The Gift of the Magi

"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry about a young couple, Jim and Della, who are deeply in love but financially struggling. They each make a personal sacrifice to buy a meaningful Christmas gift for the other: Della sells her beautiful hair to buy a platinum chain for Jim's prized watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy a set of combs for Della's hair. Their sacrifices demonstrate the themes of love, selflessness, and the irony of their gifts, highlighting that true wealth lies in their love rather than material possessions.