The Gift Of The Magi\nThe story, The Gift Of The Magi, was written by O. Henry. It is a story about the sacrifice, love, and irony shared between a married couple. This story showed how Jim and Della Dillingham Young sacrifice their most prized possessions to show their love for each other and their sacrifice leads to irony. \nDella sells her most prized possession, her hair, for twenty dollars so that she can buy her husband a gift for Christmas. Her hair means so much to her that she believes that” Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della could have let her hair hang out the window some day and depreciated Her Majesty's jewels and gifts,” and she sells it for just twenty dollars to buy Jim a gift. Jim sells his gold watch so that he can buy Della the combs that she has wanted for a very long time. Jim’s gold watch was really important to him because it was his father’s and his grandfather’s watch also. Jim valued his watch so much that, “Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.”\n       When Della comes home after selling her hair, she prays that Jim will still think she is pretty. When Jim comes home, he doesn’t care that she cuts off her hair because he loves her and she loves him enough to sacrifice her hair. Even though Jim and Della don’t have very much money, they still want to buy each other presents to show love each other. In the end of the story, they put away their presents because they realize that they do not need gifts to show that they love each other.\n         When Jim receives his present, he cannot use it, because ironically, he sold his watch to get Della a gift and Della cannot use the combs that Jim bought her because she sold her hair to buy his gift. Jim bought combs for Della’s hair, but she cannot use it because she sold her hair to buy a watch chain for Jims watch which he also sold. O’ Henry calls Jim and Della “foolish children living in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house”, but then he ironically says, “Everywhere they are the wisest. They are the magi.” O’ Henry says they are wise because they sacrificed for love. He says they are unwise because they sacrificed their most prized possessions.\nJim and Della sold their most precious possessions for something more precious, love. That is why they are the wisest, the magi.
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Sounds like the overview of your book.....but not really what you think about it.  F.
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A friend emailed this to me the other day. I thought it was very touching and a beautiful tribute. Don't know if this helps but maybe someone will like it with Mothers Day coming up soon.\n\n MOTHER\n>\n> This is a truly BEAUTIFUL piece please\n> read this at a slow pace, digesting every word and in\n> leisure...do not hurry....this is a treasure...\n>\n> For those lucky to still be blessed with your Mom,\n> this is beautiful. For those of us who aren't, this is\n> even more beautiful. For those who are moms, you'll love this.\n>\n> The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is\n> this the long way?" she asked.   And the guide said:  "Yes, and the way is\nhard.\n> And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But\n> the end  will be better than the beginning."\n>\n> But the young mother was happy, and she would not\n> believe that  anything could be better than these years. So she\n> played with her children, and gathered flowers for\n> them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and\n> the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried,\n> "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."\n>\n> Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was\n> dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother\n> drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said,\n> "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."\n>\n> And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and\n> the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary.\n> But at all times she said to the children," A little  patience and we are\nthere."\n> So the children climbed, and when they reached the top\n> they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."\n>\n> And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up\n> at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my\n> children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave\nthem courage.\n> Today, I've given them strength."\n>\n> And the next day came strange clouds which darkened\n> the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped\n> and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light.\n> " And the children looked and saw above the clouds\n> an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the\n> darkness. And that night the Mother said,\n> "This is the best day of all, for\n> I have shown my children God."\n>\n> And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and\n> the years, and\n> the mother grew old and she was little and bent.\n> But her children were tall and strong, and walked with\n> courage.  And when the way was rough, they lifted her,\n> for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill,\n> and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And\n> mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end\n> is better than the beginning, for my children can\n> walk alone, and their children after them."\n>\n> And the children said, "You will always walk with us,\n> Mother, even when you have gone\n> through the gates."\n> And they stood  and  watched her as she went on alone, and the gates\n> closed after her.  And they said: "We cannot see her\n> but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory.  She\n> is a living presence......."\n>\n> Your Mother is always with you.... She's the whisper\n> of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach\n> in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand\n> on your brow when\n> you're not well. Your Mother lives\n> inside your laughter. And she's
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How do you blend wife beating with "Happy Holidays?" I worked at a shelter once upon a time, and we never thought of making Christmas cards that ask "What if Joseph had kicked Mary down seven flights of stairs?"  never occurred to us.  Maybe it should have.
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Well I´ve read the book and enjoyed it throughly! But sad to say there is a lot of thingd in the book that is false, \nbut it does makes you wonder. \n\nWhat I can´t understand is that a few years ago there were some old scripures found, but wouldn´d be accepted by the church. These scriptures underwent all the neccassary test to prove its validity(and it was found to be written the time Jesus was alive and 100 after he died).But it was a little bit contridicting to what is in the bible.\n\nAnyway what the da vinci code does is start to put doubt in the minds of people, and why did  the church reacted so strange to this book which is a novel! \n\nAnd okay the thought that Jesus actually has a living heir is strange, but Dan Brown was not the first to write about this there are many other listed books. And ´if´ that were true then the church would clear not want that knowledge to be known because it would loss a lot of credibility.\nSome modern writers,including Dan Brown, have come forward with claims that Mary Magdalene was the wife of Jesus. These writers cite Gnostic writings to support their argument. Sources like the ´Gospel of Philip´ do depict Mary Magdalene as being closer to Jesus than any other disciple. \nHowever, there is no known ancient document that claims she was his wife and Gnosticism was generally non-supportive of sexuality. The closeness described in these writings depicts Mary Magdalene, representing the Gnostics, as understanding Jesus and his teaching while the other disciples, representing the Church, did not.\nMary Magdalene appears with more frequency than other women in the canonical Gospels and is shown as being a close follower of Jesus. Mary's presence at the Crucifixion and Jesus's tomb, while hardly conclusive, is at least consonant with the role of grieving wife and widow, although if that were the case Jesus might have been expected to make provision for her care as well as for his mother Mary. Given the lack of contemporary documentation, this scenario cannot be proven, and although some consider the idea desirable to believe, most scholars do not take it seriously.\n\nAn argument for support of the married status of Jesus is that bachelorhood was very rare for Jewish males of Jesus' time, being generally regarded as a transgression of the first mitzvah (divine commandment) — "Be fruitful and multiply". According to this reasoning, it would have been unthinkable for an adult, unmarried Jew to travel about teaching as a rabbi.\nA counter-argument to this is that the Judaism of Jesus' time was very diverse and the role of the rabbi was not yet well defined. It was really not until after the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in A.D. 70 that Rabbinic Judaism became dominant and the role of the rabbi made uniform in Jewish communities.\nPaul of Tarsus was an example of an unmarried itinerant teacher among Christians. Jesus himself approved of voluntary celibacy for religious reasons and explicitly rejected a duty to marry: "There are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it." (Matthew 19,12)\n\nThe idea that Mary Magdalene was the wife of Jesus was popularized by books like the pseudo-historical Holy Blood, Holy Grail (1982) and The Da Vinci Code (2003), a novel heavily influenced by the former book. These assertions have found no acceptance from scholarly circles.\n\nAnd secret societcy are meant to be kept secret so I don´t expect the historians to find a lot of concrete information about the Priory of Sion. \n\nAnd maybe Leonardo did discover something and instead of just saying or exposing it out right he decided to be clever and hide it within his works of art. After all he was known as a genuis.\n\nSo I(am born and raised catholic, but was taught to have an open mind about things.) personally an very intrigued by this idea of Dan Browns, but I am neither for it nor against it. I
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I understand your confusion, and to a ceratin extent, I agree with you.\n\nI read the book, and I plan to see the movie (as soon as the hype dies down).  I think that the reason this book is taken so seriously is for two reasons:\n\n1.  Dan Brown begins the book by stating that all of the groups, artwork, etc. are completely true.  People assume that if these things are true and accurate, then the whole book must be as well.\n\n2.  The whole premise, that Jesus was married and that the "holy grail" isn't a cup but is in fact the holy bloodline of Jesus, isn't a new theory and is one that some people have argued for many years.  Plus, it is plausible!  I'm not saying that it is likely, but it is possible.\n\nWhat I don't understand is why this film has to change poeple's faith.  Even if it was discovered with 100% certainty that Jesus was married, that doesn't change my faith in Christianity at all!  (It makes me wonder about the people who made the decision to cover it all up, but it doesn't change my faith in God.)  In fact, learning that Jesus was married might actually make me identify with Him more than I currently do.\n\nI wish that people would think about that more seriously... what has REALLY changed?
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I just done a research paper on this same story...\nA symbol of the story would be something that stands out to you throughout the story. \nTowards the beginning of the story, the narrator describes a painting of her father(?) drawn in crayon. It symbolizes her wanting to stay a child and for her father to continue to care for her.\nAt the end of the story, the townspeople find a single hair on the pillow next to her dead lover. She continued to lie beside him even after she had killed him. She found eternal love; which was something that wouldn't leaver her.\nTo actually start the paper, how many words, do you count all words but articles...\nI would start out the essay with a brief of the story. Give three symbols in which you could describe. I gave you two, so find one more...\nFor each of the three paragraphs, describe in detail of the symbol. Paragraph one, why do you think she wanted to stay a child? Paragraph two, whatever you find. Paragraph three, what was the meaning of the silver strand of hair.\nIn the last paragraph, sum up the paper. Tell what you felt about this story. Do not use the word you. Teachers will count against that. Make your story interesting.\nLast but not least, a works cited page. Make sure to cite all sources, there are plenty on this story. All your cites must be in alphabetical order.\nThat should be about it. If you have anymore questions feel free to write.
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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! SOMEBODY IS BRAVE ENOUGH TO SPEAK OUT IN TRUTH! You are 100% CORRECT! ALL of the so-called "holidays"(holydays) were NEVER commanded in the Bible-EVER!!! Jeremiah Chapter 10 directly mentions a "christmas tree" as an IDOL! Astarte (Easter) is mentioned many times in the Old Testament as an ABOMINATION TO GOD!!! Tammuz is also in the Old Testament! And not in a good way! People simply follow what the "crowd" says to follow! DOES THAT MAKE IT RIGHT??? Borrowing Pagan traditions and somehow transforming them into "holy days" is unacceptable worship to GOD! DON'T BELIEVE A NOBODY LIKE ME--READ YOUR BIBLE!!! Please see for yourself! Then you will know what God REALLY feels about man-made traditions.....
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This passage alludes to the alleged inherent weakness of character of women. \n\nHamlet is angry that his mother, Gertrude, has married his uncle Claudius within a month of his father's death. He remembers how she seemed to adore his father and to love him above anything or anyone else.\n ' Must I remember? why, she would hang on him,\nAs if increase of appetite had grown\nBy what it fed on:'\n\nYet despite this devotion she marries his Hamlet's uncle just two months after her husband's mysterious and sudden death. \n'and yet, within a month -\nLet me not think on't - Frailty, thy name is woman! -\nA little month, or ere those shoes were old\nWith which she follow'd my poor father's body...'\n\nThe speech generalizes the attribution of weakness of character from one particular woman to womankind. In other words he transposes his mother's actions onto all women. It also symbolises how little women are to be trusted as even when they are apparantly faithful and loving they are shallow and flippant.
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Yes, I read it and found it very interesting.  The reader should keep in mind, though, that the author does not claim to be anything but human, that is, he does not claim to be God made manifest in a human form like Moses, Jesus Christ, Mohammed, The Bab, and Baha'u'llah.  Therefore, his interpretation of what God is revealing to him is subject to error.  Only the Manifestations of God are perfect and flawless.  Even the highest saint is still human and subject to error.\n\nwww.bahai.org
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1) Joseph interprets the wine steward & the baker's dream\n\nOnce the wine steward & the baker had offended the Pharoah.The Pharoah put them in prison.One night in the prison the wine steward & the baker, each had a dream. When Joseph came to them they were upset as nobod cold explain their dream.\nThey explained their dreams.In the dream of the wine steward there was a grape wine in front of him with three branches on it. As soon as the leaves came out, the blossoms appeared, and the grapes ripened.He was holding the kings cup.So he took the grapes & squeezed the cup and gave it to him.Joseph said that this meant that the three branches are the three days. In three days the Pharoah would release & pardon him and he would give him his cup as he had been giving when he was a wine steward.\n\nIn the baker's dream , the baker was carrying three bread baskets on his head.In the top were all kinds of pasteries for the king, and the birds were eating them. Joseph answered that the three baskets were the three days and in three days the king would release him and have his head cut off! Then he wol hang his body on a pole, and the birds would eat his flesh.\n\nFor more information refer Genesis 40:23\n\n2) Joseph interprets Pharoah's dream \n\nThe Pharoah had dreamt that he was standing by the River Nile,\nwhen seven cows, fat & sleek, came up out of the river and began to feed on the grass.Then seven other cows came on the river-bank, and the thin kcows ate up the fat cows. Then the king woke up.He fell asleep again and had another dream. Seven ears of corn, full ripe, were growing on one stalk. Then seven other ears of corn swallowed the full ones. The king woke up & realized that it was a dream.He was worried in the morning & sent for all magicians & wise men of Egypt.He told them his dream but no one could explain it to him.Finally the wine steward suggested that Joseph cold explain his dream as he had also explained the wine steward & the baker's dream.The Pharoah called for Joseph & the Pharoah explained the dream.Joseph explained the dream to Pharoah.He told that both the dreams meant the same.The seven fat cows & seven ears of corn were seven years.The seven thin cows which came up later and the seven thin ears scorched by the deset wind are the seven years of famine.There will be seven years of great plenty in Egypt. After that, there will be seven years of famine, and all the good years will be forgotten, because the famine will ruin the country.The repitation of his dream was that the matter was fixed by God. \n\nFor more information refer Genesis 41:36\n\n3) Daniel's vision\nIn the dream of Daniel, the winds were blowing from all directions and lashing the surface of the ocean. Four huge beasts came out of the ocean, each one  different from others.\nThe first one looked like a lion, but had wings like an eagle. While he was watching the wings of the lion tore off. The beast was lifted up and made to stand like a man. And then a human mind was given to it.\nThe second beast  looke like a bear standing on its hind legs. It was holding three ribs between its teeth and a voice said to it," Go on, eat much meat as you can".\nAnother beast appeared. It was powerful, horrible, terrible flying.\nWith its huge iron teeth it crushed its victims and then it trampled on them. While Daniel in the dream was staring at the horns, he saw a little horn coming up among the others. It tore out three of the horns ther were already there. This horn was human eyes and a mouth that was boasting proudly.\n\n4) Vision of One who has been living for ever\nWhile Daniel was looking, the thrones were put in order. One who had been living for ever sat down on one of the thrones.his clothes were white as snow.His throne mounted on fiery wheels, wwas blazing with fire and a stream  of fire was pouring.Millions of people stood before him.The fourth beast was killed and its body was thrown in flames and detroyed.The other bea
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There is one like that, but it goes:\n\n\nThere is a little boy and all he wants for Christmas is a new gaming system. So he writes a letter to Santa saying that he's been good and wants some cool PSP, (Or whatever else is cool), his dad (Being his kid's Santa)...Know that this isn't true, so he tells his kid to write another one. The kid does, and again it says "Dear Santa, I have been good and want a really cool _____!! Thanks!" The dad knows that this again isn't true. so pissed, the little boy goes to church, comes back with a balloon, and a small statue of Mary. So.. instead he writes: \n\nDear Jesus,\n\nI have your mother, if you want her back I need a new gaming system!!!\n\nThank you!
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yes i would care to know the deeper meaning to the story! it would interest me! good luck w/ ur research!
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Actually the shadow of truth is not about the holy grail, the church doesn't care about this part... but the truth from the novel is that Jesus is a mortal prophit and his divinity was invented by men long ago. This is what people should research for, and not quote the bible cause the bible has already been modified.
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This Novel talk about a very rich people that has a very beautiful Daughter, everyone want's to be with her but the author compare her as a Devil, because she was not interest in no one from her own town. One day a guy very handsome arrive at the same village, he was very poor but his uncle will be left him his fortune when he dies. One day the girl and the bout meet at a carnaval (party) and they fell in love. They couldt resist to be separate from each other, one day the boy decide to visit the father of the girs to ask him to marry her daughter, but the father answerd that dhe was to young to married, and the boy left the house. the girls start to getting sick but is because she was in love. The father of the girls whent to a bar and told to there friends the real reason why her daughter can not get marry with this boy, the reason was because he was very poor. One of the friends of reimundo father of the girls went to the house of the uncle of the poor boy and told him the real reason, why his nephew can not marry the daughter of Don Reymundo,  The uncle get really mad. The time pass and the Girl Margarita was goin crazy, she was so much in love that she did not resis to be separate from there love of her life. So the family start getting worry and call the doctor, and the doctor said she will be crazy if her father Don Reymundo does not agree her marrige with the boy. The doctor explain that to her father and her father went to the uncles how to ask permition for there marage, the uncle was desagree but Don Reymundo kept asking and the uncle said one condition she has to be very poor like my nephew that the only way, her father disagree but the uncle said thats the only reason he accept there marrage, Don Reymundo ask if he can paid for the wedding and the uncle said NO they have to be poor, Don Reymundo insist, then to buy the clothing of the bride and the uncle at first refuse but reymundo ask for it and the uncle accept. The couple get married but The uncle didnt know that the wedding dress cost a fortune and her daughter, can sell the dress to have money and not to be poor. That why the people talk about Margaritas Shirst.\n\n“The Daisy shirt,” by Ricardo Palma\nannotated by Ellen Connell \n\nEven daisy was (for the years of 1765) the lovely daughter more of Don Even Raimundo, horseman of Santiago and general collector of the Callao. \n\nThe girl was one of those sexy that, by their beauty, captivate he himself devil and they make it persignar himself and throw stones. She wear a pair of black eyes that were like two torpedoes loaded with dynamite and that exploded on entretelas of the soul of the Limean gallants. \n\nShe arrived at that time from Spain arrogant mancebo, son of the crowned villa of the bear and madroño, call Don Luis Palace. An uncle had this one in Lima accumulated, Aragonese, rancid solterón and, and linajudo, and that more pride spent than the children of king Fruela. \n\nBy all means that, while the occasion arrived to him to inherit the uncle, lived our Don as bare Luis as a rat and passing the pain black. With saying that until his trapicheos they were to the trusted one and to pay when improved of fortune, I believe that I say precise it. \n\nIn the procession of Santa Rosa it knew Palace the pretty Daisy. The girl filled to the eye and him to him flechó the heart. She complimented, and although she answered to him yes neither nor no, gave to understand with faint smiles and other arms of the feminine arsenal that the gallant was plate very to his pleasure. The truth, as if it was confessing to me, is that they fell in love until the root of the hair. \n\nAs the lovers forget that the Arithmetic exists, it believed Don Luis that stops the profit of its loves would not be obstacle its present poverty, and went to the Daisy father and, without many profiles, it requested the hand to him of his daughter. \n\nTo Don Raimundo the request did not fall to him in grace, and courteously it dis
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Ok, i got 2 good ones. The story aboout Balaal and the talking donkey at Numbers 22; 28- 35\nAlso Absalom getting stuck in the tree from his hair at 2 Samuel 18; 9\n\nHere's some more doozies;  Jacob dressing up and getting hairy like Esau in Genesis 27; 15 - 40\nIsraelites disobeying Moses about the manna provision and getting worms in their food at Exodus 16; 19 and 20\nMy personal favorite is Exodus 32; 24 where Aaron is explaining to Moses how he took the jewelry from the people , threw it into the fire , and the golden calf happened to come out on its own. What he really did is mentioned at verse 4.
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Yes, this is very real! Can I suggest that you research the bible. The Magi even came to worship Christ the child! I assure you that no black magic book can compare with the Author and Finisher of my faith. Jesus Christ came so that you should not parish but have everlasting life! Also, His book the bible is the only book that can heal, infect with love and give true significance! One could say a sanguine is needy and He can supply every need according to his riches and glory. I to am a sanguine and trust me a pendilum is what my emotions would still be like if Jesus hasn't saved my hide! Please consider asking the creator to visit you be just as open with him as you would be reading aloud from a book with spells etc... May the true creator bless you and guide you!
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I loved your comment on the pennies, and thought you might enjoy this story. It has made me think, and now when I see a penny I think of this story. I think that it's message is great!\n\n\nWhen You Find a Penny \n\nYou always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story. Gives you something to think about. \n\nSeveral years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house. \n\nThe first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene\nknew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely. \n\nAs the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.\n\nHe stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.\n\nArlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny\n\nHe held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny?\nWhy would he even take the time to stop and pick it up? \n\nThroughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She causally mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.\n\nA smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this? \n\n"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." \nShe read the words "United States of America." \n"No, not that; read further." \n"One cent?" \n\n"No, keep reading." \n\n"In God we Trust?" \n"Yes," \n"And?" \n"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see\na coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting\na conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!  \n\nWhen I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change I read the words, "In God We Trust,"\nand had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. \n\nIt seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months,but then,pennies are  plentiful! \n\nAnd, God is patient... \n\nHave a blessed day!