illustration of two people, a woman and a man, looking at one another in profile with an ornate hair comb between them

The Gift of the Magi

by O. Henry

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The Gift of the Magi

In O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," Jim and Della, a financially struggling couple, each sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other. Della sells her long hair to purchase a...

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The Gift of the Magi

Della earns $20 from selling her long brown hair, which was a significant amount in the early 20th century. With this money, plus the $1.87 she had saved, she buys a platinum chain for her husband...

1 educator answer

The Gift of the Magi

Della acquires the money for Jim's watch chain by selling her prized possession, her beautiful hair, to a wig maker for $20. This act of sacrifice allows her to buy an expensive platinum fob chain...

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