The Christmas Presents
adapted by O.Henry
This was the story of two young people who were very much in love.
I suggest my readers to read about this ^^
Part ONE
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. Della carefully counted the money again. There was no mistake. Every day, when she went to the shops, she didn't spend much money. She bought the cheapest meat and the cheapest vegetables. It was very tiring- she walked for hours around the shops to find the cheapest food. She saved every cent possible. Only one dollar and eighty-seven cents. The next day was Christmas, and she couldn't do anything about it. so, she sat there in her little room and cried quitely.
Della lived in this poor little room in New York with her husband, James Dilingham Young. James (Jim to his friends) was lucky because he had a job, but it wasn't a good job. Times were bad and there was no work for Della. But when Jim came home, she immediately put her arms around him. And that was good.
Della wanted to buy Jim a Christmas present-something really good to show how much she loved him. Suddenly she ran to the mirror and looked at her beautiful long hair. Then she put in her old brown hat and coat and quickly went into town.
Part TWO
She stopped when she came to a door withy 'Madame Eloise- Hair' on it. Inside was a small fat woman.'Do you buy hair?' Della asked.
'I buy hair,' Madame answered. 'Take your hat off,then, and show me your hair.'
Madame slowly touched the hair with her hand.' Twenty dollars,'she said.
'Quick! Cut it off! Give me the money!' Della said.
The next two hours went quickly. Della was happy, because she was at the shops with money for a present for him. At last she found him the perfect present. jim had one special thing. He had a beautiful gold watch that once belonged to his father, and before that to his grandfather. Jim loved his watch, but it had no chain. When Della saw the gold watch chain, she knew immediately that it was right for Jim. It cost twenty-one dollars.
Della ran home excitedly with the eighty-seven cents. When she arrived, she looked at her very short hair in the mirror. 'Oh dear. I look like a schoolboy! What is Jim going to say when he sees me?'
At seven o'clock Jim came in. His eyes were on Della. She couldn't understand the look on his face. hewas not angry or surprised. He just looked at her sadly. Della ran to him.
'Jim, dont look at me like that! I sold my hair because I wanted to give you a present.'
'You sold your hair?' he said quietly.
'Yes, i told you. But dont worry. It grows so fast. But dont you love meany more, Jim?'
Part THREE
Suddenly Jim put his arms around Della. 'I love you, Della. It doesn't matter if your hair is long or short. But open this. Then you can see why i was unhappy at first,'
Della opened the present excitedly. Then she gave a little scream of happiness. But, a second later there was a cry of unhappiness. Tehre were the combs-for her beautiful hair! When she first saw these lovely, expensive combs in the shop window, she wanted them. And now they were hers. But she no longer had her hair! Della held them in her hand and her eyes were full of love.
Then Della remembered. She ran to get Jim's present. Isn't it lovely, Jim? Give me your beautiful watch, and lets see it with its new chain!'
But Jim sat down and smile.
'Della, you see, i sold the watch to buy your combs.'
