The Christmas Victory

Another joyous Christmas time came and went for the Longfellow family. Henry was especially happy that now all of his children were home so they could all enjoy the holiday together. It was Charles who put the star on the top of the tree this year, as well as setting up the manger scene. Again, they invited Dr. Buridge. “Well, how was your trip, Charles,” the doctor asked as he sipped his final cup of coffee.”

“Wonderful, just wonderful, Doc.” Charles answered. “We even got to the see the Czar.” Looking at his father, he added “I gave him a copy of your poem.” Then, he laughed and added, “I must admit though that my Uncle Natty is quite a character—and so set in his ways”

“Yes,” agreed Henry, “He’s quite a character at that.”

Charles thought for a moment and then added: “You know who else we saw? Mark Twain. I gave him a copy of your poem too, though he says he doesn’t have much time for religion.”

“Mark Twain?” asked Mary Alice, excitedly. “Isn’t he the one who wrote that delightful jumping frog story?”

“That’s him. I doubt if he’s written anything major since. I forgot to tell you I had met him previously on the train when I left to join the army, only his name wasn’t Twain then.”

“Oh, what was it?”

“Clemens. Samuel Clemens.”

“Well!” asserted Henry. “That’s something to tell your children if you every have any—that you knew Mark Twain before he was Mark Twain.”

*****

Meanwhile, Mark Twain, had also returned from his European excursion in November and was giving lectures at various saloons in the New York are, while promising the San Francisco papers that he would return after New Year’s. He even lectured at a few Christmas parties. His lectures kept him so busy that, thought he had not forgotten the invitation offered by Charles Langdon, it and, especially, the picture of the beautiful Olivia stayed in the back of his mind until one day when Charles Langdon showed up at one of the parties and insisted that he come home with them for New Year’s Eve. “It will be a somewhat quiet celebration” he asserted, “but one that I’m sure you will enjoy.”