The Gift of the Magi

In The Gift of the Magi, a young married couple short on funds faces the challenge of buying Christmas gifts for each other. The wife's prized possession is her knee-length luxurious brown hair; the husband's, a fine gold watch that belonged to his father and grandfather. In order to purchase a gift for the other that is worthy of the holiday and of their love for each other, they each wrestle with a difficult choice. The story's sentimentality and deft realism has made it a staple of American Christmas literature and a popular adaptation for film and TV.