January 6 Wednesday – From Gribben p.140 : “On 6 and 7 January 1897 Mark Twain amused himself with working notes ‘for a farce or sketch’ (or perhaps ‘an Operetta’) which would employ ‘pilgrims to Canterbury’ accompanied by Chaucer himself’” [NB 39 TS 43; NB 40 TS 1].

Sam’s notebook lists Edwin Ransford ’s (1805- 1876) song, “In the Days When We Went Gypsying.” Gribben: “On 6 January 1897, in London, Clemens thought of quoting the poem in ‘a farce or sketch’ about an enchanted fairy palace in which Chaucer would appear and write songs. One of Clemens’ notes reads: ‘Song—young people grown old…’ [569: NB 39 TS 43]. Sam associated the song with Susy’s death [NB 39 TS 50, 52, 58]. See also June 1, 1902 NB entry.