The title of the article is "The Gift of Maggie"
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. It's all here, of which 60 cents are still copper coins. These copper coins are sent to grocery stores, vegetable vendors and butcher shops one or two at a time; Although people didn't say it clearly, they always felt that this kind of transaction was too stingy, and their faces were red at that time. Della counted it three times. The count is still 1.87 cents, and the next day is Christmas. ?
Obviously, there is no other way but to fall down on that shabby little sofa and cry. Della did it. This makes a kind of spiritual feeling arise spontaneously, thinking that life is made up of sobs, sniffles and smiles, and sniffles account for the vast majority of them. ?
The housewife of this family is gradually retreating from the first stage to the second stage. We might as well take time to see this family. A furnished apartment costs eight yuan a week. Although it can't be said that it is absolutely indescribable, it is not far from the slums. ?
There is a mailbox on the porch below, but no letters will be put in; There is also a button. You can't ring the bell unless the fairy comes down to earth. There is also a business card with the words "Mr. James dillingham Young" printed on it. ?
The name "Dilingham" was given to the shopkeeper when he earned $30 a week. Now that the income has shrunk to 20 yuan, the word "Dilinhan" seems a little vague, as if they are considering whether it is better to reduce it to a simple and humble word "Di". But whenever Mr. James dillingham Yang comes home, goes upstairs and walks into the room, Mrs. James dillingham Young, who has just been introduced to you-Della-always calls him "Jim" and always gives him a warm hug. That's certainly good. ?
After Della finished crying, she sprinkled some powder on her face. She stood at the window and stared out into the gray backyard. A gray cat man is walking on a gray fence. Tomorrow is Christmas, and she has only one dollar and eighty-seven cents for Jim to buy a present. After months of work, she scrimped and saved, but this was the only result. Twenty dollars a week is useless. It always costs more than she budgeted. Always like this. Only one dollar and eighty-seven cents was given to Jim to buy a present. Her Jim. In order to buy him three good things, Della happily planned for many days. Buy something exquisite, rare and really valuable-it is rare to have everything for Jim, but it must be commensurate. ?
There is a wall mirror between the two windows in the room. You may have seen the wall mirror in an apartment with a rent of eight yuan. A very thin and flexible person may have a general idea of his appearance from a series of vertical images. Because of her slim figure, Della mastered that skill. ?
She suddenly turned from the window and stood in front of the wall mirror. Her eyes were crystal clear, but her face turned pale after twenty seconds. She quickly untied her hair and let it hang down. ?
By the way, James Dilinhan Young and his wife are particularly proud of two things, one is Jim's three-generation gold watch and the other is Della's hair. If the Queen of Sheba lives in an apartment opposite the patio, one day Della will hang her hair outside the window to dry, which will dwarf the Queen's jewelry and gifts. If King Solomon became a janitor and piled all his wealth in the basement, Jim would take out his gold watch every time he passed by and let King Solomon blow his beard and stare with envy. ?
At this time, Della's beautiful hair hung freely on her body, like a small brown waterfall, rushing down and shining. Her hair hung down to her knees as if it were clothes for her. She quickly combed her hair nervously again. She hesitated for a moment, stood quietly, and a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet. ?
She put on her old brown coat and hat. There are still crystal tears in her eyes. As soon as her skirt came out, she floated out of the door and ran downstairs into the street. ?
She stopped at a sign that said, "Mrs. Safrani-deals in all kinds of hairdressing products." Della ran up a flight of stairs and panted down. This lady is fat, too white, and looks cold, which is not commensurate with the name "Safrani". ?
[Sha Franny: Italian poet Tasso (1544- 1595) is a character in the epic "Liberation of Jerusalem" with the theme of the first Crusade. In order to save the Christians in Jerusalem, she admitted the crime she had not committed and became a typical example of saving others by sacrificing herself. ]?
"Do you want to buy my hair?" Della asked. ?
"I buy hair," said the lady. "Take off your hat and let me see what it looks like." ?
Small brown waterfalls pour down. ?
"Twenty dollars," the lady said, grasping her hair skillfully. ?
"Give me the money quickly." Della said. ?
Oh, the next two hours seem to fly by with rosy wings. You don't have to add this hash metaphor day after day. Anyway, Della is looking for a present for Jim in the shop. ?
Della finally found it. It must be done for Jim, not for others. She searched all the shops, but there was nothing. It's a platinum bracelet with a simple and simple style. It only depends on goods to reflect its value, not on any decoration-all good things should be like this. It even deserves that gold watch. As soon as she saw it, she thought she had to buy it for Jim. Just like him. Quiet and valuable-this sentence is just right to describe the bracelet and Jim himself. The store sold it to her for 2 1 dollar, and she left 87 cents and hurried home. With that chain, Jim can look at the time anytime and anywhere without any worries. Although that watch is luxurious, he sometimes just peeks at it, because he only uses an old belt instead of a watch chain. ?
When Della came home, a small part of her intoxication was replaced by caution and reason. She took out the curling iron pliers, lit the gas and set out to remedy the disaster caused by love and generosity. Dear friends, this is always a difficult job-it is simply an amazing job. ?
Within forty minutes, her head was covered with small curly hair, and she became like a truant pupil. She looked at the mirror carefully and sternly. ?
"It would be strange if Jim looked at me and didn't kill me," she said to herself. "He will say that I look like a singer in Coney Island amusement park. what can I do? -alas! It's only one dollar and eighty-seven cents. What can I do? " ?
At seven o'clock, the coffee is ready, and the frying pan behind the stove is still hot, ready to fry steak. ?
Jim is never late. Della folded the watch chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table at the door where he had to pass when he came in. Then she heard his footsteps on the stairs downstairs. Her face turned white for a moment. She has a habit of silently praying for the simplest things in daily life. Now she whispers, "Please God, let him think that I am still beautiful." ?
The door opened and Jim came in and closed it behind him. He is thin and serious. Poor guy, he's only 22 years old-he's shouldering the burden of his family! He needs a new coat, but he doesn't have gloves. ?
Jim stood motionless at the door, like a hunting dog sniffing quail. His eyes were fixed on Della with an expression that she could not understand, which frightened her greatly. This is neither anger nor surprise, nor dissatisfaction, nor disgust, nor any expression she expected. He just stared at della with that strange look. ?
Della twisted her waist, jumped down from the table and approached him. ?
"Jim, honey," she cried, "don't stare at me like that. I cut off my hair and sold it, because I can't spend Christmas without giving you a present. Hair will grow back-you don't care, do you? I have to do this. My hair grows very fast. Say "Merry Christmas"! Rum makes us happy. What beautiful things I bought for you. You'll never guess. " ?
"Did you cut off your hair?" Jim asked with difficulty, as if he had racked his brains to understand the obvious fact. ?
"Not only cut it, but also sold it." Della said. "Anyway, are you still like me? Although I have no hair, I am still me, aren't I? " ?
Jim looked around the room curiously. ?
"You said your hair was gone?" He asked with an almost idiotic expression. ?
"You don't have to look for it," said Della. "I tell you, it's sold-sold, gone. It's Christmas Eve, dear. Treat me well. I cut your hair. My hair may be countless, "she went on suddenly and very gently," but my love for you is countless. Jim, shall I fry the steak? " ?
Jim seems to suddenly wake up from a trance. He held della in his arms. Let's not take the liberty. Let's take ten seconds to look at something irrelevant on the other hand. Eight dollars a week, or one million dollars a year-what's the difference? Mathematicians or witty people may give you an incorrect answer. Maggie brought a precious gift, but there was nothing like it. This obscure sentence will be explained below. ?
[Maggie: refers to the three sages who came to give gifts when Christ was born. One is the three kings of the East: Melchior (the king of light) presented gold as a symbol of honor; Gaspar (white) presents frankincense as a symbol of sacredness; Balsa gave myrrh, which shows that Christ was later persecuted and died. ]?
Jim took a bag of things from his coat pocket and threw it on the table. ?
"Don't get me wrong, Del." He said, "My love for my girl will never diminish, whether it's a haircut, a shave or a shampoo. But just open the bag and you will understand why you just froze me. " ?
White fingers quickly tore the rope and wrapping paper. Then there was a cry of ecstasy; Then, alas! Suddenly turned into a female neurotic cry, and immediately needed the owner of the apartment to try his best to comfort her. ?
Because in front of us is the set of combs inserted in the hair-a full set of hair combs, for temples, for the back, everything; This used to be something Della longed for in a Broadway window. Beautiful hair comb made of pure tortoiseshell with jewels on the edge-the color is really perfect to match the lost hairdressing. She knows that this set of hair combs is very valuable. She has been fascinated for a long time, but she has never had the hope of owning it. Now it belongs to her, but the hair wearing these long-awaited decorations is gone. ?
But she still held the comb in her arms. After a long time, she raised her misty eyes and said to Jim with a smile, "My hair grows fast, Jim!" " " ?
Then Della jumped up like a kitten burned by fire and cried, "Oh! Oh! " ?
Jim hasn't seen his beautiful present yet. She eagerly held out her open palm and handed it to him. Unconscious precious metals seem to shine, reflecting her cheerful and enthusiastic mood. ?
"Beautiful, Jim? I ran all over the city to find it. Now I have to look at my watch hundreds of times every day. Give me your watch, I want to see how it matches. " ?
Jim didn't do what she said, but fell down on the sofa and laughed with his hands in his head. ?
"Del," he said, "let's put the Christmas presents aside and save them for the time being. They are so good that it's a pity to use them now. I sold my gold watch and bought your comb for money. Now please fry the steak. " ?
As you know, these three doctors are all smart people, very smart people. They brought gifts to Jesus, the son born in a manger. They started the custom of giving presents at Christmas. Since they are smart, their gifts are undoubtedly smart, and they may have the right to exchange the same things when they meet. It is not surprising that my humble pen tells you a story without twists and turns; It is very unwise for those two silly children who live in the same apartment to sacrifice the most precious thing in their family for each other. However, let's say the last word to the average smart person at present. Of all the gift givers, those two are the cleverest. Of all the people who give and receive clothes, people like them are also the cleverest. Wherever they are, they are the cleverest. They are Maggie.
O Henry (English: O Henry,1862 September11965438+June 5,00), sometimes translated by O Henry, was originally named William Sydney Porter in the early 20th century. Together with French Mo Bosang and Russian Chekhov, they are called the three great short story masters in the world. He wants to be a painter when he is a teenager. After marriage, he began to write with the encouragement of his wife. Later, when I was working in a bank, I was imprisoned for accounting problems. During his imprisonment, he carefully wrote and published a large number of short stories under the pseudonym "O Henry", which attracted wide attention from readers. He is a prolific writer, leaving a novel and nearly 300 short stories in his life. His short stories are ingenious in conception and unique in style, and are famous for their life, humorous language and unexpected ending (that is, The Ending of O Henry).