What Is O. Henry's Christmas Story "The Gift Of The Magi"� About?

A poor but very devoted young couple, Jim and Della, live in a small flat in New York. As Christmas approaches, Della is upset because she longs to buy Jim a special present, but has no money. All she has is her lovely long dark hair, her pride and joy – and on Christmas Eve she cuts it off and sells it to buy Jim a fine platinum chain for his one cherished possession, a gold pocket watch.

When Jim comes home on Christmas Eve and sees Della's short hair, he looks very shocked. To cheer him up, she shows him the platinum watch-chain. Then he silently produces the gift he has bought for her – a set of tortoiseshell combs to put in her hair. In order to buy the combs, he sold his watch.

The story concludes that the young couple are both richer and wiser than the Magi who brought Jesus gifts in the Bible story.