$187 that was all every day when she went to the shops she spent very little money she bought the cheapest meat the cheapest vegetables and when she was tired she still walked round and round the shops to find the cheapest food she saved every scent possible Dela counted the money again there was no mistake $1 and 87 that was all and the next day was Christmas she couldn't do anything about it she could only sit down and cry so she sat there in the poor little room and she cried Dela lived in this poor little
room in New York with her husband James Dillingham young they also had a bedroom and a kitchen and a bathroom all poor little rooms James Dillingham young was lucky because he had a job but it was not a good job these rooms took most of his money Dela tried to find work but times were bad and there was no work for her but when Mr James Dillingham young came home to his rooms Mrs James Dillingham young called him Jim and put her arms around him and that was good Dela stopped crying and she washed her
face she stood by the window and looked out at a gray cat on a gray wall in the gray road tomorrow was Christmas Day and she had only $187 to buy Jim a Christmas present her Jim she wanted very much to buy him something really fine something to show how much she loved him suddenly turned around and ran over to look in the glass on the wall her eyes were Bright Now the James Dillingham Youngs had two very special things one was Jim's gold watch it once belonged to his father and before that to his
grandfather the other special thing was Del's hair quickly Dela let down her beautiful long hair it fell down her back and it was almost like a coat around her then she put her hair up again quickly for a second or two she stood still and cried a little then she put on her old brown coat and her old brown hat turned and left the room she went downstairs and out into the road and her eyes were bright she walked Along by the shops and stopped when she came to a door with Madam Eloise hair on
it inside there was a fat woman she did not look like an Eloise will you buy my hair Dela asked I buy hair Madam replied take your hat off then and show me your hair the beautiful brown hair fell down $20 Madam said and she touched the hair with her hand quick cut it off give me the money Dela said the next two hours went quickly Dela was happy because she was looking around the shops for Jim's present at last she found it it was a gold chain for the watch Jim loved his watch but
it had no chain when Dela saw this gold chain she knew immediately that it was right for Jim she must have it the shop took $21 from her for it and she hurried home with the 87 cents when she arrived there she looked at her very short hair in the glass what can I do with it she thought for the next half an hour she was very busy then she looked again in the glass her hair was now in very small curls all over her head oh dear I look like a school girl she said
to herself what's Jim going to say when he sees me at 7:00 the dinner was nearly ready and Dela was waiting oh I hope he thinks that I'm still beautiful she thought the door opened and Jim came in and closed it he looked very thin and he needed a new coat his eyes eyes were on daa she could not understand the look on his face and she was afraid he was not angry or surprised he just watched her with that strange look on his face Dela ran to him Jim she cried don't look at me
like that I sold my hair because I wanted to give you a present it will soon be long again I had to do it Jim say happy Christmas please I have a wonderful present for you you've cut off your hair asked Jim yes I cut it off and sold it Dela said but don't you love me anymore Jim I'm still me Jim looked around the room you say your hair has gone he said almost stupidly yes I told you because I love you shall I get the dinner now Jim suddenly Jim put his arms around
his Dela then he took something from his pocket and put it on the table I love you Dela he said it doesn't matter if your hair is short or long but if you open that you'll see why I was unhappy at first excited Dela pulled off the paper then she gave a little scream of happiness but a second later there were cries of unhappiness because there were the Combs the combs for her beautiful hair when she first saw these combs in the shop window she wanted them they were beautiful Combs expensive Combs and now they
were her Combs but she no longer had her hair Dela picked them up and held them her eyes were full of love but my hair will soon be long again Jim and then Dela remembered she jumped up and cried oh oh she ran to get Jim's beautiful present and she held it out to him isn't it lovely Jim I looked everywhere for it now you'll want to look at your watch a hundred times a day give it to me give me your watch Jim let's see it with its new chain but Jim did not do
this he sat down put his hands behind his head and he smiled Dela he said let's keep our presents for a time they're so nice you see I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs and now let's have dinner and this was the story of two young people who were very much in love
