Read the following excerpt from "The Gift of the Magl" and answer the question. For there lay The Combs-the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in Broadway
window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims-just the shade to wear in the beautiful
vanished hair. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had
simply craved and yearned over
them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but
adorned the coveted adornments were gone.
the tresses that should have
But she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able
"My hair
to look up with dim eyes and a smlle and say:
grows so fast, Jim! And them Della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried, "Oh, oh!" Jim had not
yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him
seemed to flash with
eagerly upon her open palm. The dull precious metal
a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit."Isn't It a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to
it. find it. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a
looks on it."
day now. Give me your watch. want to see how it
Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and
smiled."Della," said he, "let's put our
Christmas presents away and keep 'em
just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And
a while. They're too nice to use
now suppose you put the chops
on."
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. • all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are
wisest. They are the
magi.
What type of irony is most evident in the excerpt above?