Дары волхвов

           HadKingSolomonbeenthejanitor, withallhistreasurespiledupinthebasement, Jimwouldhavepulledouthiswatcheverytimehepassed, justtoseehimpluckathisbeardfromenvy. 

           SonowDella’sbeautifulhairfellabouther, ripplingandshininglikeacascadeofbrownwaters. Itreachedbelowherknee andmadeitselfalmostagarmentforher. Andthenshediditupagainnervouslyandquickly. Onceshefalteredforaminuteandstoodstillwhile atearortwosplashedonthewornredcarpet. 

           Onwentheroldbrownjacket; onwentheroldbrownhat. Withawhirlofskirtsandwiththebrilliantsparklestillinhereyes, sheflutteredoutthedooranddownthestairstothestreet. 

           Whereshestoppedthesignread: "Mme.Sofronie.HairGoodsofAllKinds." OneflightupDellaran,andcollectedherself,panting. Madame,large,toowhite,chilly,hardlylookedthe"Sofronie." 

           "Willyoubuymyhair?" askedDella. 

           "Ibuyhair," saidMadame. "Takeyourhatoff andlet’shaveasightatthelooksofit." 

           Downrippledthebrowncascade. 

           "Twentydollars," saidMadame, liftingthemasswithapractisedhand. 

           "Giveittomequick," saidDella. 

           Oh,andthenexttwohourstrippedbyonrosywings. Forgetthehashedmetaphor. ShewasransackingthestoresforJim’spresent.