Friendship of Giants

Fredrick, who was not normally prone to tears, with watery vision made his way to the mantel to stop the clock, marking the time of his father's death. His mother was broken, which broke him, too. It was 8:08 In the morning on the 23rd day of July, 1885. The last few years had been a whirl of activity, like a play. A tragedy.

The man sat heavily in the chair and looked at the hands of the clock he had just stopped. This sadness began in 1879 when his father sought a third run for the white house. To the public he, as always, had remained quiet about, but the family knew how much he wanted the job. He had even structured a trip around the world to coincide with his nomination. Unfortunately, it was James Garfield who won the nomination and the trip had been so costly. In spite of his financial suffering, the man's father campaigned for Garfield with a smile, as always. His smile covered the dread of what had happened to his wealth. Would the American people let their hero, General Grant, and his wife Julia, who lay over the body of her husband, become destitute?

At first, it seemed they wouldn't, at least not Ferdinand Ward. He presented an investment opportunity, which using the name of the man's famous father gained quick momentum. The Grant's returned to the wealth they had, had before the trip. It seemed they were saved.

1884 was the worst years of Fredrick's life. It was the year the grant's learned that Ward had swindled them, the whole investment business had been a scheme. He had used the name of the former president to gather additional investors, then he fled. The Grant's were very nearly broke. Additionally, the General's long habit of cigar smoking had caught up with him. He was diagnosed, without ceremony, with throat cancer, a disease which would kill him. Had killed him.

For the last few years Ulysses had built what might be one of the strangest friendships of all time. This tall, thin, Connecticut writer had served two weeks in the Confederate army, before resigning and moving to Nevada, where he didn't need to see the hardships of war. Grant on the other hand had become perhaps the most famous war hero in the states. The writer, Samuel, enjoyed talk as much as the general enjoyed quiet. While one was humble, the other boasted. When Grant would set back and observe, Samuel jumped in. Grant was not prone to hero worship, but he genuinely liked this man, he seemed to wear his fame so well.

It had not been that long ago when it had been Samuel who had been in a financially tight situation and Grant, with his influence, had helped him out. So, when things started to look bleak for the former president, Samuel told him to do, what he knew would be easy income, write his memoirs. At first, this suggestion was dismissed, but now, with so little time left, what choice did he have?

Fredrick remembered sessions when his dad had given 9000 words to the stenographer, never correcting or repeating. Showing strength in the shadow of death, while the clock was ticking. Samuel had been away most of this time, his new book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, releasing first in England then, in 1885 in the United States. It was a good read, but coarse. In fact, there had been news that several libraries had opted not to pick it up, one even called it trash. Fredrick, though, couldn't help but like the book because he knew the man behind it.

Samuel Clemens reviewed and made notes on one, and only one, other author's work. That author was Ulysses S. Grant. He cared so much for this man, he was willing to do for him, what he would not for any others. Truth be told, though, he didn't make many comments. He stated that his writing, even from his deathbed, was so straight forward and clear it was very nearly perfect.

His heroism did not end as an editor though. When the book was very nearly done, Grant sought a contract and when to a publishing house he felt some loyalty to and the offered him a standard 10%. Fredrick remembered Samuel coming for one of his personal visits and how he had argued with his blanket covered father. With his usual thoughtful, but ragged voice, his father had explained that his company had help him, so he thought he owed them. Samuel, arms flapping and pacing back and forth yelled, "If you owe any one for their help, you owe me. I gave you the idea in the first place."

With his persuasive style Samuel won and struck an agreement to publish the two volume set himself. Instead of 10% he wrote a contract to pay 75% of the profit to the author, his friend. 300,000 copies of the Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant sold and, as a result of Samuel's debate with the dying Grant, Julia Grant received a check for $450,000.