Jim was never late. Della held the watch chain in her hand and sat near the door where he always entered. Then she heard his step in
the hall and her face lost color for a moment. She often said little prayers
quietly, about simple everyday things. And now she said: “Please God,
make him think I’m still pretty.”

Jim stopped inside the door. He was as quiet as a hunting dog when
it is near a bird. His eyes looked strangely at Della, and there was an
expression in them that she could not understand. It filled her with fear.
It was not anger, nor surprise, nor anything she had been ready for. He
simply looked at her with that strange expression on his face.

From inside the coat, Jim took something tied in the paper. He threw
it upon the table.

For there lay The Combs—the combs that Della had seen in a
shop window and loved for a long time. Beautiful combs, with jewels,
perfect for her beautiful hair. She had known they cost too much for
her to buy them. She had looked at them without the least hope of
owning them. And now they were hers, but her hair was gone.

Jim had not yet seen his beautiful gift. She held it out to him in
her open hand. The gold seemed to shine softly as if with her own warm
and loving spirit.

“Isn’t it perfect, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You’ll have
to look at your watch a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch.
I want to see how they look together.”

Jim sat down and smiled.

“Della,” said he, “let’s put our Christmas gifts away and keep them
a while. They’re too nice to use now. I sold the watch to get the money
to buy the combs. And now I think we should have our dinner.”

Answer all five questions below:

What is the point of view of the story?
From whose perspective is the story told?
Why did the author choose to tell the story from this perspective?
What information would the reader gain if the story was told from another perspective? Give two specific details from the story that support your idea.
What information would the reader lose if the story was told from another perspective? Give two specific details from the story that support your idea.