1. Della is crying because she only has one dollar and eighty-seven cents, which is not enough to buy a Christmas gift for her husband, Jim.
2. Christmas has to do with her tears because she feels desperate and sad about not having enough money to buy Jim a meaningful present for the holiday.
3. She got the money by saving pennies one and two at a time from her household budget, dealing carefully with the grocer, vegetable man, and butcher.
4. O. Henry means that life often includes moments of sadness, hardship, or disappointment (“sobs, sniffles”), and these emotional experiences are more common than joy or laughter (“smiles”), reflecting the bittersweet nature of human existence.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of reading comprehension worksheet for high school.
