Дары волхвов

           Beautifulcombs, puretortoiseshell,withjewelledrims —justtheshadetowearinthebeautifulvanishedhair. Theywereexpensivecombs, sheknew,andherhearthadsimplycravedandyearned overthemwithouttheleasthopeofpossession. Andnow,theywerehers, butthetressesthatshouldhaveadornedthecovetedadornmentsweregone. 

           Butshehuggedthemtoherbosom, andatlengthshewasabletolookupwithdimeyesandasmileandsay: 

           "Myhairgrowssofast,Jim!" 

           AndthenDellaleapeduplikealittlesingedcat andcried,"Oh,oh!" 

           Jimhadnotyetseenhisbeautifulpresent. Shehelditouttohimeagerlyuponheropenpalm. Thedullpreciousmetal seemedtoflashwithareflectionofherbrightandardentspirit. 

           "Isn’titadandy,Jim? Ihuntedallovertowntofindit. You’llhavetolookatthetimeahundredtimesadaynow. Givemeyourwatch. Iwanttoseehowitlooksonit." 

           Insteadofobeying,Jimtumbleddownonthecouch andputhishandsunderthebackofhisheadandsmiled. 

           "Dell,"saidhe, "let’sputourChristmaspresentsawayandkeep’emawhile. They’retoonicetousejustatpresent. Isoldthewatchtogetthemoneytobuyyourcombs. Andnowsupposeyouputthechopson." 

           Themagi,asyouknow,werewisemen—wonderfullywisemen—whobroughtgiftstotheBabeinthemanger. TheyinventedtheartofgivingChristmaspresents.