Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the American poet who died in 1882, experienced great tragedy in 1835, with the unexpected death of his wife, Mary. This loss came after the miscarriage of their baby. Then, in 1861, Longfellow was struck with grief when he lost his second wife, Fanny. Her death came after an accident, where she was burned. Unutterable heartbreak twice over. Eighteen years later, the poet wrote "The Cross of Snow," reflecting on the pain he still carried from the loss of Fanny. The Christmas story, with all the plans and presents, is still the story of the broken heart of God, giving all of Heaven in exchange for having you and I back from being lost.
