This holiday classic is about a young couple determined secretly to surprise each other with a special gift despite their limited resources. Unaware of the other’s plans, they each make a personal sacrifice to make their gift possible. It is a timeless story of generosity, sacrifice, and love. Cherished by readers for more than a century, this story is recognized as one of the greatest tales of all time.
Originally published in 1905 by the New York World newspaper and then to a wider audience in his 1906 collection Four Million, “The Gift of the Magi” is one of O. Henry’s most well-known stories, complete with his signature plot twists, cosmic irony, and empathy.
William Sydney Porter, more widely recognized by his pen name O. Henry, started working right out of High School. He took on various jobs to sustain himself early in his career. After moving around a
