saying a little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, and now she whispered: "Please God, make him think I am still pretty."The door opened and Jim stepped in. He looked thin and very serious. Poor man, he was only twenty-two and he had to care for a wife. He needed a new coat and gloves to keep his hands warm.Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a dog smelling a bird. His eyes were fixed upon Della. There was an expression in them that she could not read, and it frightened her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor fear, nor any of the feelings that she had been prepared for. He simply looked at her with a strange expression on his face. Della went to him."Jim, my love," she cried, "do not look at me that way. I had my hair cut and sold because I could not have lived through Christmas without giving you a gift. My hair will grow out again. I just had to do it. My hair grows very fast. Say 'Merry Christmas!' Jim, and let us be happy. You do not know what a nice-- what a beautiful, nice gift I have for you.""You have cut off your hair?" asked Jim, slowly, as if he had not accepted the information even after his mind worked very hard."Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Do you not like me just as well? I am the same person without my hair, right?Jim looked about the room as if he were looking for something."You say your hair is gone?" he asked."You need not look for it," said Della. "It is sold, I tell you--sold and gone, too. It is Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it was cut for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness, "but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I put the meat on, Jim?"Jim seemed to awaken quickly and put his arms around Della. Then he took a package from his coat and threw it on the table."Do not make any mistake about me, Dell," he said. "I do not think there is any haircut that could make me like my girl any less. But if you will open that package you may see why you had me frightened at first."White fingers quickly tore at the string and paper. There was a scream of joy; and then, alas! a change to tears and cries, requiring the man of the house to use all his skill to calm his wife.For there were the combs -- the special set of objects to hold her hair that Della had wanted ever since she saw them in a shop window. Beautiful combs, made of shells, with jewels at the edge --just the color to wear in the beautiful hair that was no longer hers. They cost a lot of money, she knew, and her heart had wanted them without ever hoping to have them. And now, the beautiful combs were hers, but the hair that should have touched them was gone.But she held the combs to herself, and soon she was able to look up with a smile and say, "My hairgrows so fast, Jim!"Then Della jumped up like a little burned cat and cried, "Oh, oh!"Jim had not yet seen his beautiful gift. She happily held it out to him in her open hands. The silver chain seemed so bright."Isn't it wonderful, Jim? I looked all over town to find it. You will have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it."Instead of obeying, Jim fell on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled. "Dell," said he, "let us put our Christmas gifts away and keep them a while. They are too nice to use just right now. I sold my gold watch to get the money to buy the set of combs for your hair. And now, why not put the meat on."The magi were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Baby Jesus. They invented the art of giving Christmas gifts. Being wise, their gifts were wise ones. And here I have told you the story of two young people who most unwisely gave for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days, let it be said that of all who give gifts, these two were the wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.Karen Leggett wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Your storyteller was Shep O'Neal. The producer was Lawan Davis.。
the gift of the magi 精读"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story written by O. Henry (the pen name of William Sydney Porter) in 1905. It tells the story of Della and Jim, a young married couple who are struggling financially. Despite their limited means, they each want to buy the perfect Christmas gift for the other. The story explores themes of sacrifice, love, and the true meaning of gift-giving.Della and Jim live in a small apartment and barely have enough money to cover their daily expenses. It is Christmas Eve, and Della has only a dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy a gift for Jim. She desperately searches for the perfect gift and finally decides to sell her most valuable possession - her beautiful, knee-length hair.Della goes to Madame Sofronie, a hairdresser, who gives her twenty dollars for her hair. With the money in hand, Della goes to a shop to buy a platinum watch chain for Jim's prized possession, his pocket watch. The chain is worth twenty-one dollars, which means she is one dollar and eighty-seven cents short. Feeling crestfallen, Della eventually finds a shopkeeper who agrees to buy her old watch for a modest sum of seven dollars.Now armed with enough money to buy the chain, Della returns home and prepares herself for Jim's arrival. When Jim arrives, he is shocked to see Della with her short hair. Della explains what she has done and presents the watch chain to him. Jim, in turn, smiles and confesses that he sold his watch to buy combs for Della's beautiful long hair. Della is devastated, realizing that they have both made sacrifices in vain.Despite the unfortunate turn of events, Della and Jim realize the profound love they have for each other. They understand that their sacrificial gifts were a reflection of their deep devotion, which is worth far more than any material possession. O. Henry describes their love as the "wise men" or "magi" who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Just as the magi brought their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh without any thought of receiving anything in return, Della and Jim gave their sacrifices selflessly.The story ends on a bittersweet note, emphasizing the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of love and selflessness. Della and Jim's unconditional love is a gift in itself, far more valuable than any material object could ever be. O. Henry's message is clear: the true spirit of gift-giving lies not in the monetary value of the gift, but in the thought and sacrifice behind it."The Gift of the Magi" is a timeless tale that resonates with readers to this day. It reminds us that sometimes our most valuable possessions are not tangible objects, but the love and sacrifices we make for one another. It urges us to reflect on the true meaning of gift-giving, emphasizing that the most meaningful gifts are not always the most expensive ones.In a world that often places material possessions above all else, "The Gift of the Magi" serves as a beautiful reminder of the power of love and selflessness. It teaches us that the true value of a gift lies not in its price tag, but in the thought and sacrifice behind it. It is a story that continues to touch the hearts of readers, reiterating the importance of love and the power of meaningful gestures, especially during the holiday season.。
跪求人教版高中英语课文翻译,高一到高三高一：1. The Gift of the Magi (《玛吉的礼物》)Jim和Della是一对年轻夫妇，他们非常相爱，但很穷。
他们在圣诞节前夕想要为对方买份礼物，但没有多少钱。
最终，Jim把自己最喜爱的物品－手表卖掉，为Della买了一条漂亮的发带。
而Della则剪下了自己的长发，卖给一名女士买了Jim喜欢的烟斗。
最终两人都没有得到自己想要的礼物，但却证明了他们对彼此的爱是无价的。
2. The Necklace (《项链》)故事的主人公是一个叫做Mathilde的年轻妇女，她梦想着过上富裕的生活。
她借来一条美丽的项链去参加一个高级晚宴，但却在回家的路上把它弄丢了。
为了偿还借来的项链，Mathilde和她的丈夫努力工作了十年，在这十年里生活十分清贫。
最终，Mathilde才发现这条项链其实是假的，一切都是因为她太过追求虚荣。
高二：1. The Phoenix and the Turtle (《凤凰与鸽》)这首诗是莎士比亚所写的。
故事讲述了凤凰与一只谔谔鸽的恋爱故事，它们的爱情是美好的、单纯的，但却注定了他们的结局将是悲剧的。
它们的爱情带着一种神秘、超凡的东西。
2. The Scarlet Letter (《红字》)小说讲述了17世纪末期，在新英格兰一座小镇上，一名年轻女子名叫Hester Prynne被判定为有罪，因为她有了婚外恋，并生下了一个女婴。
她被迫在她的衣服上佩戴一个被刺绣成红色A字母，以示惩罚和耻辱。
该书探讨了道德、社会规范和自由意志的边界。
高三：1. The Great Gatsby (《了不起的盖茨比》)这本小说讲述了20世纪20年代一个名叫Jay Gatsby的年轻富豪的故事，他热烈地追求自己热爱的女人Daisy Buchanan。
该书探讨了财富、欲望、爱情和失落的主题，是美国现代文学的经典之一。
2. To Kill a Mockingbird（《杀死一只知更鸟》）该书是由Harper Lee所写的小说，主要围绕一场针对一个错嫁者的指控，该事件引发了家庭内部的矛盾及社会方面的关注。
The story opens with $1.87. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her beloved husband, Jim. And the next day is Christmas. Faced with such a situation, Della promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. The short of it is they live in a shabby flat and they're poor. But they love each other.Once Della's recovered herself, she goes to a mirror to let down her hair and examine it. Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great treasures of the poor couple. The other is Jim's gold watch. Her hair examined, Della puts it back up, sheds a tear, and bundles up to head out into the cold. She leaves the flat and walks to Madame Sofronie's hair goods shop, where she sells her hair for twenty bucks. Now she has $21.87 cents.With her new funds, Della is able to find Jim the perfect present: an elegant platinum watch chain for his watch. It's $21, and she buys it. Excited by her gift, Della returns home and tries to make her now-short hair presentable (with a curling iron). She's not convinced Jim will approve, but she did what she had to do to get him a good present. When she finishes with her hair, she gets to work preparing coffee and dinner.Jim arrives at 7pm to find Della waiting by the door and stares fixedly at her, not able to understand that Della's hair is gone. Della can't understand quite what his reaction means.After a little while, Jim snaps out of it and gives Della her present, explaining that his reaction will make sense when she opens it. Della opens it and cries out in joy, only to burst into tears immediately afterward. Jim has given her the set of fancy combs she's wanted for ages, only now she has no hair for them. Jim nurses Della out of her sobs. Once she's recovered she gives Jim his present, holding out the watch chain. Jim smiles, falling back on the couch. He sold his watch to buy Della's combs, he explains. He recommends they put away their presents and have dinner. As they do so, the narrator brings the story to a close by pronouncing that Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts. They are the magi.Book Review of The Gift of the MagiⅠ.About the author: This book waswrote by O. Henry (1862~1910), whose real name was William Sydney Porter, and was born in North Carolina. His schooling was rudimentary, and after working in a drug store, he went to Texas in 1882; he became a rancher for a time, then a bank teller and journalist, founding a comic weekly magazine, The Rolling Stone (1894~1895) before being employed by the Houston Post to write a humorous daily column. In 1896 he was indicted for alleged embezzlement by the bank for which he had worked, and fled to Honduras. He returned three years latter to be with his dying wife, was arrested and spent three years in the federal penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. Here Porter started to write short stories under the pseudonym of O. Henry, thought to be adopted from a French pharmacist mentioned in the USDispensary, a reference book which Porter came across in his work in the prison pharmacy. His collections of stories include The Four Million(1906), Heart of the West (1907), The Trimmed Lamp(1907), The Gentle Grafter(1908), The Voice of the City(1908), Options(1909), Roads of Destiny(1909), Whirligigs and Strictly Business(1910).Ⅱ.Background: The extraordinary lifeand experiences of O. Henry inform all his stories. He is at home describing life south of the Rio Grande as he is with ‘the four million’-the ordinary inhabitants of teeming, tern-of the century Now York. Although he has been criticized for relying too much coincidence and contrived circumstance, O. Henry had a genuine sympathy for the down-trodden and oppressed which was unusual in writers of his era. And it is an era that he depicts with remarkable clarity; though some of the reportage some of theconversations may grate on those whose consciousness is attuned to political attitudes of the late twentieth century rather than the realities of the early twentieth century, the stories are valuable examples of how life was lived at a time when slavery and the Indian Wars were only a generation or so in the past.The Brief Introduction of people in story: The two protagonists are Jim andDella, and there is also a costar, Mme. Sofronie. Jim, who was called in that way only between he and his wife, and his real name was James Dillingham Young. He was a people loved his wife very much, and he had to burden a family in his twenty’s. And he needed a new coat and a pair of gloves because of the tough living condition. He was very punctual to go home, so his wife wouldn’t wait long. His payment was $30 per week, and at that time, he and his wife lived in a furnished flat at $8 per week, and towardIII.which was a letter-box, and an electric button. Also there was a card bearing the name ‘Mr. James Dillingham Young.’ So the led a happy life then. But, as times we nt by, his salary went to $20 per week, and no letter would go into it, no moral finger could hoax a ring with the electric button, the letters of ‘Dillingham’ looked blurred. Della, Jim’s wife, was a beautiful girl with long hair, which rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters, and it reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. Della complained about the reality and was anxious about the present she would give to Jim in Christmas. Also she loved her husband deeply. Mme. Sofronie, the manager of a barbershop, had much rich experience.IV.About the story: The storyopens with $1.87. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her beloved husband, Jim. And the next day is Christmas.Faced with such a situation, Della promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. The short of it is they live in a shabby flat and they're poor. But they love each other. Once Della's recovered herself, she goes to a mirror to let down her hair and examine it. Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great treasures of the poor couple. The other is Jim's gold watch. Her hair examined, Della puts it back up, sheds a tear, and bundles up to head out into the cold. She leaves the flat and walks to Madame Sofronie's hair goods shop, where she sells her hair for twenty bucks. Now she has $21.87 cents. With her new funds, Della is able to find Jim the perfect present: an elegant platinum watch chain for his watch. It's $21, and she buys it. Excited by her gift, Della returns home and tries to make her now-short hair presentable(with a curling iron). She's not convinced Jim will approve, but she did what she had to do to get him a good present. When she finishes with her hair, she gets to work preparing coffee and dinner. Jim arrives at 7pm to find Della waiting by the door and stares fixedly at her, not able to understand that Della's hair is gone. Della can't understand quite what his reaction means. After a little while, Jim snaps out of it and gives Della her present, explaining that his reaction will make sense when she opens it. Della opens it and cries out in joy, only to burst into tears immediately afterward. Jim has given her the set of fancy combs she's wanted for ages, only now she has no hair for them. Jim nurses Della out of her sobs. Once she's recovered she gives Jim his present, holding out the watch chain. Jim smiles, falling back on the couch. He sold his watch to buy Della'scombs, he explains. He recommends they put away their presents and have dinner. As they do so, the narrator brings the story to a close by pronouncing that Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts. They are the magi.V.Writing Skills: There's not awhole lot of imagery or metaphor in this story. That makes the few Bible allusions stand out all the more. There's the whole "magi" reference. The last paragraph compares Jim and Della to the three wise men who, according to the Christian New Testament, delivered gifts to Jesus on the first Christmas (see "What's Up with The Title" for more on this comparison). In addition, there are two other Biblical allusions, both made in connection with Jim and Della's prize possessions. Della's hair is said to be so gorgeous that it would inspire envy in the Queen of Sheba. Jim's watchwould have been the envy of King Solomon. Both the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon are famous figures from the Old Testament. What do all three of these references have in common, besides being Biblical figures Well, they're all royal, very rich Biblical figures. The magi are often said to be kings, and brought Jesus three very expensive gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), while Sheba and Solomon were both powerful monarchs renowned for their wealth and splendor. The comparison of Jim and Della's possessions to those of Biblical figures helps bring out how precious those two items are to their owners; to Jim and Della they're treasures, which they giveaway. But that's not all the images of Solomon and Sheba do. By bringing them up, and by mentioning the magi, O. Henry creates a sharp contrast between their spectacular riches and the obvious poverty and Jim and Della. We have to wonder why O. Henry would dothat. Because ultimately the story wants us to think about what it means to be truly rich. Where it really counts, Jim and Della are as rich as Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, and the magi, because they love each other. Just like the magi and Solomon (both figures famous for their wisdom), they're also wise, as the last paragraph tells us. The Biblical imagery also beefs up the story's credibility as a parable. By invoking the Bible at moments, O. Henry makes "Gift of the Magi" feel more morally weighty.VI.After reading: Have you ever lovedsomeone and wanted to find him or her just the perfect present Our bet is you have. Could be your mom, could be your significant other. And once you're in that gift-giving frame of mind, you're in the situation of Della, the main character from "The Gift of the Magi." That's why whenever the Christmas season rolls around; people (and television networks) go infor this story big time. You'll probably also face the same questions Della did. What is a perfect gift And how much (money, time, etc.) are you willing to give up to finding something that would really matter to that person You might even be lead to some surprisingly large questions. What really matters, and what's really valuable For a short, simple, and delightful way of assuring yourself that "all you need is love," this story's hard to beat. Read it to get a major case of the warm and fuzzies. Though it might also make you think more carefully about just what "love" means. Besides all that, to be honest, you've probably encountered this story somewhere even if you didn't know it. You might have seen it filtered through Sesame Street (which lodged it forever in your child subconscious), or you might have seen it recently parodied while watching The Simpsons. "The Gift of theMagi" is the original, though, and in our opinion, nothing's really touched it. It's hard not to be charmed by O. Henry's storytelling style.The Gift of the Magi is more than a nice Christmas story. It is a classic tale of sacrifice, irony, and wisdom gained. The story takes place on the day before Christmas, when a newlywed husband and wife long to buy the perfect holiday gifts for one another. Unfortunately, they have very little money, but they are determined. Della makes the difficult decision to sacrifice something of great value in order to raise the money to buy Jim a chain for his inherited gold pocket watch. Jim comes up with a similar solution so that he can buy a lovely set of ivory combs for his wife’s beautiful long hair. The conclusion of the story is poignant and touching, as realization sets in as to what they have done. In their efforts to please one another, they have lost two of the mostvaluable objects they owned, yet in the process may have gained something of much greater value. It is thought that this stor y reflects somewhat on the author’s own relationship with his wife as she struggled with poor health, even while he fled the country to avoid arrest for bank embezzlement. In spite of his problems, he returned to be with her in her final days. The Gift of the Magi is one of the most well-known stories of O. Henry, a pen name for William Sydney Porter.A definitive master of the short story, his tales tell of love and loss, deception and truth, loyalty and betrayal. He breathes life into his characters, who are rich and poor, young and old, the best and the worst of humanity… Through believable conversation and vivid description, he tells amazing, witty, and appealing stories that are inevitably peppered with twists of fate, chance encounters, and unavoidable meetings with destiny. Many editions of The Gift of the Magi have been published since it was written at the turn of the century, including children’s picture books. The story is most commonly ifound in various collected works of the author.“The Gi ft of the Magi”Title By O. Henry Author Important Characters: *Della- has a very beautiful long hair. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. *Jim- husband of Della. He has a golden wrist watch which was used to own by his grandfather and father. Synopsis: It was Christmas Day tomorrow, but Della had only $1.87 to buy Jim a special present. And the only precious thing they had was Jim’s golden wrist watch; in addition, was her beautiful long brown hair which reached to her knees. But she really wanted to buy a gift for Jim so she went to a hair and beauty parlor. She sold her hair for $20. And she bought a platinum fob chain for Jim’s wrist watch. When she got home, she fixed herself wondering if Jim would still love her. After forty minutes, she heard his footsteps. She whispered a silent prayer. She wished that she would still be looked pretty for him. The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. His coat and gloves were worn out. She became conscious because of the way he stares at her. Without asking why, she explained the reason why she had to do that because she wanted to buy him a special gift. And she told him that she really loved him. Then he asked why she would have to do that. But sh e thought that Jim wasn’t loved her because she has now a short hair, so Jim told her that before she doubt his love for her, he told her to unwrapped the package he brought. She saw beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jeweled rims—just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair that Della had worshipped for long. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone, but she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and said to him that her hair grew fast.Then she gave to him the platinum fob chain. She proudly told him that she had searched for it all over the town. She asked him to put it on to his watch but instead of obeying, Jim smiled and said that put their Christmas presents away and keep them a while because they''re too nice to use just at present because he sold the watch to get the money to buy her combs. Comments/reaction: The magi, as we know, were wise men that brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here the author have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. The story contains Porter’s characteristic ironic plot twists and surprise ending. And I have learned that we always need trust our love ones, because sometimes we misunderstood the way they react to such situations. Always put in mind that they want the best for us. Trust not only them, but have faith also in God. Even if there are times that things happen not the way we expect, don’t doubt His love. R emember that when trials go worst, He has a purpose for that and He’s planning the best for you!。
the_gift_of_the_magi麦琪的礼物英文版欧亨利pT h e G i f t o f t h e M a g i O NE DOLLAR AND EIGHTY-SEVEN CENTS.That was all. She had put it aside, one cent and then another and then another, in her careful buying of meat and other food. Della counted it three times. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.There was nothing to do but fall on the bed and cry. So Della did it.While the lady of the home is slowly growing quieter, we can look at the home. Furnished rooms at a cost of $8 a week. There is lit-tle more to say about it.In the hall below was a letter-box too small to hold a letter. There was an electric bell, but it could not make a sound. Also there was a name beside the door: “Mr. James Dillingham Young.”When the name was placed there, Mr. James Dillingham Young was being paid $30 a week. Now, when he was being paid only $20 a week, the name seemed too long and important. It should perhaps have been “Mr. James D. Young.” But when Mr. James Dillingham Young entered the furnished rooms, his name became very short indeed. Mrs. James Dillingham Young put her arms warmly about him and called him “Jim.” You have already met her. She is Della.Della finished her crying and cleaned the marks of it from her face. She stood by the window and looked out with no interest. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a gift. She had put aside as much as she couldfor months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week is not much. Everything had cost more than she had expected. It always happened like that.Only $ 1.87 to buy a gift for Jim. Her Jim. She had had many happy hours planning something nice for him. Something nearly good enough. Something almost worth the honor of belonging to Jim.There was a looking-glass between the windows of the room. Per-haps you have seen the kind of looking-glass that is placed in $8 fur-nished rooms. It was very narrow. A person could see only a little of himself at a time. However, if he was very thin and moved very quickly, he might be able to get a good view of himself. Della, being quite thin, had mastered this art.Suddenly she turned from the window and stood before the glass. Her eyes were shining brightly, but her face had lost its color. Quickly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its complete length.The James Dillingham Youngs were very proud of two things which they owned. One thing was Jim’s gold watch. It had once belonged to his father. And, long ago, it had belonged to his father’s father. The other thing was Della’s hair.If a queen had lived in the rooms near theirs, Della would have washed and dried her hair where the queen could see it. Della knew her hair was more beautiful than a ny queen’s jewels and gifts.If a king had lived in the same house, with all his riches, Jim would have looked at his watch every time they met. Jim knew that no kinghad anything so valuable.So now Della’s beautiful hair fell about her, shining like afalling stream of brown water. It reached below her knee. It almost made itself into a dress for her.And then she put it up on her head again, nervously and quickly. Once she stopped for a moment and stood still while a tear or two ran down her face.She put on her old brown coat. She put on her old brown hat. With the bright light still in her eyes, she moved quickly out the door and down to the street.Where she stopped, the sign said: “Mrs. Sofronie. Hair Articles of all Kinds.”Up to the second floor Della ran, and stopped to get her breath.Mrs. Sofronie, large, too white, cold-eyed, looked at her.“Will you buy my hair?” asked Della.“I buy hair,” said Mrs. Sofronie. “T ake your hat off and let me look at it.”Down fell the brown waterfall.“Twenty dollars,” said Mrs. Sofronie, lifting the hair to feel its weight.“Give it to me quick,” said Della.Oh, and the next two hours seemed to fly. She was going from one shop to another, to find a gift for Jim.She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. There was no other like it in any of the shops, and she had looked in every shop in the city.It was a gold watch chain, very simply made. Its value was in its rich and pure material. Because it was so plain and simple, you knew that it was very valuable. All good things are like this.It was good enough for The Watch.As soon as she saw it, she knew that Jim must have it. It waslike him. Quietness and value—Jim and the chain both had quietness and value. She paid twenty-one dollars for it. And she hurried home with the chain and eighty-seven cents.With that chain on his watch, Jim could look at his watch and learn the time anywhere he might be. Though the watch was so fine, it had never had a fine chain. He sometimes took it out and looked at it only when no one could see him do it.When Della arrived home, her mind quieted a little. She began to think more reasonably. She started to try to cover the sad marks of what she had done. Love and large-hearted giving, when added together, can leave deep marks. It is never easy to cover these marks, dear friends—never easy.Within forty minutes her head looked a little better. With her short hair, she looked wonderfully like a schoolboy. She stood at the looking-glass for a long time.“If Jim doesn’t kill me,” she said to herself, “before he looks at me a second time, he’ll say I look like a girl who sings and dances for money. But what could I do—oh! What could I do with a dollar and eighty-seven cents?”At seven, Jim’s dinner was ready for him.Jim was never late. Della held the watch chain in her hand and sat near the door where he always entered. Then she heard his step in the hall and her face lost color for a moment. She often said little prayers quietly, about simple everyday things. And now she said: “Please God, make him think I’m still pretty.”The door opened and Jim stepped in. He looked very thin and he was not smiling. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two—and with a fam-ily to take care of! He needed a new coat and he had nothing to cover his cold hands.Jim stopped inside the door. He was as quiet as a huntingdog when it is near a bird. His eyes looked strangely at Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not understand. It filled her with fear. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor anything she had been ready for. He simply looked at her with that strange expression on his face.Della went to him.“Jim, dear,” she cried, “don’t look at me like that. I had my hair cut off and sold it. I couldn’t live through Christmas without giving you agift. My hair will grow again. You won’t care, will you? My hair grows very fast. It’s Christmas, Jim. Let’s be happy. You don’t know what a nice—what a beautiful nice gift I got for you.”“You’ve cut off your hair?” asked Jim slowly. H e seemed to labor to understand what had happened. He seemed not to feel sure he knew.“Cut it off and sold it,” said Della. “Don’t you like me now? I’m me, Jim. I’m the same without my hair.”Jim looked around the room.“You say your hair is gone?” he said.“You don’t have to look for it,” said Della. “It’s sold, I tell you—sold and gone, too. It’s the night before Christmas, boy. Be good to me, because I sold it for you. Maybe the hairs of my head could be counted,” she said, “but no one could ever cou nt my love for you. Shall we eat dinner, Jim?”Jim put his arms around his Della. For ten seconds let us look in another direction. Eight dollars a week or a million dollars a year— how different are they? Someone may give you an answer, but it will be wrong. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. My meaning will be explained soon.From inside the coat, Jim took something tied in paper. Hethrew it upon the table.“I want you to understand me, Dell,” he said. “Nothing like a haircut c ould make me love you any less. But if you’ll open that, you may know what I felt when I came in.”White fingers pulled off the paper. And then a cry of joy; and then a change to tears.For there lay The Combs—the combs that Della had seen in a shop window and loved for a long time. Beautiful combs, with jewels, perfect for her beautiful hair. She had known they cost too much for her to buy them. She had looked at them without the least hope of owning them. And now they were hers, but her hair was gone.But she held them to her heart, and at last was able to look up and say: “My hair grows so fast, Jim!”And then she jumped up and cried, “Oh, oh!”Jim had not yet seen his beautiful gift. She held it out to him in her open hand. The gold seemed to shine softly as if with her own warm and loving spirit.“Isn’t it perfect, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You’ll have to look at your watch a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch.I want to see how they look together.”Jim sat down and smiled.“Della,” said he, “let’s put our Christmas gifts away and keep them a while. They’re too nice to use now. I sold the watch to get the money to buy the combs. And now I think we should have our dinner.”The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men— who brought gifts to the newborn Christ-child. They were the first to give Christmas gifts. Being wise, their gifts weredoubtless wise ones. And here I have told you the story of two children who were not wise. Each sold the most valuable thing he owned in order to buy a gift for the other. But let me speak a last word to the wise of these days: Of all who give gifts, these two were the most wise. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the most wise. Everywhere they are the wise ones. They are the magi.。
The Gift of the MagiO. HenryOne dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. Andsixty cents of it was in pennies. Three times Della counted it.One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would beChristmas.There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on theshabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Whichinstigates(鼓动、煽动) the moral reflection that life is made upof sobs and smiles, with sobs predominating（支配、统治）.Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with thepowder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully ata gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. Tomorrowwould be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with whichto buy Jim a present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling--something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim.There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room.Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood before the glass. Her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length.Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling(轻柔的起伏) and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. And then she did it up again nervously and quickly. Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat. With a whirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street.Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. Forget the hashed metaphor. She was ransacking（彻底搜索）the stores for Jim's present.She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. It was a platinum fob chain（白金表链）simple and chaste in design, properly proclaiming its value by substance alone. It was even worthy of The Watch. As soon as she saw it she knew that it must be Jim's. It was like him. Quietness and value--the description applied to both. Twenty-one dollars they took from her for it, and she hurried home with the 87 cents. With that chain on his watch Jim might be properly anxious about the time in any company. Grand as the watch was, he sometimes looked at it on the sly（偷偷地，暗中地）on account of the old leather strap that he used in place of a chain.She got out her curling irons（卷发钳）.Within forty minutes her head was covered withtiny, close-lying curls that made her look wonderfullylike a schoolboy. She looked at her reflection in themirror long, carefully, and critically.Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain inher hand and sat on the corner of the table near the doorthat he always entered. Then she heard his step on thestair away down on the first flight, and she turned whitefor just a moment. She had a habit of saying a littlesilent prayer about the simplest everyday things, and now she whispered: "Please God, make him think I am still pretty."The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two--and to be burdened with a family! He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves.Jim stopped inside the door with his eyes fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments（情感）that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar（特别的）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 lived through Christmas without giving you a present. It'll grow out again--you won't mind, will you? I just had to do it. My hair grows awfully fast. Say `Merry Christmas!' Jim, and let's be happy. You don't know what a nice--what a beautiful, nice gift I've got for you.""You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim, laboriously（艰难地、辛苦地）."Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you like me 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 air almost of idiocy."You needn't look for it," said Della. "It's sold, I tell you--sold and gone, too. It's Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it went for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness, "but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I put the chops on, Jim?"Eight dollars a week or a million a year--what is the difference? A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threw it upon the table."Don't make any mistake, Dell," he said, "about me. I don't think there's anything that could make me like my girl any less. But if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me going a while at first."White fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper. And then an ecstatic（狂喜地）scream of joy; and then, alas!For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims--just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair.She hugged them to her bosom（胸口）, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hair grows so fast, Jim!"And then Della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried, "Oh, oh!"Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm. "Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it.You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now.Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it."Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch（坐到沙发上）and put his hands under the back of hishead and smiled."Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presentsaway and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on."The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege（权利）of exchange in case of duplication （重复）. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed（牺牲）for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.。
the gift of the magi 赏析英文原版小说“The gift of the Magi”（麦琪的礼物）中，女主Della卖掉自己视若珍宝的长发为心爱的丈夫换来“宝贵”的圣诞礼物，丈夫深深地将其拥入怀中。
在这里，作者留给男女主人公一些空间享受温存的同时，带领读者做了些深层次的思考：For ten seconds let us regard with discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the other direction. Eight dollars a week or a million a year---what is the difference? A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. This dark assertion will be illuminated later on.让我们先花10秒钟时间换个角度审视一些小问题。
一周8美元或一年100万----有什么区别呢？数学家或者机智风趣的人给出的答案可能是错误的。
麦琪（为耶稣）带来了宝贵的礼物，但这却无关乎财富的多与少。
稍后你就会明白我为什么这么说了。
这段内容的难点在最后两句话：“The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. This dark ass ertion will be illuminated later on.”the Magi：指的是耶稣诞生时，过来送礼物的三个贤人（wise men)，有时也被说成是三个国王；他们送给耶稣的礼物有黄金、乳香和殁药（分别象征尊贵、圣洁和希望），有人说他们开创了圣诞节送礼物的传统。
the gift of magi长难句解析"The Gift of the Magi" 是一个著名的短篇小说，由美国作家 O. Henry 于 1906 年创作。
这个故事主要讲述了一对年轻的夫妇，为了给对方买圣诞礼物，各自卖掉了自己最珍贵的财产。
故事中充满了惊喜和感人的情节。
以下是对故事中长难句的解析：“...the room was aglow with the wattage of electric bulbs, and the open hearth gaped redly at the back like a hungry mouth gaping open.”这句话使用了比喻的修辞手法，把房间里的灯光比作电灯泡的瓦数，把壁炉比作一个饥饿的嘴巴。
这种比喻形象地描绘了房间里的灯光和壁炉的火焰，给人一种视觉上的感受。
“‘The best Christmas gift of all,’ he said, handing her a flat box with a pretty bow on top. ‘The gift of the Magi, wife.'”这句话中的“the gift of the Magi”指的是耶稣诞生时，东方三贤士送给耶稣的礼物——黄金、乳香和没药。
在这个故事中，“the gift of the Magi”被用来比喻最珍贵的礼物。
通过这句话，我们可以感受到这位年轻的丈夫对自己的妻子有多么珍爱，因为他愿意花费自己最珍贵的财产来给她买礼物。
“‘Jim, for three days I’ve eaten nothing but your hard Christmas candy. Save your money, Jim, and buy for yourself a last-minute gift of something that will do you good.’”这句话表达了妻子对丈夫的爱和关心。
the gift of them magi主要内容"The Gift of the Magi" is a heartwarming and thought-provoking short story written by O. Henry. It tells the story of a couple, Jim and Della, who are deeply in love but facing financial difficulties. The story centers around the sacrifices they make to buy each other the perfect Christmas gifts, only to realize that their love and devotion are the greatest gifts of all.In the beginning, we are introduced to the couple's modest living conditions and their love for each other. Della, with her beautiful long hair, decides to sell it in order to buy a special gift for Jim. She hopes to purchase a platinum fob chain for his watch, to complement its charm. This shows the depth of her love and her desire to make Jim happy, no matter the cost.Jim, on the other hand, owns a cherished pocket watch that has been passed down through generations. He decides to sell it to buy a set of exquisite combs for Della's treasured hair. He wants her to be proud of her hair and to feel beautiful. This reveals his profound understanding of her desires and his willingness to sacrifice something dear to him for her happiness.As the day of Christmas approaches, both Jim and Della anxiously await the moment when they can present their gifts to each other. Little do they know, their acts of selflessness will be met with unexpected consequences.Della brings the combs she has bought for Jim and anxiously awaits his arrival. When he enters their small apartment, he is temporarily speechless and confused. Jim reveals that he has sold his cherished pocket watch in exchange for combs that can no longer be used by Della since she has cut offher beautiful hair. Despite the irony and disappointment, both Jim and Della realize the true value of their actions.In this touching tale, O. Henry uses irony to convey the message that true love is not measured by the material possessions we have but by the sacrifices we are willing to make for our loved ones. The theme of selflessness runs throughout the story, reminding us that the greatest gifts are those that come from the heart, not from the wallet."The Gift of the Magi" teaches us the importance of selflessness, empathy, and the true meaning of giving. It challenges our societal expectations of materialism and highlights the power of love to transcend worldly possessions. The story leaves the readers with a sense of warmth and appreciation for the couple's unwavering love, even in the face of adversity.In conclusion, "The Gift of the Magi" is a timeless story that touches upon the true essence of love and the significance of selfless acts. It serves as a reminder to cherish and appreciate the people in our lives, for they are the greatest gifts we could ever receive. O. Henry's masterful storytelling and poignant message continue to captivate readers and inspire them to reflect on the true value of love and sacrifice.。
语境识词导学案1.【Classical sentences】It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.--A Tale of Two Cities2.【A short story】2.1Chunksbring up _________________permit sb to do _________________stare at _________________account for _________________take a chance _________________a large amount of _________________on the contrary _________________be spotted by... _________________by accident _________________be in rags _________________as for __________________2.2Listen and fill in the blanksSailing HomeThis novel was about an_______________ but ____________ adventure. Its author was a black businessman who was _________ _____ in America. In 1956, he visited Africa, his_______. One day, when he was_____________ on the pavement near the bay enjoying the sea________, he lost his money and passport that he kept in an_________. So he went to the embassy to _______help, but the ambassador with _______ ________didn’t________ his staff to help though he bowed to him. ________ _____ his_________face, he understood that it was the ______of his skin colour that _______ _____their rejection. So he decided to _______ ____ ________to sail on a small boat home.He met __ _____ _____ ___difficulty but was never stopped. ______ _____ ______, difficulty pushed him to go ahead harder. Three months later, he was ________ by a ship ____ _________. He was in rags indeed. A maid even__________ when bringing him a steak and pineapple dessert. Aboard, he earned his passage by working as a barber and got home finally. ____ _____ the name of his novel, he couldn’t think of a better one than the phrase “Go Ahead”.3.【Classical reading】The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two and to be burdened with a family! He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves.Jim stopped inside the door with his eyes fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments（情感）that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar（特别的）expression on his face."Jim, darling," she cried, "don't look at me that way. I had my hair cut off and sold because I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present. It'll grow out again--you won't mind, will you? I just had to do it. My hair grows awfully fast. Say `Merry Christmas!' Jim, and let's be happy. You don't know what a nice--what a beautiful, nice gift I've got for you.""You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim, laboriously（艰难地、辛苦地）."Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you like me 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 air almost of idiocy(白痴)."You needn't look for it," said Della. "It's sold, I tell you--sold and gone, too. It's Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it went for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness, "but nobody could ever count my love for you.Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threw it upon the table."Don't make any mistake, Dell," he said, "about me. I don't think there's anything that could make me like my girl any less. But if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me going a while at first."White fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper. And then an ecstatic（狂喜地）scream of joy; and then, alas!For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshiped long in a Broadway window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims--just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair.She hugged them to her bosom（胸口）, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hair grows so fast, Jim!"And then Della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried, "Oh, oh!"Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm. "Isn't it smart, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it."Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch（坐到沙发上）and put his hands under theback of his head and smiled."Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep them a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. Let’s have some dinner."-----The abstract of The Gift of the MagiBy O. Henry3.1 Appreciate the above underlined beautiful sentences1.It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments（情感）that she had been prepared for.2. I had my hair cut off and sold because I couldn't have lived through Christmas withoutgiving you a present.3.For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshiped long ina Broadway window.4.Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch（坐到沙发上）and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled.3. guess the word in context4.。
<THE GIFT OF THE MAGI> Book Report<THE GIFT OF THE MAGI> is a short novel written by O.Henry who was a well-known Amercian writter in the end of the nineteenth centry and the beginning of twentieth centry. O.Henry was one of the three world's masters of short stories. He was good at portraying American society and ordinary people’s living in New York. His work is new and original in conception, language and humor. The end of the work is always unexpected and the work is known as the "humorous Encyclopedia of American life ".< THE GIFT OF THE MAGI > is the representative work of O.Henry’s short stories.It is usually thought that O.Henry wrote this story to reflect the lower people's difficult lives in America and reveal the social reality of the wealth gap in the U.S. But in fact, there is another important reason---- in memory of his beloved wife. His wife, who was nice and kind, and loved creating literature as O.Henry did, accompanied him through the hardest time. Poor as they were, they spent an unforgettable sweet time together. But his beloved wife died from illness without O.Henry be her side. All these could not but made O. Henry extremely guilt. It is the guilt that prompted O. Henry to create this short story ----<THE GIFT OF THE MAGI>.<THE GIFT OF THE MAGI> is a short srory of a couple---- Della and Jim. They were a normal couple who had a difficult live with the salary just could make their ends meet. The husband had a gold watch without commensurate watch chain. The wife had beautiful long hair, but no matchable combs. As Christmas was coming, they wanted to buy each other a gift. But money was a big problem. So in order to buy her husband Jim a platinum fob chain which can be accompanied by Jim's golde watch as a Christmas present, Della sold her beautiful hair for money. Jim, the husband, for the same purpose, sold his ancestral gold watch to buy his wife a set of combs his wife was eager for a long time.<THE GIFT OF THE MAGI> shows us a meaningful truth that there is more to life than money----love. Maybe in some cases money can buy love, but that love must be fake. Money is not everything. The true love is something that you could not buy by money. Many things as money could buy, it could never buy happiness. The true meaning of happiness is loving and being loved by some guy. In the story , although Della and Jim’s gifts had lost value, they got the priceless gift from each other. That is the most treasurable and priceless love they gave to each other. The end of the story gives us readers a big shock in mind. It implies that as long as we give each other mutual understanding, mutual support, mutual help and love we could be the happiest guys in the world. And the world would be full of gorgeous love flowers.。
