TWO GIFTS

Jim and Della were a newly married couple. They loved each other but the trouble was that they were very poor. They lived in New York in the suburbs. They had a very small room to live in.

They worked from early morning till late at night but they got very little money for their work.

And yet, they had two treasures. They were: Jim's gold watch and Della's beautiful hair.

New Year's Day was coming. Delta wanted to present Jim with something but she had no money for it. The thought that she could not make a present to her husband made her very unhappy. She sat down on the sofa and began to cry. Suddenly an idea struck her. She got up and went up to the looking-glass. In it she saw her beautiful long hair. Then she left the house and a few minutes later she was at a shop.

"Will you buy my hair?" she asked.

The owner looked at Della's hair and answered: "Yes, I shall give you 20 dollars for it."

Della was very glad. She took the money and went to buy something for Jim. Soon she saw a very beautiful chain. "I shall have it," she said to herself and bought it.

When she came home, Jim had already been there waiting for her. When he looked at his wife he understood everything.

"Why did you do it?" he said.

"Dear Jim, I wanted to give you a present. Here it is!" She gave him the chain that she had bought. But he did not need that present any more. He had sold his watch to make a present to his wife. He took a package out of his pocket and gave it to Della. Opening the package Della saw two beautiful combs.

1. Where did Jim and Della live?

2. Were they rich?

3. Did they work much?

4. What treasures did they have?

5. What holiday was coming?

6. Why was Della very unhappy?

7. What idea struck her?

8. What did she buy for Jim?

9. Who was waiting for her, when she came home?

10. What did Jim buy for Della?

11. Did she need combs then?