“Two Leaves” from Bambi, A Life in the Woods

By Felix Salten
Directions: Read the short story. Answer the questions. Refer to the text to check your answers when appropriate.
The leaves were falling from the big oak tree at the They were again silent for a while. Then the first leaf
edge of the meadow. They were falling from all the said tenderly to the other, “Don’t get yourself all upset
trees. One of the branches of the oak was much higher about it, here, you’re shivering, look.”
up than the others and it stretched a long way out over
“Oh don’t bother about that,” the second answered,
the meadow. At its tip there sat two leaves together.
“anything makes me shiver these days. You just don’t
“Things ain’t like they they used to be,” said one of the feel properly attached to where you are, do you.”
leaves.
“We’d better stop talking about things like that,” said
“They ain’t,” the other answered. “There were so many the first leaf.
of us last night who ... we’re just about the only ones
“Yeah, we’d better leave it,” the other replied. “Only ...
left here on this branch.”
what we going to talk about now then?”
“You never know who it’s goin to ‘appen to next,” said
They became silent, but after a short time resumed the
the first. “Even when it was nice and warm and the
subject. “Who d’you think’s going to be the first of us
sunshine gave you some heat you get a storm or a
cloudburst sometimes, and lots of us got torn off then, to go down there, then...?”
even them that were still young. You never know who “It won’t be for a while yet,” the first reassured him.
it’s goin to ‘appen to next.” “Let’s just think about how beautiful it used to be, how
wonderfully beautiful! When the sun came out and
“You don’t get much sunshine these days,” the second
burned us so hot it seemed we’d just swell up with all
leaf sighed, “and even when the sun does shine there’s
no strength to it. You’ve got to get your strength from the good health it gave us. Remember? And then there
somewhere else.” was the dew, early in the morning ... and the lime trees,
wonderful nights ...”
“Do you think it’s true,” pondered the first, “is it true
that other leaves will come along and take our place “The nights are horrible now,” whined the second.
once we’ve gone, and then another lot, and then “They never seem to come to an end.”
another lot ...?” “We can’t complain,” said the first leaf gently, “we’ve
lived longer than so many others.”
“Course it’s true,” whispered the second, “only, we
can’t work out how ... it’s above what we can “Have I changed much?” the second leaf asked, shyly
understand, that is.” but emphatically.
“It’d make you really sad, and all,” the first added. “Not a bit,” the first assured him. “What, ‘cause I’ve
They remained silent for a while. Then the first said gone all yellow and ugly? No, it’s gone a bit different
quietly to himself, “What do you have to go away for, for me ...”
anyway?” “Oh, give over,” the second contradicted.
The second asked, “What ‘appens to us after we’ve “No, honest,” the first repeated emphatically. “It’s true,
fallen?” what I’m telling you. You’re as lovely as you as you
“We sink down ...” were on the very first day. Might be a few yellow
stripes here and there, but not so’s you’d notice, but
“And what is it, what’s down there?” they just make you look all the lovelier. Honest!”
The first answered, “I don’t know. Some say one thing, “Oh, stop it now,” said the first, and became silent
others say something different ... nobody knows, himself. He could not talk any more because he was
really.” upset.
The second asked, “D’you think you feel anything, Now they were both silent. The hours passed. A damp
d’you think you know anything about yourself when wind blew cold and hostile through the tree tops.
you’re down there?”
“Oh ... now ...” said the second leaf, “... I ...” His voice
The first answered, “Who can say? None of them broke off. He was gently removed from his place and
who’ve gone down there has ever come back to tell us.” fluttered down to the earth. - Winter had come.
The Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger
By L. Frank Baum
Directions: Read the short story and answer the questions. Refer to the text to check your answers when
appropriate.
In the splendid palace of the Emerald City, which is in the "Then I would roar so loudly it would shake the earth and
center of the fairy Land of Oz, is a great Throne Room. This stalk away to the jungle to hide myself, before anyone could
is where Princess Ozma, the Ruler, sits in a throne of attack me or kill me for what I had done."
glistening emeralds for an hour each day and listens to all the
troubles of her people, which they are sure to tell her about. "I see," nodded the Tiger. "You are really cowardly."
Around Ozma's throne, on such occasions, are grouped all "To be sure. That is why I am named the Cowardly Lion.
the important personages1 of Oz, such as the Scarecrow, That is why I have always been so tame and peaceable. But
Tiktok the Clockwork Man, the Tin Woodman, the Wizard I'm awfully tired of being tame," added the Lion, with a sigh,
of Oz, and other famous fairy people. Little Dorothy usually "and it would be fun to raise a row and show people what a
has a seat at Ozma's feet, and crouched on either side the terrible beast I really am."
throne are two enormous beasts known as the Hungry Tiger
and the Cowardly Lion. The Tiger remained silent for several minutes, thinking
deeply as he slowly washed his face with his left paw. Then
These two beasts are Ozma's chief guardians, but as he said:
everyone loves the beautiful girl Princess there has never
been any disturbance in the great Throne Room, or anything "I'm getting old, and it would please me to eat at least one fat
for the guardians to do but look fierce and solemn2 and keep baby before I die. Suppose we surprise these people of Oz
quiet until the Royal Audience is over and the people go and prove our power. What do you say? We will walk out of
away to their homes. here just as usual and the first baby we meet I'll eat in a
jiffy4. And the first man or woman you meet, you will tear to
Of course no one would dare be naughty while the huge Lion pieces. Then we will both run out of the city gates and gallop
and Tiger crouched beside the throne; but the fact is, the across the country and hide in the jungle before anyone can
people of Oz are very seldom naughty. So Ozma's big guards stop us."
are more ornamental3 than useful. No one realizes that
better than the beasts themselves. "All right. I'm game," said the Lion, yawning again so that
he showed two rows of large sharp teeth.
One day, after everyone had left the Throne Room except the
Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger, the Lion yawned and The Tiger got up and stretched his great, sleek body.
said to his friend: "Seen any of them old Hydrophobies the last day or two?"
"I'm getting tired of this job. No one is afraid of us and no "Come on," he said. The Lion stood up and proved he was
one pays any attention to us." the larger of the two, for he was almost as big as a small
"That is true," replied the big Tiger, purring softly. "We horse.
might as well be in the thick jungles where we were born, as Out of the palace they walked, and met no one. They passed
trying to protect Ozma when she needs no protection. And through the beautiful grounds, past fountains and beds of
I'm dreadfully hungry all the time." lovely flowers, and met no one. Then they unlatched a gate
"You have enough to eat, I'm sure," said the Lion, swaying and entered a street of the city, and met no one.
his tail slowly back and forth. "I wonder how a fat baby will taste," said the Tiger, as they
"Enough, perhaps; but not the kind of food I long for," stalked majestically5 along, side by side.
answered the Tiger. "What I'm hungry for is fat babies. I "I imagine it will taste like nutmegs," said the Lion.
have a great desire to eat a few fat babies. Then, perhaps, the
people of Oz would fear me and I'd become more "No," said the Tiger, "I've an idea it will taste like
important." gumdrops."
"True," agreed the Lion. "It would stir up quite a scene if you They turned a corner, but met no one, for the people of the
ate but one fat baby. As for myself, my claws are sharp as Emerald City usually take their naps at this hour of the
needles and strong as crowbars. My teeth are powerful afternoon.
enough to tear a person to pieces in a few seconds. I could
spring upon a man and make chop suey of him. There would
be wild excitement in the Emerald City. People would fall Vocabulary
upon their knees and beg me for mercy. That, in my opinion, 1. personages: people who are notable or great
would render me very important." 2. solemn: deeply serious
3. ornamental: acting as an ornament; decorative
"After you had torn the person to pieces, what would you do
4. jiffy: a short, unspecified period of time
next?" asked the Tiger sleepily. 5. majestically: showing the qualities of royalty and great dignity
"I wonder how many pieces I ought to tear a person into," "No, nor into six pieces," answered the Lion indignantly8.
said the Lion, in a thoughtful voice. "I'm not such a brute as to destroy a poor woman who has
hurt herself trying to save her lost baby. If you are so cruel
"Sixty would be about right," suggested the Tiger. and bloodthirsty, you may leave me and go away, for I do
"Would that hurt any more than to tear one into about a not care to associate with you."
dozen pieces?" asked the Lion, with a little shudder. "That's all right," answered the Tiger. "I'm not cruel--not in
"Who cares whether it hurts or not?" growled the Tiger. the least--I'm only hungry. But I thought you were cruel."

The Lion did not reply. They entered a side street, but met no "Thank heaven I'm respectable," said the Lion, with dignity.
one. He then raised the woman and with much gentleness carried
her into her house, where he laid her upon a sofa.
Suddenly they heard a child crying. The Tiger followed with the baby, which he safely deposited
"Aha!" exclaimed the Tiger. "There is my meat." beside its mother. The little one liked the Hungry Tiger and,
grasping the enormous beast by both ears, the baby kissed
He rushed around a corner, the Lion following, and came the beast's nose to show he was grateful and happy.
upon a nice fat baby sitting in the middle of the street and
"Thank you very much," said the woman. "I've often heard
crying as if in great distress6.
what good beasts you are, in spite of your power to do
"What's the matter?" asked the Tiger, crouching before the mischief to mankind. Now I know that the stories are true. I
baby. do not think either of you have ever had an evil thought."
"I--I--I-lost my m-m-mamma!" wailed the baby. The Hungry Tiger and the Cowardly Lion hung their heads
and did not look into each other's eyes, for both were shamed
"Why, you poor little thing," said the great beast, softly and humbled. They crept away and stalked back through the
stroking the child's head with its paw. "Don't cry, my dear, streets until they again entered the palace grounds, where
for mamma can't be far away. I'll help you find her." they retreated to the pretty, comfortable rooms they occupied
"Go on," said the Lion, who stood by. at the back of the palace. There they silently crouched in
their usual corners to think over their adventure.
"Go on where?" asked the Tiger, looking up.
After a while the Tiger said sleepily:
"Go on and eat your fat baby."
"I don't believe fat babies taste like gumdrops. I'm quite sure
"Why, you dreadful creature!" said the Tiger reproachfully7. they have the flavor of raspberry tarts. My, how hungry I am
"Would you want me to eat a poor little lost baby?" And the for fat babies!"
beast gathered the little one into its strong, hairy arms and
tried to comfort it by rocking it gently back and forth. The Lion grunted. "You're a humbug," said he.

The Lion growled low in his throat and seemed very much "Am I?" retorted the Tiger, with a sneer. "Tell me, then, into
disappointed. But at that moment a scream reached their ears how many pieces you usually tear your victims, my bold
and a woman came bounding out of a house and into the Lion?"
street. Seeing her baby in the embrace of the monster Tiger The Lion impatiently thumped the floor with his tail.
the woman screamed again and rushed forward to rescue it.
In her haste she caught her foot in her skirt and tumbled head "To tear anyone into pieces would soil my claws and blunt
over heels and heels over head. She stopped with such a my teeth," he said. "I'm glad I didn't muss myself up this
bump that she saw many stars in the heavens, although it was afternoon by hurting that poor mother."
broad daylight. And there she lay, in a helpless manner, all
The Tiger looked at him steadily and then yawned a wide,
tangled up and unable to stir.
wide yawn.
With one bound and a roar like thunder the huge Lion was
beside her. With his strong jaws he grasped her dress and "You're a coward," he remarked.
raised her into an upright position. "Well," said the Lion, "it's better to be a coward than to do
"Poor thing! Are you hurt?" he gently asked. wrong."

Gasping for breath the woman struggled to free herself and "To be sure," answered the other. "And that reminds me that
tried to walk, but she limped badly and tumbled down again. I nearly lost my own reputation. For, had I eaten that fat
baby I would not now be the Hungry Tiger. It's better to go
"My baby!" she said pleadingly. hungry, seems to me, than to be cruel to a little child."
"The baby is all right; don't worry," replied the Lion; and And then they dropped their heads on their paws and went to
then he added: "Keep quiet, now, and I'll carry you back to sleep.
your house, and the Hungry Tiger will carry your baby."
The Tiger, who had approached the place with the child in its Vocabulary
arms, asked in astonishment: 6. distress: danger or discomfort
7. reproach: to criticize or bring shame
"Aren't you going to tear her into sixty pieces?" 8. indignant: showing anger at something unjust
The War Sacrifices of Mr. Spugg
By Stephen Leacock
Directions: Read the short story. Answer the questions. Refer to the text to check your answers when appropriate.

ALTHOUGH we had been members of the same club by the hand, "this is a fine thing you're doing, a big
for years, I only knew Mr. Spugg by sight until one thing. But we mustn't let you do it alone. Let our
afternoon when I heard him saying that he intended to company take a hand in it. We're making a special rate
send his chauffeur1 to the war. now on chauffeurs, footmen, and house-servants sent to
the war, quite below the rate that actuarial figures
It was said quite quietly, —no bombast or boasting justify. It is our little war contribution," he added
about it. Mr. Spugg was standing among a little group modestly. "We like to feel that we're doing our bit, too.
of listening members of the club and when he said that We had a chauffeur killed last week. We paid for him
he had decided to send his chauffeur, he spoke with a right off without demur3, —waived all question of who
kind of simple earnestness2, a determination that killed him. I never signed a check (as I took occasion to
marks the character of the man. say in a little note I wrote to his people) with greater
pleasure."
"Yes," he said, "we need all the man-power we can
command. This thing has come to a showdown and "What do you do if Henry's mutilated4?" asked Mr.
we've got to recognize it. I told Henry that it's a Spugg, turning his quiet eyes on the insurance man and
showdown and that he's to get ready and start right facing the brutal facts of things without flinching.
away." "What do you pay? Suppose I lose the use of Henry's
legs, what then?"
"Well, Spugg," said one of the members, "you're
certainly setting us a fine example." "It's all right," said his friend. "Leave it to us. Whatever
he loses, we make it good."
"What else can a man do?" said Mr. Spugg.
"All right," said Spugg, "send me round a policy. I'm
"When does your chauffeur leave?" asked another man. going to see Henry clear through on this."

"Right away. I want him in the firing line just as quick It was at this point that at my own urgent request I was
as I can get him there." introduced to Mr. Spugg, so that I might add my
congratulations to those of the others. I told him that I
"It's a fine thing you're doing, Spugg," said a third felt, as all the other members of the club did, that he
member, "but do you realize that your chauffeur may was doing a big thing, and he answered again, in his
be killed?" modest way that he didn't see what else a man could
do.
"I must take my chance on that," answered Mr. Spugg,
firmly. "I've thought this thing out and made up my "My son Alfred and I," he said, "talked it over last
mind: If my chauffeur is killed, I mean to pay for him, night and we agreed that we can run the car ourselves,
—full and adequate compensation. The loss must fall or make a shot at it anyway. After all, it's war time."
on me, not on him. Or, say Henry comes back
mutilated, —say he loses a leg, —say he loses two "What branch of the service are you putting your
legs..." chauffeur in?" I asked.

Here Mr. Spugg looked about him at his listeners, with "I'm not sure," he answered, "I think I'll send him up in
a look that meant that even three legs wouldn't be too the air. It's dangerous, of course, but it's no time to
much for him. think about that."

"Whatever Henry loses I pay for. The loss shall fall on

Vocabulary
me, every cent of it."
1. chauffeur: a person employed to drive a private car
2. earnest: serious; sincere, intense conviction
"Spugg," said a quiet-looking, neatly dressed man 3. demur: to delay or oppose
whom I knew to be the president of an insurance 4. mutilate: disable or remove a vital part such as a limb
company and who reached out and shook the speaker 5. tremor: to shake or quiver
So, in due time, Mr. Spugg's chauffeur, Henry, went I said, 'William, we've got to show these fellows that
overseas. He was reported first as in England. Next he man for man we're a match for them.' That's the way I
was right at the front, at the very firing itself. We knew look at it, man for man."
then, —everybody in the club knew that Mr. Spugg's
chauffeur might be killed at any moment. But great as I watched Mr. Spugg's massive face as he went on with
the strain must have been, Spugg went up and down to his meal. Not a nerve of it moved. If he felt any fear, at
his office and in and out of the club without a tremor5. least he showed no trace of it.
The situation gave him a new importance in our eyes, After that I got war news from him at intervals, in little
something tense. scraps, as I happened to meet him. "The war looks
bad," I said to him one day as I chanced upon him
"This seems to be a terrific business," I said to him one
getting into his motor. "This submarine business is
day at lunch, "this new German drive;" pretty serious."
"My chauffeur," said Mr. Spugg, "was right in the "It is," he said, "William was torpedoed7 yesterday."
middle of it."
Then he got into his car and drove away, as quietly as if
"He was, eh?" nothing had happened.

"Yes," he continued, "one shell burst in the air so near A little later that day I heard him talking about it in the
him it almost broke his wings." club. "Yes," he was saying, "a submarine. It torpedoed
William, —my gardener. I have both a chauffeur and a
Mr. Spugg told this with no false boasting or bravado6, gardener at the war. William was picked up on a raft.
eating his celery as he spoke of it. Here was a man who He's in pretty bad shape. My son Alfred had a cable
had nearly had his chauffeur's wings blown off and yet from him that he's coming home. We've both
he never moved a muscle. I began to realize the kind of telegraphed8 him to stick it out."
resolute stuff that the man was made of.
The news was the chief topic in the club that day.
"Spugg's gardener has been torpedoed," they said, "but
A few days later bad news came to the club. "Have you
Spugg refuses to have him quit and come home." "Well
heard the bad news about Spugg?" someone asked.
done, Spugg," said everybody.
"No, what?" After that we had news from time to time about both
William and Henry.
"His chauffeur's been gassed."
"Henry's out of the hospital," said Spugg. "I hope to
"Fine. He's sending off his gardener to take the have him back in France in a few days. William's in
chauffeur's place." bad shape still. I had a London surgeon go and look at
him. I told him not to mind the expense but to get
So that was Mr. Spugg's answer to the Germans. William fixed up right away. It seems that one arm is
more or less paralyzed. I've wired back to him not to
We lunched together that day. hesitate. They say William's blood is still too thin for
the operation. I've cabled to them to take some of
"Yes," he said, "Henry's gassed. How it happened I Henry's. I hate to do it, but this is no time to stick at
don't know. He must have come down out of the air. I anything."
told him I wanted him in the air. But let it pass. It's
done now." "And you're sending your gardener?" A little later William and Henry were reported both
back in France. This was at the very moment of the
"I am," said Spugg. "He's gone already. I called him in great offensive. But Spugg went about his daily
from the garden yesterday. I said, "William, Henry's business unmoved. Then came the worst news of all.
been gassed. Our first duty is to keep up our man- "William and Henry," he said to me, "are both missing.
power at the front. You must leave tonight." I don't know where the devil they are." "Missing!" I
repeated.
"Infantry. He'll do best in the trenches, — digs well and
is a very fair shot. Anyway I want him to see all the Vocabulary
fighting that's going. If the Germans won't give and
6. bravado: a show of defiance or courage
take in this business they can have it. They'll soon see 7. torpedo: an underwater missile or bomb
who can stand it best. I told William when he left. 8. telegraph: a message sent by wire
 Name: _____________________________
The Gift of the Magi
By O. Henry
Directions: Read the short story and answer the questions that follow. Refer to the text to check your
answers when appropriate.
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham
cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was
time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his
butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of
of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have
Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- seven cents. And the let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to
next day would be Christmas. depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King
There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in
little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigates the the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every
moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.
smiles, with sniffles predominating. So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling and
While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her
the first stage to the second, take a look at the home. A knee and made itself almost a garment for her. And then she
furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggar did it up again nervously and quickly. Once she faltered for a
description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the
the mendicancy squad. worn red carpet.
In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat.
would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger With a whirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparkle still in
could coax a ring. Also appertaining thereunto was a card her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the
bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young." street.
The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during a Where she stopped the sign read: "Mme. Sofronie. Hair
former period of prosperity when its possessor was being Goods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collected
paid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to herself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly
$20, though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to a looked the "Sofronie."
modest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. James "Will you buy my hair?" asked Della.
Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he
was called "Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James "I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let's have a
Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. sight at the looks of it."
Which is all very good. Down rippled the brown cascade.
Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the "Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a
powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully practised hand.
at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard.
"Give it to me quick," said Della.
Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87
with which to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. Forget
penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars the hashed metaphor. She was ransacking the stores for Jim's
a week doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she present.
had calculated. They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no
for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning one else. There was no other like it in any of the stores, and
for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and she had turned all of them inside out. It was a platinum fob
sterling--something just a little bit near to being worthy of chain simple and chaste in design, properly proclaiming its
the honor of being owned by Jim. value by substance alone and not by meretricious
There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room. ornamentation--as all good things should do. It was even
Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an $8 flat. A very thin worthy of The Watch. As soon as she saw it she knew that it
and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in a must be Jim's. It was like him. Quietness and value--the
rapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairly accurate description applied to both. Twenty-one dollars they took
conception of his looks. Della, being slender, had mastered from her for it, and she hurried home with the 87 cents. With
the art. that chain on his watch Jim might be properly anxious about
the time in any company. Grand as the watch was, he
Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood before the sometimes looked at it on the sly on account of the old
glass. her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost leather strap that he used in place of a chain.
its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulled down her
hair and let it fall to its full length.
When Della reached home her intoxication gave way a little Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. He enfolded
to prudence and reason. She got out her curling irons and his Della. For ten seconds let us regard with discreet scrutiny
lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made some inconsequential object in the other direction. Eight
by generosity added to love. Which is always a tremendous dollars a week or a million a year--what is the difference?
task, dear friends--a mammoth task. A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer.
Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny, close- The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among
lying curls that made her look wonderfully like a truant them. This dark assertion will be illuminated later on.
schoolboy. She looked at her reflection in the mirror long, Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threw it
carefully, and critically. upon the table.
"If Jim doesn't kill me," she said to herself, "before he takes "Don't make any mistake, Dell," he said, "about me. I don't
a second look at me, he'll say I look like a Coney Island think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a
chorus girl. But what could I do--oh! what could I do with a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less. But if
dollar and eighty- seven cents?" you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me
At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on going a while at first."
the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops. White fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper. And
Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand then an ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas! a quick
and sat on the corner of the table near the door that he always feminine change to hysterical tears and wails, necessitating
entered. Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the immediate employment of all the comforting powers of
the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. She the lord of the flat.
had a habit for saying a little silent prayer about the simplest For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side and back,
everyday things, and now she whispered: "Please God, make that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window.
him think I am still pretty." Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims--just
The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were
thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two-- expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved
and to be burdened with a family! He needed a new overcoat and yearned over them without the least hope of possession.
and he was without gloves. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have
Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the adorned the coveted adornments were gone.
scent of quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was But she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was
an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hair
her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor grows so fast, Jim!"
horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared And then Della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried,
for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar "Oh, oh!"
expression on his face.
Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to
Della wriggled off the table and went for him. him eagerly upon her open palm. The dull precious metal
"Jim, darling," she cried, "don't look at me that way. I had seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent
my hair cut off and sold because I couldn't have lived spirit.
through Christmas without giving you a present. It'll grow
out again--you won't mind, will you? I just had to do it. My "Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll
hair grows awfully fast. Say `Merry Christmas!' Jim, and have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me
let's be happy. You don't know what a nice-- what a your watch. I want to see how it looks on it."
beautiful, nice gift I've got for you." Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put
"You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim, laboriously, as if he his hands under the back of his head and smiled.
had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after the hardest "Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and
mental labor. keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I
"Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you like me just as sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And
well, anyhow? I'm me without my hair, ain't I?" now suppose you put the chops on."
Jim looked about the room curiously. The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise
men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They
"You say your hair is gone?" he said, with an air almost of invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise,
idiocy. their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the
"You needn't look for it," said Della. "It's sold, I tell you-- privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have
sold and gone, too. It's Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish
for it went for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other
numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness, "but the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the
nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I put the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts
chops on, Jim?" these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts,
such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They
are the magi.
The Nightingale and the Rose
By Oscar Wilde
Directions: Read the short story and answer the questions that follow. Refer to the text to check your answers.
"She said that she would dance with me if I brought her "Why, indeed?" said a Butterfly, who was fluttering
red roses," cried the young Student; "but in all my about after a sunbeam.
garden there is no red rose."
"Why, indeed?" whispered a Daisy to his neighbour, in
From her nest in the holm-oak tree the Nightingale a soft, low voice.
heard him, and she looked out through the leaves, and
"He is weeping for a red rose," said the Nightingale.
wondered.
"For a red rose?" they cried; "how very ridiculous!"
"No red rose in all my garden!" he cried, and his
and the little Lizard, who was something of a cynic4,
beautiful eyes filled with tears. "Ah, on what little
laughed outright.
things does happiness depend! I have read all that the
wise men have written, and all the secrets of But the Nightingale understood the secret of the
philosophy are mine, yet for want of a red rose is my Student's sorrow, and she sat silent in the oak-tree, and
life made wretched1." thought about the mystery of Love.
"Here at last is a true lover," said the Nightingale. Suddenly she spread her brown wings for flight, and
"Night after night have I sung of him, though I knew soared into the air. She passed through the grove like a
him not: night after night have I told his story to the shadow, and like a shadow she sailed across the garden.
stars, and now I see him. His hair is dark as the
In the center of the grass-plot was standing a beautiful
hyacinth-blossom, and his lips are red as the rose of his
Rose-tree, and when she saw it she flew over to it, and
desire; but passion has made his face like pale ivory,
lit upon a spray.
and sorrow has set her seal upon his brow."
"Give me a red rose," she cried, "and I will sing you
"The Prince gives a ball tomorrow night," murmured
my sweetest song."
the young Student, "and my love will be of the
company. If I bring her a red rose she will dance with But the Tree shook its head.
me till dawn. If I bring her a red rose, I shall hold her in
"My roses are white," it answered; "as white as the
my arms, and she will lean her head upon my shoulder,
foam of the sea, and whiter than the snow upon the
and her hand will be clasped in mine. But there is no
mountain. But go to my brother who grows round the
red rose in my garden, so I shall sit lonely, and she will
old sun-dial, and perhaps he will give you what you
pass me by. She will have no heed2 of me, and my
want."
heart will break."
So the Nightingale flew over to the Rose-tree that was
"Here indeed is the true lover," said the Nightingale.
growing round the old sun-dial.
"What I sing of, he suffers—what is joy to me, to him
is pain. Surely Love is a wonderful thing. It is more "Give me a red rose," she cried, "and I will sing you
precious than emeralds, and dearer than fine opals. my sweetest song."
Pearls and pomegranates cannot buy it, nor is it set
But the Tree shook its head.
forth in the marketplace. It may not be purchased of the
merchants, nor can it be weighed out in the balance for "My roses are yellow," it answered; "as yellow as the
gold." hair of the mermaiden who sits upon an amber throne,
and yellower than the daffodil that blooms in the
"The musicians will sit in their gallery," said the young
meadow before the mower comes with his scythe5. But
Student, "and play upon their stringed instruments, and
go to my brother who grows beneath the Student's
my love will dance to the sound of the harp and the
window, and perhaps he will give you what you want."
violin. She will dance so lightly that her feet will not
touch the floor, and the courtiers in their festive dresses So the Nightingale flew over to the Rose-tree that was
will throng3 round her. But with me she will not dance, growing beneath the Student's window.
for I have no red rose to give her"; and he flung himself
down on the grass, and buried his face in his hands, and Vocabulary
wept. 1. wretched: very miserable
2. heed: to mind; to regard with care; to take notice of
"Why is he weeping?" asked a little Green Lizard, as he 3. throng: to crowd; to congregate
ran past him with his tail in the air. 4. cynic: one whose outlook is scornfully negative
5. scythe: a tool with a long curving blade used for cutting grain
"Give me a red rose," she cried, "and I will sing you But the Oak-tree understood, and felt sad, for he was
my sweetest song." very fond9 of the little Nightingale who had built her
nest in his branches.
But the Tree shook its head.
"Sing me one last song," he whispered; "I shall feel
"My roses are red," it answered, "as red as the feet of
very lonely when you are gone."
the dove, and redder than the great fans of coral that
wave and wave in the ocean-cavern. But the winter has So the Nightingale sang to the Oak-tree, and her voice
chilled my veins, and the frost has nipped my buds, and was like water bubbling from a silver jar.
the storm has broken my branches, and I shall have no
When she had finished her song the Student got up, and
roses at all this year."
pulled a note-book and a lead-pencil out of his pocket.
"One red rose is all I want," cried the Nightingale,
"She has form," he said to himself, as he walked away
"only one red rose! Is there no way by which I can get
through the grove—"that cannot be denied to her; but
it?"
has she got feeling? I am afraid not. In fact, she is like
"There is a way," answered the Tree; "but it is so most artists; she is all style, without any sincerity. She
terrible that I dare not tell it to you." would not sacrifice herself for others. She thinks
merely of music, and everybody knows that the arts are
"Tell it to me," said the Nightingale, "I am not afraid."
selfish. Still, it must be admitted that she has some
"If you want a red rose," said the Tree, "you must build beautiful notes in her voice. What a pity it is that they
it out of music by moonlight, and stain it with your do not mean anything, or do any practical good." And
own heart's-blood. You must sing to me with your he went into his room, and lay down on his little pallet-
breast against a thorn. All night long you must sing to bed, and began to think of his love; and, after a time, he
me, and the thorn must pierce your heart, and your life- fell asleep.
blood must flow into my veins, and become mine."
And when the Moon shone in the heavens the
"Death is a great price to pay for a red rose," cried the Nightingale flew to the Rose-tree, and set her breast
Nightingale, "and Life is very dear to all. It is pleasant against the thorn. All night long she sang with her
to sit in the green wood, and to watch the Sun in his breast against the thorn, and the cold crystal Moon
chariot of gold, and the Moon in her chariot of pearl. leaned down and listened. All night long she sang, and
Sweet is the scent of the hawthorn6, and sweet are the the thorn went deeper and deeper into her breast, and
bluebells that hide in the valley, and the heather7 that her life-blood ebbed away from her.
blows on the hill. Yet Love is better than Life, and
She sang first of the birth of love in the heart of a boy
what is the heart of a bird compared to the heart of a
and a girl. And on the top-most spray of the Rose-tree
man?"
there blossomed a marvellous rose, petal following
So she spread her brown wings for flight, and soared petal, as song followed song. Pale was it, at first, as the
into the air. She swept over the garden like a shadow, mist that hangs over the river—pale as the feet of the
and like a shadow she sailed through the grove. morning, and silver as the wings of the dawn. As the
shadow of a rose in a mirror of silver, as the shadow of
The young Student was still lying on the grass, where
a rose in a water-pool, so was the rose that blossomed
she had left him, and the tears were not yet dry in his
on the topmost spray of the Tree.
beautiful eyes.
But the Tree cried to the Nightingale to press closer
"Be happy," cried the Nightingale, "be happy; you shall
against the thorn. "Press closer, little Nightingale,"
have your red rose. I will build it out of music by
cried the Tree, "or the Day will come before the rose is
moonlight, and stain it with my own heart's-blood. All
finished."
that I ask of you in return is that you will be a true
lover, for Love is wiser than Philosophy, though she is So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn, and
wise, and mightier than Power, though he is mighty. louder and louder grew her song, for she sang of the
Flame-coloured are his wings, and coloured like flame birth of passion in the soul of a man and a maid.
is his body. His lips are sweet as honey, and his breath
is like frankincense8." Vocabulary
6. hawthorn: companions or associates
The Student looked up from the grass, and listened, but
7. heather: an evergreen plant
he could not understand what the Nightingale was 8. frankincense: a sweet smelling incense
saying to him, for he only knew the things that are 9. fond: to like or regard something or someone with affection
written down in books.
And a delicate flush of pink came into the leaves of the Then he put on his hat, and ran up to the Professor's
rose, like the flush in the face of the bridegroom when house with the rose in his hand.
he kisses the lips of the bride. But the thorn had not yet
The daughter of the Professor was sitting in the
reached her heart, so the rose's heart remained white,
doorway winding blue silk on a reel, and her little dog
for only a Nightingale's heart's-blood can crimson10 the
was lying at her feet.
heart of a rose.
"You said that you would dance with me if I brought
And the Tree cried to the Nightingale to press closer
you a red rose," cried the Student. "Here is the reddest
against the thorn. "Press closer, little Nightingale,"
rose in all the world. You will wear it tonight next to
cried the Tree, "or the Day will come before the rose is
your heart, and as we dance together it will tell you
finished."
how I love you."
So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn, and
But the girl frowned.
the thorn touched her heart, and a fierce pang of pain
shot through her. Bitter, bitter was the pain, and wilder "I am afraid it will not go with my dress," she
and wilder grew her song, for she sang of the Love that answered; "and, besides, the Chamberlain's13 nephew
is perfected by Death, of the Love that dies not in the has sent me some real jewels, and everybody knows
tomb. that jewels cost far more than flowers."
And the marvelous rose became crimson, like the rose "Well, upon my word, you are very ungrateful," said
of the eastern sky. Crimson was the girdle11 of petals, the Student angrily; and he threw the rose into the
and crimson as a ruby was the heart. street, where it fell into the gutter, and a cart-wheel
went over it.
But the Nightingale's voice grew fainter, and her little
wings began to beat, and a film came over her eyes. "Ungrateful!" said the girl. "I tell you what, you are
Fainter and fainter grew her song, and she felt very rude; and, after all, who are you? Only a Student.
something choking her in her throat. Why, I don't believe you have even got silver buckles
to your shoes as the Chamberlain's nephew has"; and
Then she gave one last burst of music. The white Moon
she got up from her chair and went into the house.
heard it, and she forgot the dawn, and lingered on in
the sky. The red rose heard it, and it trembled all over "What a silly thing Love is," said the Student as he
with ecstasy12, and opened its petals to the cold walked away. "It is not half as useful as Logic, for it
morning air. Echo bore it to her purple cavern in the does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of
hills, and woke the sleeping shepherds from their things that are not going to happen, and making one
dreams. It floated through the reeds of the river, and believe things that are not true. In fact, it is quite
they carried its message to the sea. unpractical, and, as in this age to be practical is
everything, I shall go back to Philosophy and study
"Look, look!" cried the Tree, "the rose is finished
Metaphysics14."
now"; but the Nightingale made no answer, for she was
lying dead in the long grass, with the thorn in her heart. So he returned to his room and pulled out a great dusty
book, and began to read.
And at noon the Student opened his window and
looked out.
Vocabulary
"Why, what a wonderful piece of luck!" he cried. "Here 10. crimson: deep, slightly bluish red
is a red rose! I have never seen any rose like it in all my 11. girdle: that which encircles, or encloses
life. It is so beautiful that I am sure it has a long Latin 12. ecstasy: intense pleasure
13. chamberlain: a high officer of state
name"; and he leaned down and plucked it. 14. metaphysics: the study of the ultimate nature of the universe