วันอังคารที่ 19 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2556

The Gift of the Magi - An Appreciation



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AppId is over the quota

It is customary to show old and new movies, play all time great music and songs, etc. around the festival and other important days.

So is done during the weeks and months leading to Christmas. TV will be full of great films on the theme of Christmas and "Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell", will be sung umpteenth time.

Here is one of the all time great short stories on the theme of Christmas by one of the greatest short story writer of all time.

The short story is titled, "The Gift of the Magi", and its writer is O. Henry whose real name was William Sydney Porter.

First what do we mean by Magi?

When Christ was born he is supposed to have been brought gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense by the Magi (incidentally, the English word 'magic' is derived from it) or three Wise Men or three Kings from the East.

The writer gives his own explanation at the end of the short story. This tradition of commentary by the author within the story is used less and less in modern stories. In fact, modern stories, like modern art and poetry, are becoming more and more difficult to understand and that may be one of the reasons that the genre of short stories is dying down, though not yet dead.

O. Henry writes at the end of the story, "The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts 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 story concerns a poor couple Della and Jim who are at their wits' end on Christmas Eve what to give each other as they have no money. How much they had?

"One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas."

Of course, it was the time when things and services were cheap. They paid a weekly rent of $ 8 for their furnished flat and Jim earned $ 20 per week though previously he was earning $ 30 per week. Still $ 1.87 was too little to buy any Christmas gift.

Yet they were able to buy expensive and exactly the very gifts which were most needed and desired by each other:

"Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present."

The story ends with a "twist-in-the-tail" surprise which was a favorite ploy of the traditional writers and which is frowned upon by modern writers. However, this bitter-sweet ending makes this one of the greatest immortal short stories.

Of course, to know the surprise ending and savor this great story, I have not divulged all the details and I would recommend it a compulsory reading for all and especially for those who are young at heart. But who is not?

I would also request to ponder for a moment if the owner of an important sounding card bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young" appertaining to unused letter-box and non-functioning electric button in the vestibule, had no money to spend on Christmas gift, how much hopeless the really poor might be feeling on Christmas eve! If we think about them on Christmas, God will surely bless us.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
LIVE THE LIFE BEAUTIFUL!
BE HAPPY! BE HEALTHY! BE SUCCESSFUL!
TODAY, TOMORROW, FOREVER!

The author is working in the field of happiness, health, and success. He is an expert Yoga and Naturopathy practitioner/guru and self-help and motivational writer. He is also a literary writer.

Please also visit:

http://www.thelifebeautiful.com/thegiftofthemagi.html

The Gift of the Magi



วันอังคารที่ 5 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2556

The short story "the dead?



Like the reader into their claws and a good book. "Because you never want to end. The world is full of great books; Some brilliant, some good, some bad and some that are just a waste if time. I remember reading one page 150 of 1123, and throw the book in the corner. It lies still.

Some stories are so large that is required and the number of volumes. As long as there is nothing wrong with that, it gives the author more scope to play with and a massive and that paint the scenery and characters. They have a lot if we have time to get their point. I never say it's easier to tell a short story from far away. And to long story can be very complex.

Let me put it this way. Imagine two to go at the top of the head of lmtagrpim boxing. Warrior one punch after punch after punch, throw and he sat the entire match. The last trick is moving to the right – and his rival on the ground. That is the equivalent of a long story. "A lot of action with complete hiding.

Now imagine the same only this time when the bell chimes to mark the beginning of the first round, one fighter, a single punch, destroy throws Earth, knocking the opponent out of the ring itself.

For me, that this is what should be a short story. A short story, because you did not accept characters with too long, should be the next knock you for six in a very short space of time. Unfortunate part is a lot of short stories I have read are not good. They are, make me want to throw it in after the first few pages. A short story should catch from the first sentence.

He often makes me wonder who agree not to publish short stories, even paying for them. Life Cemetery (and I'm a big fan of life cemetery) has released a number of short stories in them which left me puzzled. The end came and wondered what he was doing there in the first place. I didn't get the point. I didn't understand what the story was about much less what I was supposed to receive it. Even if the story slowly, it should at least have a great finish.

Really, he got me crying and publishers so many great stories about some of the stories they publish are still in, and I'm sure a lot of people's eyes, a complete waste of time.

There's a short story to be enjoyable reading. Quick hit. Perhaps, and publisher and editor was also thinking about it when you get short stories.

You never know, in fact we some good ones to change. Short story as it was not popular because people have lost interest in them but that doesn't mean they are dead. All we need is a few good courses.

An example of this is the books of blood Clive Barker. A collection of some of the best short stories around. Or team skeletons of Stephen King, which contains the attractive ' the mist ' story, recently became a movie.

I agree that and you're going to get a short story that is just nonsense, but I don't get that bridge I called today "are a waste of time.

I'm working on a new site dedicated to the midnight gardens, all things horror, science fiction and fantasy.

You can find us here: http://www.midnightreaping.com/