Favorite Fictional Character is the weekly brainchild of Ryan at Wordsmithonia.
My FFC this week is actually two characters...Jim and Della from O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi. Jim's most prized possession is his inherited gold watch and Della's is her luxurious hair. In this classic story about a young couple who do not have very much money at Christmas, Jim and Della illustrate the true meaning of Christmas...the spirit of giving...by giving up their most prized possessions for each other. Jim plans to buy Della a set of pure tortoiseshell combs for her beautiful hair and so sells his prized watch to pay for them. However, unbeknownst to him, Della has sold her treasured hair to pay for a fob chain for Jim's watch. And so....
The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.
~O. Henry (1906)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
7 comments:
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I LOVE the characters in this story - thanks for reminding me of this one! And a Merry Christmas to you. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pick this week. I so was not expecting it and I have to agree that this is a wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever actually read this. Maybe I'll look it up next Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWonderful story! I remember reading this way back when and have seen it on TV a few times. Thanks for reminding me how much I enjoy this story!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I have not read this book. I have heard of the story and seen remakes of it on tv. This sounds very loving. Great pick this week!
ReplyDeleteWe always read this story at Christmas but haven't done it yet this year. Thanks for reminding me to do that!
ReplyDeleteGreat couple! Definitely timely, too.
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