Jimdrewapackagefromhisovercoatpocketandthrewituponthetable. "Don'tmakeanymistake,Dell,"hesaid, "aboutme.Idon'tthinkthere'sanythinginthewayofahaircutorashaveorashampoothatcouldmakemelikemygirlanyless. Butifyou'llunwrapthatpackageyoumayseewhyyouhadmegoingawhileatfirst." Whitefingersandnimbletoreatthestringandpaper.Andthenanecstaticscreamofjoy;andthen,alas! aquickfemininechangetohystericaltearsandwails,necessitatingtheimmediateemploymentofallthecomfortingpowersofthelordoftheflat. FortherelayTheCombs--thesetofcombs,sideandback,thatDellahadworshippedforlonginaBroadwaywindow. Beautifulcombs,puretortoise-shell,withjewelledrims--justtheshadetowearinthebeautifulvanishedhair. Theywereexpensivecombs,sheknew,andherhearthadsimplycravedandyearnedoverthemwithouttheleasthopeofpossession. Andnow,theywerehers,butthetressesthatshouldhaveadornedthecovetedadornmentsweregone. Butshehuggedthemtoherbosom,andatlengthshewasabletolookupwithdimeyesandasmileandsay:"Myhairgrowssofast,Jim!" AndthenDellaleapeduplikealittlesingedcatandcried,"Oh,oh!" Jimhadnotyetseenhisbeautifulpresent.Shehelditouttohimeagerlyuponheropenpalm. Thedullpreciousmetalseemedtoflashwithareflectionofherbrightandardentspirit. "Isn'titadandy,Jim?Ihuntedallovertowntofindit.You'llhavetolookatthetimeahundredtimesadaynow.Givemeyourwatch.Iwanttoseehowitlooksonit." Insteadofobeying,Jimtumbleddownonthecouchandputhishandsunderthebackofhisheadandsmiled. "Dell,"saidhe,"let'sputourChristmaspresentsawayandkeep'emawhile.They'retoonicetousejustatpresent.Isoldthewatchtogetthemoneytobuyyourcombs.Andnowsupposeyouputthechopson." Themagi,asyouknow,werewisemen--wonderfullywisemen-whobroughtgiftstotheBabeinthemanger. TheyinventedtheartofgivingChristmaspresents.Beingwise,theirgiftswerenodoubtwiseones,possiblybearingtheprivilegeofexchangeincaseofduplication. AndhereIhavelamelyrelatedtoyoutheuneventfulchronicleoftwofoolishchildreninaflatwhomostunwiselysacrificedforeachotherthegreatesttreasuresoftheirhouse. Butinalastwordtothewiseofthesedaysletitbesaidthatofallwhogivegiftsthesetwowerethewisest. Ofallwhogiveandreceivegifts,suchastheyarewisest.Everywheretheyarewisest. 
