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Welcome to Short Stories with Peter from YourEnglish Toolbox.
Today, an original learning adaptation of The Giftof the Magi by O. Henry.
Listen for what the two people in this story arewilling to give up for each other.
Della counted the money she had saved. It was notenough to buy the gift she wanted for Jim,
her husband.
I have so little, and tomorrow is Christmas.
Della looked at her long, beautiful hair. It washer greatest treasure.
She put on her old coat and hurried to a shop thatbought hair.
Will you buy my hair?
The shopkeeper offered her $20.
Della agreed, and soon her hair was cut short.
With the money, she searched the shops forsomething worthy of Jim.
At last, she found a simple chain for histreasured watch.
She hurried home and curled her short hair.
What would Jim think?
Jim stood in the doorway and stared at her.
Della, what happened to your hair?
I sold it so I could buy your Christmas present.
Jim held out a small bag.
I bought you the combs you have always admired.
Della opened it and saw the beautiful combs.
She hugged them close, then gave Jim the chain forhis watch.
Jim smiled sadly.
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I sold my watch to buy your combs.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Their gifts could not be used as they were, buteach had given up a treasure to make the other
happy.
Their love was the real gift.
Dive into the language and break down some of thekey vocabulary from the story.
Della saved money over time.
To save up means to keep money until you haveenough for something.
She gave up her hair for a gift.
To give something up means to stop keeping ordoing it, often because of a choice.
Jim held out a package.
To hold out means to extend something towardsanother person.
Treasure can be a valuable object, or somethingdeeply precious to you are treasures.
Their presents were thoughtful, even thoughneither could use them as planned.
Now you try.
If you keep a little money each week for abicycle, what are you doing?
You are saving up.
If you stop keeping a habit because you choosesomething else, what might you do?
You might give it up.
Visit the episode page for the complete transcriptand vocabulary practice.
Thank you for listening to Short Stories withPeter.
Until next time, take care.