Making Amends
Today’s post also comes from an old book. No author is listed for this little story. It’s public domain in the U.S. If you’re from outside the U.S., you may need to look away now. Thanks.
I’m sure you will enjoy it.
Forest Street, the literary corner of Hartford, is a most friendly place. The fortunate members of that charmed circle hobnob together in a most friendly manner at all times and at all seasons. When Harriet Beecher Stowe was alive, Mark Twain, who lived near her, had a way of running in to converse with her and her daughter, often in a somewhat neglige costume, greatly to the distress of Mrs. Clemens.
One morning, as he returned from the Stowes sans necktie, Mrs. Clemens met him at the door with the exclamation: “There, Sam, you have been over to the Stowes again without a necktie. It’s really disgraceful the way you neglect your dress.” Her husband said nothing, but went to his room. A few minutes later Mrs. Stowe was summoned to the door by a messenger who presented her with a small box neatly done up. She opened it and found a black silk necktie, accompanied by the following note: “Here is a necktie. Take it out and look at it. I think I stayed half an hour this morning. At the end of that time will be kindly return it, as it is the only one I have? Mark Twain.”
LOL - I hadn’t heard that story before. Good one. It would be kind of boring to stare at a necktie without a human in it for about a half hour though. LOL.