About This Book
Aside from both being authors, what do the lives of Henry Wadsworth. Longfellow and Mark Twain have in common? The answer is that both of their lives contained terrible tragedies from which they eventually found real hope and spiritual meaning-at least in this novel.
    This book is about one little sermon and one, even littler poem, and how, fictionally, they may have influenced and given hope to, not only the author of the poem, Henry W. Longfellow, but also his son, Charles, and Mark Twain, whom Charles meets. Though suffering tragic losses, these all eventually find hope and spiritual fulfillment.
   [From the Foreword:] Except for [the sermon and the poem themselves], this is a historical fiction novel. That is, it is fiction, made up by me, the author, but based on historical fact. Thus, although, for the most part, the historical framework and customs of the time area correct as far as was possible, there may be some sight deviations at points for literary effect, (e.g. the slight contrivance of the date when Mark Twain first headed west, contrived to fit an early meeting of Twain and Charles Longfellow). The innermost thoughts of these historical personages as well as certain meetings and conversations carried on by them, including those related to spiritual matters, are of my own contriving and any resemblance to actuality in these matters is purely co-incidental.  I can't say, with any degree of certainty, whether I will see any of the Longfellows or Clemens in heaven. I can only hope so, and I give you that same hope thorough this novel. Â
           Part I of the novel follows mostly the Longfellow family with occasional glimpses of Mark Twain, while Part II deals mainly with Twain, with occasional glimpses of the Longfellows.  I have also included in the novel the story of the man with the birds, which story was made famous by Paul Harvey, though he himself says he was unable to trace its parentage. I have given the man a name and a continued bit of history both prior to and following his Christmas epiphany, tying him in with my young preacher and the Clements.
