The Gift of the Magi
Complete textWith Christmas approaching, Della counts the small amount she has saved for a present for her husband Jim. Their household has little money, but each wants to give something worthy of the other. Della makes a difficult choice, setting up an exchange whose meaning extends beyond the usefulness of the gifts.
Continue readingAbout The Gift of the Magi
The narrator moves between affectionate humor and close attention to the couple’s material circumstances. Hair, a watch, and the things money can purchase become measures of devotion, yet their value keeps shifting as choices are revealed. Notice how the story prepares its surprise through ordinary household details. Its final comparison asks readers to judge giving by the thought and sacrifice behind it as well as by practical results.
Reading focus
Compare the price, usefulness, and emotional value of the gifts in a compact story about generosity under severe financial limits.
This reading edition contains 2,073 words in 1 original section. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.
Author: O Henry. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.
Opening excerpt
One 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 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. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.
Contents
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Is this the complete The Gift of the Magi?
This edition contains the complete English literary text, with 1 section and 2,073 words. This reading edition preserves the checked English text and its section order. No study notes have been added.
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