The Gift of the Magi by O.Henry (illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger).
Title: The Gift of the Magi.
Author: O. Henry.
Artist: Lisbeth Zwerger.
Genre: Fiction, literature, picture books, romance, humour.
Country: U.S.
Language: English.
Publication Date: 1905.
Summary: One dollar and eighty-seven cents is all the money Della has in the world to buy her beloved husband a Christmas present. She has nothing to sell except her only treasure-her long, glorious brown hair. Meanwhile, her husband must find a way to get her a worthwhile gift, and he only has one thing of value to sell, as well. A story of love, sacrifice, and generosity, and what the true spirit of Christmas is really all about.
My rating: 9/10.
My review:
♥
There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigated the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating. Which the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second take a look at the home.
♥
♥
♥
♥
When Della reached home her intoxication have way a little to prudence and reason. She got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love. Which is always a tremendous task, dear friends-a mammoth task.
♥
Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table near the door that he always entered. Then she heard his step on the stairway down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. She had a habit of saying little silent prayers 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!
♥ "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 a sudden serious sweetness, "but nobody could ever count my love for you."
♥
Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. He enfolded his Della. For ten seconds let us regard with discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object on 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.
♥
♥
♥ 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 of exchange in case of duplication. And here I 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. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.