Would you agree that Jim and Della have sacrificed for each other "the greatest treasures of their house"? Why or why not? Support you opinion with...

Yes, Jim and Della have sacrificed the greatest treasures of their house for each other because they are so poor that Della's hair and Jim's watch were their only material treasures. Neither of them owned anything else on which they could have raised a dollar. O. Henry takes great pains to impress his readers with the importance these young people attach to these possessions. Della not only values her beautiful long hair, but her husband values it too. Jim not only values his gold watch, but Della is proud of it as well. Both Della's hair and Jim's watch are family treasures they share. Here is how O. Henry describes their treasures in his best-known, best-loved short story.

Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.

O. Henry intended to emphasize that it was hard for both of them to part with their treasures. In selling her hair, Della was not only hurting herself but hurting her husband. She was even afraid he wouldn't love her anymore with her shriveled curls. In selling his watch, Jim was not only hurting himself and his ancestors, but he would be risking losing some of Della's adoration. He looked so suave when he pulled out that handsome gold watch to check the time and to show he had it!

They would only have sacrificed their treasures for the sake of something they valued more, which was their love for each other. O. Henry himself, the creator of both Jim and Della Young, testifies at the end of the story that they had indeed sacrificed their greatest treasures, although he thinks they did it foolishly.

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.