The Meaning of Gift O.Henry (1862-1910) was a prolific American short-story writer, a master of surprise endings, who wrote about the life of ordinary people in New York City.Although his plot is full of coincidence, the surprise ending is his feature and appeals to the reader so much.He is one of three short story masters in the world.(O.Henry, Maupaant, Chekhov)
Henry\'s first collection, Cabbages and Kings appeared in 1904.The second, The Four Million, was published two years later and included his well-known stories \"The Gift of the Magi\" and \"The Furnished Room\".The Trimmed Lamp (1907) included \"The Last Leaf\".Henry\'s best known work is perhaps the much anthologized \"The Ransom of Red Chief\", included in the collection Whirligigs (1910).The Heart of the West (1907) presented tales of the Texas range.O.Henry published 10 collections and over 600 short stories during his lifetime.
I chose The Four Million this term.There are many short fictions in this collection,and every of them are worth reading.However, TheGiftoftheMagi left a deep impreion on me.I consider itas the most touching novel I have ever read.It is delicate and beautiful.It contains love and tenderne. In this article, O.Henry used his style of writing narrated a winding and simple story with humor and a little sadne.The story is about the young couple, who was short of money but had developed deep affection for each other, wanted to buy their lovers a surprising Christmas gift.Unbeknown to Jim, Della sold her most valuable poeion, her beautiful hair, which was described as “a brown cascade”“had the queen of Sheba livedin the flat acro the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out thewindow someday to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty\'s jewels and gifts”, in order to buy a platinum fob chain for Jim\'s watch; while unbeknown to Della, Jim sold his own most valuable poeion,his watch, which was appreciated as “hadKing Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement,Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he paed, just to see him pluckat his beard from envy”, to buy a set of comb with pure tortoise shell andjewelled rimsfor Della\'s hair.The young couple sacrificedtheir greater treasures to a gift, but neither had practical need for the other’s gift any more.But in the last paragraph, the author wrote,“But in a lastword to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts thesetwo were the wisest.All who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest.Everywhere they are wisest.They are the magi.”
In this materialistic society, people often use money to measure gifts.They even forget the persons they love and the persons who love them.Neverthele, whenever people give gifts for their monetary value or physical impreions, the gifts are immediately devalued.When bags of gifts which are packaged delicately in front of us,what can us see except empty and blank? Parents feel happy because of our simple greeting cards in their birthday, or a few words of bleing.These gifts are incredibly simple, but true.We need to care more about others,no matter how much money we have.What our loved one need is how our concerns about him or her.Not only in some important festivals but also in our daily life,don’t niggard to show your love.
AlthoughJim and Della were as poor as a church mouse, as long as they had love, they felt happier than any millionaire.
