高中英语选修课英语文学欣赏欧亨利Thegiftofthemagi《麦琪的礼物》学生版讲义资料
介绍麦琪的礼物纯英文
2 Realistic Setting The story is set in New York City, adding a sense of realism that allows readers to easily identify with the characters and their situation. The apartment setting creates a familiar and relatable backdrop that complements the emotional journey of the characters
演示文稿是一种实用的工具，可以是演示，演讲，报告等。大部分时间，它们都是在为观众服务。演示文稿 是一种实用的工具，可以是演示，演讲，报告等。
The Landlord
A minor character who provides comic relief and adds to the story's irony. He mistakes Jim and Della's excitement about their Christmas gifts for financial hardship
3 Character Development Jim and Della's characters are well-developed, allowing readers to understand their motives and emotions. O. Henry effectively utilizes their actions and decisions to highlight their deep love for each other and their willingness to sacrifice for each other's happiness
麦琪的礼物(英文版)
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。
ThegiftofMagi麦琪的礼物英语鉴赏
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!。
《麦琪的礼物》英语读后感3篇
《麦琪的礼物》英语3篇《麦琪的礼物》英语篇1“Love is the best gift.”O.Henry told us,in oneof his most famous novels,The Gift of The Magi.O.Henry is said to be the most gifted and famous American short-story novelist in the world.As one of his major works,The Gift of The Magi tells us a story about a couple in the low social class.With the ing of Christmas，both of them want to give the other agift.As a result,the young wife,Della,sells her beautiful long hair to buy a platinum fob chain to descorate the watch of her husband,Jim.While at the same time,Jim sacrifice his most valuable golden watch to buy his wife a jewelled b.To be honest,we have to say that it is an unfortunate accident.Both of them sacrifice their most treasured things for the other.But when things turn out,it seems that what they have done is meaningless.However,in the other way,although theydon’t receive the gift they need,they receive the love from the other.And no matter what will happen in the future,they will remember that the most valuableis neither the long beautiful hair nor the golden watch,but the people who live with us.”Love is the best gift.”That is what the writer wants to tell us.《麦琪的礼物》英语篇2The Gift of the Magi is a short story wrote byO.Henry.This story tells that in the day before Christmas,a poor young couple exchanged gifts by sold the most precious thing of each,but resulted ordetracted, the two precious gifts all became useless things.While they got the most precious thing than any material objects——love.After read this story,I learned how to respect others’ love and how to love others.In thisstory,they all lost the most valuable things——Jim’s golden watch and Della’s beautiful hair. Behind this, I saw they loved each other infinitely.They lovedtheir family, they let me feel that cold Christmas Evehas bee the warm heaven just because of their gifts.If Della only took one dollar and eighty-seven centsto pick gift,this story will probably lacking of shocking, and also cannot cause readers’ thinking.In this materialistic society, people often use money to measure gifts.When bags of gifts which are packaging delicately in front of us,what can we see except empty and blank? Parents feel happy because of our simple greeting cards in their birthday,because of a few words of blessing.These gifts,simple but true.It can’t be pared with those which built with a lot of money, outlined by luxuriance. What clever gifts! In some sense, they are invaluable.Maybe some people will pour scorn on it and cannot understand what their done. If there is a good fortune and a sincere feeling in front of you at the same time, which one will you choose? I wouldn't hesitate to choose the later, because sincere feeling is priceless!I believe that true pay will have sincere return finally, and the one who have true love can have hisor her happiness.Nowadays,more and more people have been pressed to lose their breath by the reality.They forgot the persons they love,and the persons who love them.We need to care about others,no matter how much money we have.What our loved one need is how our concern about him or her. In some important days,don’t forget to bring him or her some gifts.No matter what is it,how valuable is it,he or she would like it anyway.Because it is the gift of the Magi.《麦琪的礼物》英语篇3“Gift of the Magi” is the O. Henry wrote an interesting article. It is mainly about the day before Christmas, the poor living in the apartment of la would like to give her husband Jim a surprise, but she is only one dollar octagonal seven, she knew it wasnot enough money to buy any good gift, so she cited to be proud of brown hair cut down like a waterfall, sell, and in exchange for the 20 U.S. dollars. Exhausted all of the individual shops, De la spent 21 dollars, and finally bought a simple white gold watch chain, whichcan be acpanied by a piece of Jim's gold watch. And Jim also wanted to give his wife a surprise, he also sold proud gold watch.Bought a la the envy of the long-awaited full set of beautiful bs for Christmas gifts.。
The gift of Magi麦琪的礼物英语鉴赏
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
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.。
thegiftofthemagi麦琪的礼物
This film was presented in 1998, then I was in the third grade of senior middle school, and maybe some of you were in nursery school at that time.
Unprecedented, The first time, the school organized all of us to watch this film. that was the only one film in my senior middle school career.
economic crisis
O. Henry In prison for Economic disputes
Jim and Della Work hard but poor yet
No money to buy christmas gift for
daughter
No money to buy christmas gift for
O. Henry 's short stories are known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization, and clever twist endings.
His best known short stories consisted of ： The Cop and the Anthem, The Gift of the Magi , The Last Leave et al.
About love
It appears that the gifts they gave each other have been useless. But I think they gave each other the best of what they had to make the other happy. Isn't that true love We can image, in such rough conditions, as it said in the story, " Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating." It is absolutely reasonable for them to be beaten by the misery. But the fact is that no ma tter how rough life had been, they wouldn't lose heart. Wit h strong faith and their love , they did their best to make the other pleased.
麦琪的礼物原文麦琪的礼物读后感英文作文
麦琪的礼物原文麦琪的礼物读后感英文作文It’s a short story by O.Henry that has moved me for a long time.Maybe most of you are familar with its name,that is,The Gift of the Magi.I have read it many times but every time I like to read it slowly and deliberately.I think “The Gift of the Magi”is meant to be savored.Maybe there is no necessity for me to repeat the main idea of the story.But I’mso fascinated with the short story that I want to retell it yo you,and to myself.It happened to a very poor but blissful young couple named Jim and Della in the end of 18th century in England.Because of the maladies of that society and the effect of economic crisis,they worked hard but earned little.Life is very hard for them.Despite of this,their love to each other and the enthusiasm for life didn’t changed at all.When Chrismas day was approuching ,Della used the money she got from selling her beautiful hair which she treasured very much to give Jim a fob for his grandfather’s pocketwatch.But Jim had already sold that watch to buy Della t ortoiseshell bs to wear in her long hair,not knowing she’d cut it off.It appears that the gifts they gave each other have been useless.But I think they gave each other the best of what they had to make the other happy.Isn’t that true love?We can image,in such rough conditions,as it said in the story,”Life is made up of sobs,sniffles,and smiles,with sniffles predominating.”Its’t absolute reasonable for them to be beaten by the misery.But the fact is that no matter how tough life had been,they would’t lo se heart.With strong faith and their love ,they did their best to make the other pleased.”Whennever Mr. James came home and reached his flat ,above he was called ‘Jim’and greatly hugged by Mrs. James.”Maybe this account is the best description of their love and struggle against hard life.It was said that the povertier life is ,the firmer and truer love is.”Actually,they’d given the very best they had out of love.“They are too 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.”Said the writer in the lastparagraph.Yes,they are wisest.They are the magi.Are there any reasons for us not to show respect for the young couple?I remind my grandparents.They have spent fifty years together.No romantic words,no stirring behaviours,just man even pedestrian life.But I can say love exists in every detail of their life.They have gone through war period,three years’ natural disasters,cultural revolution and so on.But no matter what happens,they are always considering for the other.Even now both of them have e old step by step,they still cared about each other.My grandparents,in my opinion,is a pair of lovers forever.Love has nothing to do with money,possession or status.It’s consideration,tolerance and respect.It’s giving one’s best to the other even it means sacrifice.It’s affection which connects two persons’ hearts,and it’s reinforced by ad versities.Struggle against adversities.Nothing did they have,at least they owened love.Never give up as long as love exists.From”The Gift of the Magi”,from Jim and Della and from my grandparents,I have learned a lot about love,life and hope.。
the gift of the magi 赏析
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。
麦琪的礼物内容概要
The Gift of the MagiThe Gift of the Magi is a short story by O. Henry which has moved people for a long time throughout the world. And it is beyond controversy that it will be impressed by more people in the coming centuries.It happened to a very poor but blissful充满喜悦的 young couple named Jim and Della in the end of 18th century in England. Because of the maladies(腐败；疾病) of that society and the effect of economic crisis, the poor couple worked hard while earned little. Life is exceedingly hard for them. In spite of the difficulties in their everyday life, their love to each other and the enthusiasm for life didn't change at all. When Christmas day was around the corner, Della used the money she got from selling her beautiful hair which she treasured very much to give Jim a fob for his grandfather's pocket watch. While at the same time Jim had already sold exactly that watch to buy Della tortoiseshell combs to wear in her long beautiful hair, not knowing that she had just cut it off.It appears that the gifts they gave to each other became useless. However the fact is that no matter how tough life had been, they wouldn't lose heart.With strong faith in life and their love to each other, they did their best to make the other pleased."Whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called ‘Jim’ and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young." Maybe this account is the best description of theirlove and their struggling against hard life. It was said that the poverties life is what the firmer and truer love is. Actually, they'd given the very best they had out of love."They are too 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." Said the writer O. Henry in the last paragraph ofthis short story. Yes, they are wisest. They are the magi.Love has nothing to do with money, possession or status. It's consideration, tolerance and respect. It's giving one's best to the other even it means sacrifice. It's affection which connects two individuals' hearts, and it's reinforced by adversities.Jim and Della, though they are only the small potatoes who live in the lower classes, they never lose their fervency to their lives and love each other deeply, penury(贫困) is so insignificant when it is in this warm sentiment. At the Christmas' Eve, they were still thinking about the presents they should give to each other, how romantic it is! Even though it seemed that these presents isn't useful anymore, they have been the most costful one in the world, like a sincere love to each other. Jim and Della immolated（牺牲）their most precious things for the other unadvisably. Amongall the people who gave presents this young couple was the most brilliant one. Among all the people who not only give but also receive, this young couple was also the most brilliant one. This invaluable无价的 thing, however, any of the personwho always thinks he is the most brilliant or richest could not has it, and could never give it to others either.It is not surprising that The Gift of the Magi still enjoys such widespread fame, for in this trite（平庸的）little tale of mutual self-sacrifice between husband and wife, O. Henry crystallized（使具体化；使结晶） dramatically what the world in all its stored-up wisdom knows to be of fundamental value in ordinary family life. Unselfish love shared, regardless of the attendant difficulties or distractions--this is the idea repeatedly implied as a criterion in his fictional treatment of domestic affairs. If such love is present, life can be a great adventure transcending all drabness; if it is absent, nothing else can take its place.小说以礼物作为叙事发展线索，分为三个部分：第一部分：主要叙述女主人公德拉为丈夫买礼物的事。
麦琪的礼物英文读后感
麦琪的礼物英文读后感After reading "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, I was deeply moved by the selfless love and sacrifice displayed by the main characters, Della and Jim. The story not only touched my heart, but also left me with a profound sense of the true meaning of love and the value of giving.The story revolves around a young couple, Della and Jim, who are struggling to make ends meet. With Christmas approaching, both of them want to give each other a special gift to express their love, but they are limited by their financial situation. Della has beautiful long hair, which she treasures dearly, while Jim owns a prized pocket watch that has been passed down through generations. In a desperate attempt to buy a gift for Jim, Della decides to sell her hair, while Jim sells his watch to buy a set of combs for Della's hair.What struck me most about this story is the extraordinary level of sacrifice and selflessness shown by Della and Jim. They were willing to part with their most prized possessions in order to bring joy to each other. This act of giving, even at great personal cost, is a powerful demonstration of their love for one another. It made me reflect on the true nature of love – that it is not about material possessions or grand gestures, but about the willingness to give and sacrifice for the happiness of the ones we love.O. Henry's writing style is also worth noting. The way he describes Della and Jim's emotions and actions is so vivid and heartfelt that it truly draws the reader into the story. I could feel Della's anxiety as she cut her hair, and Jim's devastation as he realized the sacrifice Della had made. The emotional depth of the characters and the powerful storytelling made the story all the more impactful.Moreover, the story's message about the true spirit of Christmas is timeless and resonates with people of all ages. It serves as a reminder that the most valuable gifts are not necessarily the ones that come wrapped in fancy paper, but the ones that come from the heart. In a world where materialism often overshadows the true meaning of the holiday season, "The Gift of the Magi" is a poignant reminder of what really matters.In conclusion, "The Gift of the Magi" is a beautiful and timeless story that has left a lasting impression on me. It has taught me the importance of selfless love, sacrifice, and the true value of giving. This story is a true gem that continues to inspire and touch the hearts of readers around the world. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming and thought-provoking read.。
高中英语选修课：英语文学欣赏 美国文学《The Gift of the Magi》(《麦琪的礼物》) 教学课件
It was his wife Athol that encouraged him to pursue his writing, and Porter tried and finally decided to change his dream of becoming a painter to ahort stories are known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization, and clever twist endings.
Best known short stories: The Cop and the Anthem 1904 《警察与赞美诗》 The Gift of the Magi 1905 《麦基的礼物》 Conscience in Art 1907 《艺术良心》 The Last Leave 1907 《最后一片叶子》 The Ransom of Red Chief 1910 《红酋长的赎金》 ……
Porter's most prolific writing period started in 1902, when he moved to New York City to be near his publishers. While there, he wrote 381 short stories. He wrote a story a week for over a year for the New York World Sunday Magazine. His wit, characterization, and plot twists were adored by his readers, but often panned by critics.
麦琪的礼物_英文原文
THE GIFT OF THE MAGIby O. HenryOne dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents ofit was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Threetimes Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- 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. While the mistress of the home is gradually subsidingfrom the first stage to the second, take a look at the home. A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young."The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20, though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. JamesDillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called "Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good.Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she had calculated. They always are. 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. Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in a rapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairly accurate conception of his looks. Della, being slender, had mastered the art.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 hadbeen his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty'sjewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shininglike a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and madeitself 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 awhirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street.Where she stopped the sign read: "Mne. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collected herself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the "Sofronie.""Will you buy my hair?" asked Della."I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it."Down rippled the brown cascade."Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand. "Give it to me quick," said Della.Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. Forget thehashed metaphor. She was ransacking the stores for Jim's present. 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 stores, and she had turned all ofthem inside out. It was a platinum fob chain simple and chaste in design, properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretriciousornamentation--as all good things should do. It was even worthy ofThe 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 atit on the sly on account of the old leather strap that he used in placeof a chain. When Della reached home her intoxication gave way a littleto prudence and reason. She got out her curling irons and lighted thegas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love. Which is always a tremendous task, dear friends--a mammoth task.Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny, close-lyingcurls that made her look wonderfully like a truant schoolboy. She looked at herreflection in the mirror long, carefully, and critically."If Jim doesn't kill me," she said to herself, "before he takes a second look at me, he'll say I look like a Coney Island chorus girl. Butwhat could I do--oh! what could I do with a dollar and eighty- seven cents?" At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops.Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and saton the corner of the table near the door that he always entered. Thenshe heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. She had a habit for saying 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 and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two--and to be burdenedwith a family! He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves. Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail. His eyes were 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 that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar 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, as if he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after the hardest mental labor. "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?"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 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.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 in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo 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 scream of joy; and then, alas! a quick feminine change to hysterical tearsand wails, necessitating the immediate employment of all the comforting powers of the lord of the flat.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. 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 say: "My hair grows so fast, Jim!" And them 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. The dull precious metal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit."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 and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled."Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away 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 of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of twofoolish 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. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.麦琪的礼物1一块八毛七分钱。
人教版选修小说欣赏-The-Gift-of-the-Magi麦琪的礼物
Summary
• This story tells that the day before Christmas, a poor young couple exchanged gifts by selling the most precious things of themselves,but the two precious gifts both became useless.However,they got the most precious thing than any material objects— —love.
2.What does the word “shining” and "lost its color "tell you?(2 points)
The sentence “Her eyes were shining”
infers that she came up with an idea to sell her hair.
Sharing
Were Della and Jim both foolish to sell their favorite possessions? What did the writer want to tell us?
(5 points)
O.Henry want to tell us that they were not foolish. They were wise because they gave up their most precious thing for the person they loved. The writer wanted to tell us the true meaning of love is giving rather than taking.
麦琪的礼物英文
His life
Pen name:O.Henry Another pen name:Oliver Henry His primitive name:William Sydney Porter
How
Both of them sacrifice their most treasured things for the other.But when things turn out,it seems that what they have done is meaningless.
The gift of the Magi
But they were very poor.
The gift of the Magi
Della only have one dollar and eightyseven cents. she knew it was not enough money to buy any good gift, so she cut down her beautiful brown hair which like a waterfall, sold and exchanged for the 20 dollars.
Love is the world&#The gift of the Magi
Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. He enfolded Della.Then,Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threw it upon the ta ble.He said“if you'll unwrap that package you may know why I become speechless a while at first.”
高中英语选修课：英语文学欣赏-欧·亨利The-gift-of-the-magi《麦琪的礼物》-学生版讲义资料
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.。
《高考英语晨读美文六100篇》
名著诗歌节选1. The Gift of the Magi (1)导读：《麦琪的礼物》是美国著名作家欧·亨利的著名短篇小说。
吉姆和黛拉生活窘迫，但都深爱着对方。
圣诞节前一天，他们都想送对方一件特别的礼物，结果阴差阳错，两人珍贵的礼物都变成了无用的东西，而他们却得到了比任何实物都宝贵的东西——爱。
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.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.Della and Jim had two possessions which they valued. 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, shining like a brown waterfall. It reached below her knees and made itself almost like a covering for her. And then quickly she①put it up again. She stood still while a few tears fell on the floor.She②put 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,③out of breath."Will you buy my hair?" asked Della."I buy hair," said Madame. "④Take your hat off and let us have a look at it.”⑤Down 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 was a chain —simple round rings of silver. It was perfect for Jim’s gold watch. 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 theglass mirror long and carefully.麦琪的礼物（1）黛拉停止了哭泣，擦干了脸。
麦琪的礼物读后感英文
麦琪的礼物读后感英文After reading "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, I was deeply moved by the selfless love and sacrifice of the main characters, Della and Jim. The story revolves around the couple's desire to give each other the perfect Christmas gift, despite their financial struggles.Della and Jim are a young couple living in a small apartment, and they are very much in love. However, they are also very poor and cannot afford to buy each other presents for Christmas. Della has beautiful long hair, which she treasures, while Jim has a prized possession in the form of a gold watch that belonged to his father. In order to buy Jim a chain for his watch, Della decides to sell her hair, while Jim sells his watch to buy Della a set of combs for her hair.The story is a beautiful portrayal of love and sacrifice. It shows that true love is not about material possessions, but about the willingness to give up somethingprecious for the happiness of the other person. Della and Jim's actions are a testament to the depth of their lovefor each other, and it is this love that makes their gifts truly valuable.The story also highlights the theme of the true meaning of Christmas. In a world where commercialism often overshadows the spirit of the holiday, "The Gift of the Magi" serves as a reminder that the most precious gifts are not those that can be bought with money, but those that come from the heart. Della and Jim's gifts may have seemed impractical and even foolish to some, but they were given with pure intentions and a deep sense of love.The ending of the story is both heartwarming and bittersweet. When Della and Jim exchange their gifts, they are initially shocked and saddened by the sacrifices the other has made. However, they soon realize the depth of each other's love and are filled with a sense of joy and gratitude. This ending perfectly captures the essence of the story, as it shows that love and selflessness can turn even the most difficult situations into moments ofhappiness and contentment."The Gift of the Magi" is a timeless tale thatcontinues to resonate with readers of all ages. Its message of love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of Christmas isone that will always be relevant. It serves as a powerful reminder that the most valuable gifts are not those that come wrapped in fancy paper and bows, but those that come from the heart.In conclusion, "The Gift of the Magi" is a beautifuland touching story that has left a lasting impression on me. It has reminded me of the importance of selfless love and the true spirit of Christmas. I believe that this storywill continue to inspire and move readers for many years to come.。
- 1、下载文档前请自行甄别文档内容的完整性，平台不提供额外的编辑、内容补充、找答案等附加服务。
- 2、"仅部分预览"的文档,不可在线预览部分如存在完整性等问题,可反馈申请退款(可完整预览的文档不适用该条件!)。
- 3、如文档侵犯您的权益，请联系客服反馈,我们会尽快为您处理(人工客服工作时间：9:00-18:30)。
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.。