The Gift of the Magi
동방박사의 선물
O. Henry (1862–1910)
The Story
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It was the day before Christmas, and Della had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents.She wanted to buy a present for her husband, Jim, but it was not nearly enough.
Della and Jim did not have much money, but each of them owned one treasure.Jim had a gold watch that had belonged to his father and his grandfather.Della had beautiful brown hair that fell in waves below her knees.
Della looked at herself in the mirror for a long time, and then she made a decision.She put on her old brown coat, went out, and sold her long hair for twenty dollars.
With the money she bought a plain platinum chain for Jim’s gold watch.Then she went home and waited, nervous about what Jim would think of her short hair.
When Jim came in, he stopped and stared at her with a strange look on his face.He had sold his gold watch to buy a set of pretty combs for Della’s long hair.
Neither gift could be used that night, yet each had given the other everything they had.Of everyone who gives gifts, these two were the wisest of all.
Full translationTry the story first — open this only to check your understanding.
크리스마스 전날이었고, 델라에게는 단돈 1달러 87센트밖에 없었어요. 델라는 남편 짐에게 선물을 사 주고 싶었지만, 그 돈으로는 턱없이 부족했어요.
델라와 짐은 가진 돈이 많지 않았지만, 두 사람에게는 각자 보물이 하나씩 있었어요. 짐에게는 아버지와 할아버지가 대대로 쓰시던 금시계가 있었어요. 델라에게는 무릎 아래까지 물결치며 내려오는 아름다운 갈색 머리카락이 있었어요.
델라는 한참 동안 거울 속 자신을 바라보다가, 마침내 결심을 했어요. 델라는 낡은 갈색 외투를 걸치고 나가서, 긴 머리카락을 팔고 20달러를 받았어요.
그 돈으로 델라는 짐의 금시계에 어울리는 소박한 백금 시곗줄을 샀어요. 그러고는 집에 돌아와, 짧아진 머리를 짐이 어떻게 볼지 마음 졸이며 기다렸어요.
짐이 들어오더니 걸음을 멈추고, 묘한 표정으로 델라를 빤히 바라보았어요. 짐은 델라의 긴 머리에 꽂을 예쁜 빗 세트를 사려고 자기 금시계를 팔아 버렸던 거예요.
그날 밤 두 선물 다 쓸 수 없었지만, 두 사람은 서로에게 가진 모든 것을 내어 준 셈이었어요. 선물을 주는 모든 사람 가운데, 이 두 사람이 가장 지혜로웠어요.
Original text
Now read the original
You just read an easy retelling. Here is the same passage exactly as the author wrote it — unabridged, split into short readings.
The complete story · 2,057 words · 5 short readings
Read the originalComprehension Check
1. Why couldn't Della buy Jim a present at first?
2. How did Della get the money for Jim's gift?
3. Why was Jim's gift a surprise at the end?
Vocabulary
noun
treasure
보물, 소중한 것
Each of them owned one treasure.
두 사람에게는 각자 보물이 하나씩 있었어요.
Your Summary
In 1–2 sentences, say what Della and Jim each gave up, and what they bought for each other.
Source: Adapted from O. Henry's short story "The Gift of the Magi" (first published 1905; public domain, Project Gutenberg #7256). This simplified retelling and its Korean translation are original text written for SeoJae Story.
Famous line from this story
“Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”
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