NOTES AND QUESTIONS

Biography. William Sidney Porter (1862-1910), better known by his pen name, O. Henry, was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. His teacher was his aunt, who encouraged his love of stories and story-telling. As a boy he read widely and showed a natural gift for sketching. When a mere boy, he went to Texas where he spent two years on a sheep ranch. He became a reporter for the Daily Post of Houston, Texas, and later he wrote extensively for the leading magazines. In 1902 he went to New York City to live and from this time on he devoted himself almost exclusively to short-story writing. He holds a prominent place among the world’s greatest short-story writers. His best known books are The Four Million, from which “The Gift of the Magi” is taken, Whirligigs, and Heart of the West, portraying life in Texas. His stories are drawn from real situations and picture the various types found in ordinary American life. They are noted for their surprising endings and for their warm human sympathy.

Discussion. 1. Has this story an interesting beginning? 2. What does it make you curious about? 3. Throughout the story find other instances where the author arouses your curiosity, but does not immediately tell you what you wish to know. 4. When did a plan for obtaining money first suggest itself to Della? 5. Where do you first begin to suspect what the plan is? 6. Does Jim’s behavior, when he is told that Della has cut off her hair, puzzle you as well as Della? 7. Where do you learn why he was so bewildered? 8. O. Henry’s stories usually have a surprise at the end; is there a surprise in this one? 9, What reason do you see for calling Jim and Della “the magi”?

Phrases

WOUTER VAN TWILLER

WASHINGTON IRVING

It was in the year of our Lord 1629 that Mynheer Wouter Van Twiller was appointed governor of the province of Nieuw-Nederlandts, [under the commission and control] of their High Mightinesses, the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, and the privileged West India Company.

This renowned old gentleman arrived at New-Amsterdam in the merry month of June, the sweetest month in all the year; when Dan Apollo seems to dance up the [transparent firmament]—when the robin, the thrush, and a thousand other wanton songsters made the woods resound with [amorous ditties], and the luxurious little boblincon revels among the clover blossoms of the meadows—all which happy coincidence persuaded the old dames of New-Amsterdam, who were skilled in the art of foretelling events, that this was to be a happy and prosperous administration.