"the gift of the Magi(O.Henry)"-short story?
367913
O Henry biography link below. The story of "The Gift of the Magi" is about a couple that love each other enough to make a huge sacrifice in the hopes of pleasing the other. They cared about their spouse more than themselves.\n\nA famous story of his, "The Gift of the Magi", concerns a young couple who are short of money but desperately want to buy each other Christmas gifts. Unbeknownst to Jim, Della sells her most valuable possession, her beautiful hair, in order to buy a platinum fob chain for Jim's watch; unbeknownst to Della, Jim sells his most valuable possession, his watch, to buy jeweled combs for Della's hair. The essential premise of this story has been copied, re-worked, parodied, and otherwise re-told countless times in the century since it was written. \nO. Henry's first wife, Athol, was probably the model for Della.\n\nMore on The Gift of the Magi in the link below.\n\nDo I like the characters? Sure! It would be nice to think that there are people who think more of others than themselves. The story line is great and the style is readable.
813097
Reading the story of the Birth of Jesus on Christmas morning from the gospel of Luke, while the fire warms the room and we all eat cinnamon rolls and drink orange juice and coffee. It is a welcome comfort and joy. Before we get into the presents, we get into His Presence.\nGod Bless and Merry Christmas!
192615
It's a short story and it's contained in Nelson's book of short stories called, "Tell Me a Riddle," and it can be found on Amazon.com.  You aren't allowed to post links to a commercial site but you can go there and do a simple seach on the title of the book and it should pop up.  You could probably find it at your local book store too ask for the book "Tell Me a Riddle" by Tille Nelson.
567699
Rip van Winkle is a short story by Washington Irving published in 1819, as well as the name of the story's fictional protagonist. It was part of a collection of stories entitled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon.\nSpoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.\n\n\nThe story, written while Irving was staying with his sister Sarah and her husband Henry van Wart in Birmingham, England, is set in the days before and after the American Revolutionary War. A villager of Dutch descent escapes his nagging wife by wandering up Kaaterskill Clove near his home town of Palenville, New York in the Catskill Mountains. After various adventures (in one version of the tale, he encounters the spirits of Henry Hudson and his crew playing ninepins at the top of Kaaterskill Falls), he settles down under a shady tree and falls asleep. He wakes up 20 years later and returns to his village. He finds out that his wife is dead and his close friends have died in a war or gone somewhere else. He immediately gets into trouble when he hails George III, not knowing that in the meantime the American Revolution has taken place and he is not supposed to be a loyal subject of any Hanoverian any longer.\nSpoilers end here.\n\nThe story is a close adaptation of "Peter Klaus the Goatherd" by J.C.C. Nachtigal, which is a shorter story set in a German village.\n\nIt is also close to Karl Katz, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. This story is almost identical. One difference is when he sees dwarfs playing a game of ninepins in a mountain meadow. He joins the game. The dwarfs give him a magic drink that makes him fall asleep for twenty years. It is inferred that the dwarfs are teaching him a lesson about laziness.\n\nAfter this story, "Rip van Winkle" can be a reference to a person who sleeps a long time, or to a person who is inexplicably unaware of current events.\n[edit]\n\nAdaptations\nJoseph Jefferson as Rip van Winkle, 1896\nEnlarge\nJoseph Jefferson as Rip van Winkle, 1896\n\nThe story has been adapted for other media for the last two centuries, from stage plays to cartoons to films. Actor Joseph Jefferson was most associated with the character on the 19th century stage and made a series of films starring the character starting in 1896, the earliest of which is in the US National Film Registry. Jefferson's son Thomas followed in his father's footsteps and also played the character in a number of early 20th century films.\n\nThe story contains a "Note 1" at the end, but this was not included in the original first edition.
146413
Is this the story you're looking for?\n\nhttp://our.homewithgod.com/holyspirittemple/hummingbird.htm
19532
Maybe from the Christmas cartoons?
482857
The story opens with a description of North Richmond Street, a"blind," "cold ... .. silent" street where the houses "gazed at one an-other with brown imperturbable faces." It is a street of fixed, decaying conformity and false piety. The boy's house contains the samesense of a dead present and a lost past. The former tenant, a priest,died in the back room of the house, and his legacy-several old yel-lowed books, which the boy enjoys leafing through because they areold, and a bicycle pump rusting in the back yard-become symbolsof the intellectual and religious vitality of the past. The boy, in themidst of such decay and spiritual paralysis, experiences the confusedidealism and dreams of first love and his awakening becomes incom-patible with and in ironic contrast to the staid world about him.\n\nEvery morning before school the boy lies on the floor in thefront parlor peeking out through a crack in the blind of the door,watching and waiting for the girl next door to emerge from her houseand walk to school. He is shy and still boyish. He follows her, walkssilently past, not daring to speak, overcome with a confused sense ofsensual desire and religious adoration. In his mind she is both a saintto be worshipped and a woman to be desired. His eyes are "often fullof tears," and one evening he goes to the back room where the priesthad died. Clasping the palms of his hands together, he murmurs, "0love! 0 love!" in a prayer not to God, but to the concept of love andperhaps even to the girl, his love. Walking with his aunt to shop onSaturday evenings he imagines that the girl's image accompanies him,and that he protects her in "places the most hostile to romance." Inthe mixed symbolism of the Christian and the Romantic or Orientalmyths Joyce reveals the epiphany in the story: "These noises con-verged in a single sensation of life for me: I imagined that I bore mychalice safely through a throng of foes." He is unable to talk to thegirl. Drifting away from his schoolmates' boyish games, the boy hasfantasies in his isolation, in the ecstasy and pain of first love.\n\nFinally the girl speaks to the boy. She asks him if he is going toAraby. He replies that if he does he will bring her a gift, and fromthat moment, his thoughts upon the mixed imagery of the saintly lightupon her hair and the potential sensuality of "the white border of apetticoat," the boy cannot sleep or study. The word Araby "cast anEastern enchantment" over him, and then on the night he is to go tothe bazaar his uncle neglects to return home. Neither the aunt noruncle understands the boy's need and anguish, and thus his isolationis deepened. We begin to see that the story is not so much a story oflove as it is a rendition of the world in which the boy lives.\n\nThe second part of the story depicts the boy's inevitable disap-pointment and realization. In such an atmosphere of "blindness"-the aunt and uncle unaware of the boy's anguish, the girl not con-scious of the boy's love, and the boy himself blind to the true natureof his love-the words "hostile to romance" take on ironic overtones.These overtones deepen when the boy arrives too late at the bazaar.It is closing and the hall is "in darkness." He recognizes "a silencelike that which prevades a church after a service" but the bazaar isdirty and disappointing. Two men are "counting money on a salver"and he listens "to the fall of the coins." A young lady, bored withhim and interested in two men who are flirting with her, cheapensand destroys the boy's sense of an "Eastern enchantment." His love,like his quest for a gift to draw the girl to him in an unfriendly world,ends with his realizing that his love existed only in his mind. Thus\n\nthe theme of the story-the discrepancy between the real and theideal-is made final in the bazaar, a
284699
"At last he heard from along the road at the foot of the hill the clatter of a horse's galloping hoofs. It must be the coming of orders. He bent forward, scarce breathing. The exciting clickety-click, as it grew louder and louder, seemed to be beating upon his soul. Presently a horseman with jangling equipment drew rein before the colonel of the regiment. The two held a short, sharp-worded conversation. The men in the foremost ranks craned their necks. \n\nAs the horseman wheeled his animal and galloped away he turned to shout over his shoulder, "Don't forget that box of cigars!" The colonel mumbled in reply. The youth wondered what a box of cigars had to do with war."\n\n\n\nI'm not really certain what this refers to. Perhaps it shows that the horseman is more optomistic than Henry. The horseman is thinking ahead to after the battle when he can relax. I never studied "The Red Badge..." in school but I read it years ago.\n\nDoes "the cigar box" appear later on in the book?
187464
Along with mistleto, pine trees, gifts, celebrating the birth of Christ--NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE EVER COMMANDED IN THE BIBLE!!! Read the Book of Jeremiah Chapter 10! It explicitly mentions the "christmas" tradition--see what GOD really thinks about it all!
745579
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.
220135
The many versions of creation stories are probsbly the easiest ones to find.  Also Santa/St.Nicholas stories should be easy.  I can't refer you to books by name, but many fairy tales particularly have several versions.\n\nLittle Red Riding Hood is a tale that has changed a lot in its history and development.  There are a number of versions of Beauty and the Beast - I guess even Shrek is a version of it.  The Twelve Dancing Princesses is another that has many versions.\n\nThe websites I've attached should help you.  Good luck with this project.
724895
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, \nI gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. \nMy wife was asleep, her head on my chest, \nMy daughter beside me, angelic in rest. \nOutside the snow fell, a blanket of white, \nTransforming the yard to a winter delight. \nThe sparkling lights in the tree I believe, \nCompleted the magic that was Christmas Eve. \nMy eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, \nSecure and surrounded by love I would sleep. \nIn perfect contentment, or so it would seem, \nSo I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. \n\nThe sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, \nBut I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. \nPerhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the \nsure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. \nMy soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, \nAnd I crept to the door just to see who was near. \nStanding out in the cold and the dark of the night, \nA lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. \n\nA soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, \nPerhaps a Medic, huddled here in the cold. \nAlone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, \nStanding watch over me, and my wife and my child. \n"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, \n"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! \nPut down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, \nYou should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" \n\nFor barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, \nAway from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.. \nTo the window that danced with a warm fire's light \nThen he sighed and he said "Its really all right, \nI'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, \nThat separates you from the darkest of times. \nNo one had to ask or beg or implore me, \nI'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. \nMy Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December," \nThen he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." \nMy dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', \nAnd now it is my turn and so, here I am. \nI've not seen my own son in more than a while, \nBut my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. \n\nThen he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, \nThe red, white, and blue... an American flag. \nI can live through the cold and the being alone, \nAway from my family, my house and my home. \nI can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, \nI can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. \nI can carry the weight of killing another, \nOr lay down my life with my sister and brother.. \nWho stand at the front against any and all, \nTo ensure for all time that this flag will not fall." \n\n"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, \nYour family is waiting and I'll be all right." \n"But isn't there something I can do, at the least, \n"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? \nIt seems all too little for all that you've done, \nFor being away from your wife and your son." \nThen his eye welled a tear that held no regret, \n"Just tell us you love us, and never forget. \nTo fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, \nTo stand your own watch, no matter how long. \nFor when we come home, either standing or dead, \nTo know you remember we fought and we bled. \nIs payment enough, and with that we will trust, \nThat we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
456013
There are a couple at ninjastories.com.  See the link below.  There are a few cool historical short stories at the second link.
1140566
"Apple, The Only Daughter"\nSounds interesting. Sorry, it's a picture book, and the full text is not available online. Here is a translated version of a summary page. You could type in the text on an online translator, or look at the pictures to try to understand the story.
1186599
One of my favorite short stories is one of Langston Hughes'--"Thank You, Ma'm".  He also wrote a ton of poetry and plays.  Try this site:
729916
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS\n\n'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,\nMany creatures were surfing, most using a mouse.\nThe bookmarks were hung in the browsers with care,\nIn hopes that Web shoppers soon would be there.\n\nThe children with laptops all surfed in their beds,\nWhile visions of X-boxes danced in their heads.\nAnd mom in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,\nWere wondering what online resources to tap.\n\nWhen out on the Web, there arose such a clatter,\nI sprang to my desktop to see what was the matter.\nAway to the search engines I flew like a flash,\nDesperately wanting to part with some cash.\n\nThe .25 dot pitch of my screen made it so,\nTo give lustre to the objects in my browser window.\nWhen, what to my wondering eyes should appear,\nBut an animated gif with eight tiny reindeer.\n\nThis javascript applet, so lively and quick,\nI knew in a moment it must be from Slick.   :-)\nMore rapid than eagles these images they came,\nAnd they whistled, and shouted, and called me by name:\n\n"On, anxious surfer with shopping affliction,\nNow, great consumer, we'll feed your addiction!"\nTo the Internet gift store! To the Internet mall!\nNow click away! click away! click away all!\n\nAs anxiety mounts ere our wild dollars fly,\nTo slow-loading pages, we bid a quick good-bye,\nSo up to the page-top our cursors they flew,\nWith a file full of bookmarks, and 404 errors, too.\n\nAnd then, in a twinkling, I saw on my display,\nThe prancing and pawing of cookies, no way!\nWith mouse in hand, as I was surfing around,\nDown my ISP channel SaintNicholas.com came with a bound.\n\nThis site it was dressed with great things head-to-foot,\nAs fast-loading graphics on my screen they were put.\nLarge images and banners and counters it did lack.\nThis site sure stood out from the rest of the pack!\n\nIts headline, how it twinkled! Its sub-head how merry!\nMaking me want to read on in a hurry.\nIts company logo had a profile of low,\nAnd its background appeared as white as the snow.\n\nMy attention it held with tight copy to read,\nAs benefits flowed freely, straight at my need.\nMy interest it kept and caused no distraction,\nAs it spurred me onward, to take some fast action.\n\nAs I selected my gifts, as if from a shelf,\nI was ready to purchase, in spite of myself.\nA secure ordering server to which I was led,\nSoon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.\n\nIt spoke not a word, but went straight to its work,\nAnd completed my order with nary a quirk.\nAnd thus avoiding my past shopping woes,\nWith a click of my mouse, up the bandwidth I rose.\n\nI sprang back to cyberspace, my speakers did whistle.\nBut before the site disappeared like a missile,\nI heard it exclaim, ere it went out of sight,\n"Merry Christmas To All, And To All A Good-Night!"\n\n\nSANTA CLAUS IS WEARIN’ A GOWN\n\nYou better come out, you better not cry,\nYou better not pout, I'm telling you why...\nSanta Claus is wearing a gown.\n\nHe's making the switch,\nHe's leaving his wife,\nHe's gonna come out,\nto start a new life...\n\nSanta Claus is wearing a gown.\n\nA secret he's been keeping,\nIt's made him awful tense.\nHe knows it will be better now,\nWhen he comes down off that fence.\n\nSo you better come out,\nYou better not cry,\nYou better not pout,\nI'm telling you why...\n\nSanta Claus is wearing a gown.
780983
Christmas Story\nHome Alone..Home alone lost in new york..\nFrosty the snowman\nRudolph the rednose reindeer\nTeddy bear christmas\nMiracle on 34th stree *the one with dillan*\nThe santa clause\nNational lampoons christmas vacation\nGrinch\nHow the grinch stole christmas\nCharlie brown christmas\nElf\nErnest saves christmas..and lots and lots more where those came from!!