The gift of the Magi by O.Henry

Some vocabulary for The gift of the Magi

the Magi	three kings, three wise men following a star to visit Jesus Christ when he was a baby and give him presents
to bulldoze	metaphorically: to overpower
imputation	accusation
parsimony	quality of not willing to spend money
to instigate	to cause things to happen
mendicancy squad	police unit arresting beggars and homeless people

It did not exactly beggar description, but it had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad. The apartment is not rundown beyond description (beggar description), but it is very close to appearing to be a place where homeless beggars would dwell.

pier-glass	thin mirror
queen of Sheba	legendary figure in the Hebrew Bible, who brings a caravan of valuable gifts for the Israelite King Solomon
to depreciate	to reduce, to diminish
fob chain	metal chain attached to an old-fashioned watch
meretricious	seeming attractive but of little value
on the sly	secretly
chops	cutlets
setter	hunter's dog
scent	smell
quail	type of bird (german: Wachtel)
tresses	lit.: long hair
coveted	strongly desired
adornment	something decorative
manger	box for feeding cattle