CCSS

R.1, R.2, R.3, R.4, R.7, W.3, SL.1, SL.2, L.4, L.6 

Article Options

Presentation View
Teaching Resources

The Gift of the Magi

Would you ever give up the thing you treasure most?
Based on O. Henry’s classic tale 

December 2020-January 2021
Adapted by Mack Lewis

Art by Carolyn Ridsdale

CHARACTERS

Check the character you’re going to read. *Starred characters have larger speaking parts

•*Narrators 1, 2, 3 (N1, N2, N3) 
• *Della, Jim’s wife
• *Jim, Della’s husband
• Sidney, the janitor
• Mrs. Porter, a neighbor 
• Madame, the wigmaker
• Shopkeeper

PROLOGUE

N1: The holidays are near! It’s a joyful time of love and celebration.

N2: And gifts too!

N3: This story is based on the magi [MAY-jeye]. 

N1: They were wise men who lived thousands of years ago.

N2: They invented the idea of giving presents at Christmastime.

N3: But it’s also about two people who might seem foolish. 

N1: Their names were Della and Jim—

N2: —a married couple in New York City.

N3: And they gave up their greatest treasures to celebrate Christmas.

SCENE 1

New York City, two days before Christmas, 1900

N1: Della and Jim stand on a busy street corner.

N2: Bells jingle in the distance.

N3: Snowflakes fall gently from the sky.

Della: What a beautiful walk that was!

Jim: Indeed, it was, Della. I just love New York at Christmastime!

Della: So what should we do now?

Jim: Let’s check out the shops.

Della: But we have no money.

Jim: It costs nothing to look. 

N1: Della puts her face close to a shop window and peeks inside.

Della: Do you see those hair combs? Right there? I’ve wanted them forever! Imagine how they’d look in my hair.

Jim: Your hair is so long and beautiful. 

Della: Do you really think so, Jim?

Jim: I do. I may be poor, but I’m the luckiest man in all of New York!

SCENE 2

The next morning, Jim and Della’s apartment

N2: Della and Jim live in a shabby little one-room apartment.

N3: The furniture is simple and worn.

N1: But Jim has one item he is proud of: his pocket watch.

Jim (checking his watch): I have to leave for work. 

Della: You look so worldly when you look at your watch.

Jim: I do? Even with this old leather strap I use instead of a chain?

Della (hugging him): Who notices the strap when such a handsome man is holding it?

N2: On the way out of the building, Jim waves to the janitor, Sidney.

Sidney: Good morning. Off to work already?

Jim (checking his watch): I can’t be late, Sidney.

Sidney: No, you can’t, sir. That’s quite a watch.

Jim: It was my grandfather’s. Still works perfectly!

Sidney: That’s remarkable!

Art by Carolyn Ridsdale

Everyday People
This play is based on a famous short story by the author O. Henry (1862-1910). He often wrote about everyday people who experience tough times—like Della and Jim.

SCENE 3

Jim and Della’s apartment

N3: Della and her neighbor sit together at the kitchen table.

N1: A pile of coins shines in the afternoon light.

Della (counting):  . . . eighty-five, eighty-six . . . one dollar and eighty-seven cents. No matter how often I count it, the amount never changes.

Mrs. Porter: Well, they say “a penny saved is a penny earned.”

Della: And I’ve earned these pennies, Mrs. Porter. I’ve learned to bargain with everyone—the grocer, the butcher, the milkman. I think they cringe when they see me coming. I’ll take the worst cuts of meat to save a penny!

Mrs. Porter: Don’t worry, dear. Things will get better for you both. I just know it.

Della (upset): But it’s Christmas Eve. What can I buy Jim with one dollar and eighty-seven cents?

Mrs. Porter: Please don’t cry!

N2: It is then that Della happens to look in the mirror.

N3: Like Jim, Della has just one treasure: her long, beautiful hair.

N1: She stands there for a moment, a tear dropping on the old red carpet.

Della: I have an idea!

N2: Della pulls her hair into a bun.

SCENE 4

A shop

N3: Moments later, Della arrives at Madame Sophie’s Hair Goods of All Kinds.

N1: Bells jingle above the door as she walks in.

N2: Wigs line the shelves.

Della: Will you buy my hair?

Madame: Take down your bun so I can see it.  

N3: Della’s long hair falls down her back. 

Madame: My word! What could be so important that you’d give up such lovely hair?

Della: I need money to buy my dear husband a gift.  How much is my hair worth?

Madame: Twenty dollars. 

Della: I’ll take it. 

N1: Then for two hours, Della searches the shops along the same street. 

N2: She is looking for something special for Jim.

Della: He needs a new coat. And every day he goes off to work without gloves to warm his hands. But his gift must be perfect.

N3: She soon spots just the thing.

Shopkeeper: Can I help you?

Della: May I see that watch chain?

Shopkeeper: Sure, miss. It’s platinum. Very expensive.

Della: It’s perfect for my husband. With a chain like this on his watch, he could check the time without ever being embarrassed. How much is it?

Shopkeeper: Twenty-one dollars. 

Della: I’ll take it.

Art by Carolyn Ridsdale

Chopped 
Today, women have all kinds of hairstyles. But in the early 1900s, women were expected to have long hair. Some women even went their whole lives without cutting it! That’s why the decision was so difficult for Della.

SCENE 5

Jim and Della’s apartment

Art by Carolyn RidsdaleArt by Carolyn Ridsdale

Treasures
Della and Jim gave each other gifts they can no longer use. What do you think they should do with them?

N1: Jim comes home from work and sees Della . . .

N2: He freezes.

Della: Jim, please don’t look at me that way. 

Jim: What happened?

Della: I had my hair cut off, and I sold it. I couldn’t go through Christmas without giving you a present. 

N3: Jim continues to stare . . .

Della (almost crying): My hair grows fast, Jim. Please say something. Wait until you see the gift I have for you!

Jim (confused): You’ve cut off your hair.

Della: I did it for you.

Jim (hugging her): I love you no matter what, Della. But when you unwrap this present, you’ll see why I’m so surprised.

N1: Della unwraps the gift and screams for joy . . .

N2: But then she starts to cry.

N3: Jim has bought her the combs for her hair that she’d wanted for so long. 

Della (sniffling): My hair does grow fast, Jim.

N1: She holds his present out to him.

N2: When he opens it, Jim laughs.

Jim: Della, I sold my watch to get the money to buy your combs!

N3: Now they laugh together.

Jim: Let’s put our presents away for a while. They’re too nice to use just yet. And now let’s have some dinner.

N1: Today we’ve told you about two people who gave up their greatest treasures.

N2: You might think they are foolish.

N3: But those who give up  their treasures for love are actually very wise.

N1: They are the magi.  

ACTIVITY: 
Inference

You’ve just read “The Gift of the Magi.” Now it’s time to try this activity.

Tip: An inference is something that is not stated but can be figured out from clues in the text.

What to do: Imaginet hat you are Della, a few days after Christmas. You’re sitting at your table with Mrs. Porter, telling her about the holiday. She has some questions. Make inferences to answer each question below with at least one complete sentence.

Mrs. Porter: When you showed Jim the combs in the shop window, what did you think he would do?

Della: ___

Mrs. Porter: You said Jim needed a coat and gloves—so why did you buy him a watch chain?

Della: ___

Mrs. Porter: When Jim first saw you with short hair, what did you think he was thinking?

Della: ___

Mrs. Porter: You and Jim gave up your treasures, and now you have gifts that you can’t use. How do you feel about that?

Della: ___

Core Skills
Theme, Vocabulary, Inference
Format
Readers Theater Play
Topic
Fiction, Social-Emotional Learning
Genre
Fiction
Content Type
Article

Get the digital lesson plan for this article

videos (1)
Skills Sheets (5)
Skills Sheets (5)
Skills Sheets (5)
Skills Sheets (5)
Skills Sheets (5)
Text-to-Speech