TheGifts（礼物）

　　作者：wo

　　Mon.：TomorrowwillbeChristmas.ButDellafeelsverysad.Becauseshehasnomoneytobuyapresentforherhusband,Jim.Shehasonlyonedollarandeighty-sevencents.Theyhaveonly20dollarsaweek,itdoesn’tleavemuchforsaving.

　　Infact,DellaandJimhavetwopossessionsinwhichtheybothtakeverygreatpride.OneisJim’sgoldwatch,whichhasbeenhisfather’sandhisgrandfather’s.TheotherisDella’slongbeautifulhair.

　　D:Lifeissohardforme.ThoughIsavedthemoneyformanymonths,Istillhaveonlyonedollarandeightysevencents.

　　D:I----I----Ihavetohavemyhaircutandsoldit.InthatwayIcangetsomemoneyandIcanbuyabeautifulpresentforJim.

　　(Attheshop—“MadameSofronie.WeBuyHairGoodsofAllKinds”)

　　D:Willyoubuymyhair?

　　M:Yes,Ibuyallkindsofhair.Sitdown,please.Takeyourhatoffandletmehavealook.Oh,verybeautiful.Verygood!Twentydollars,OK?

　　D:Allright.Butpleasegiveittomequickly.

　　M:Hereyouare.Twentydollars.

　　D:Thankyou.Bye.

　　M:Bye.

　　Mon.：Dellaspenttwohoursinthestreets.ThenshestoppedataGoldShopandboughtagoldwatchchain.Now,Dellaisathome.

　　D:Oh,whatabeautifulgoldwatchchain.IthinkitmustmatchJim'swatch.Whenheseesithemustbeveryhappy.

　　(SuddenlythedooropenedandincameJim.)

　　J:You-----?

　　D:Jim.Don’tlookatmethatway.IhadmyhaircutoffandsolditbecauseIcouldn’thavelivedthroughChristmaswithoutgivingyouapresent.Jim,itwillgrowquickly.Youdon’tmind,doyouIjusthadtodoit.Myhairgrowsveryfast,youknow.Say“MerryChristmas!”Jim,andlet’sbehappy.

　　J:You’vecutoffyourhair?

　　D:I’vecutitoffandsoldit.It’ssold.Itellyou-soldandgone,too.It’sChristmasEve,Jim.Begoodtome,foritwentforyou.

　　J:Well,Della.Don’tmakeanymistakeaboutme.Idon’tthinkthere’sanythingaboutahaircutthatcouldmakemeloveyouanyless.Iknow,itwentforme.Lookatthispackage.

　　D:What

　　J:Lookatityourself.You'llsee.

　　D:Ah!Thecombs.Theywereintheshopwindowsformanymonths!

　　J:Yes,thebeautifulcombs,puretortoiseshell,withjewelryrims--justthecolortowearinyourbeautiful,hair.

　　D:But,Jim.Theyareexpensivecombs.Iknow,myhearthadlongedforthemwithouttheleasthopeofpossession.Nowtheyaremine.ThankyouJim.

　　J;Now,youwillseewhyIwasupsetatfirst.

　　D:Jim,youdon’tknowwhatanice–whatabeautiful,nicegiftI’vegotforyou.Canyouguess?

　　J:I'msorry.Iwon'tguess.

　　D:Look.Agoldwatchchain.Isn’titlovely,Jim?Ihuntedalloverthetowntofindit.You’llhavetolookatthetimeahundredtimesadaynow.Givemeyourwatch.Iwanttoseehowitlooksonit.

　　J:Della,Let’sputourChristmasgiftsawayandkeepthemawhile.They’retoonicetousejustatpresent.Isoldthewatchtogetthemoney.AndIboughtthecombs.Now,Let’shaveoursupper.