Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-05-08
Ghoite Mistellang.
Willie Lincoln.

N. p. Willis, in the Home Journal,
writes this beautiful sketch OF Willie Lin
coin, the son of the President, recently de-
ceased:
This little fellow had his acquaintance
among his fathers friends and l CHANGED
to be one of them. He never failed to seek
me out in the crowd, shake hands and make
some pleasant remark ; and this, in a boy
Of ten years of age, was, to say the least,
endearing to stranger. But he had more
than mere affectionatcncss. His self-pos-
session plon,b as the French call twas
extraordinary. | was ono day passing the
White House, when he was outside with a
playfellow on the sidewalk. Mr.. Seward
drove in, with Prince Napoleon and two Of
his suite in the carriage; and, in a heroic
way-terms of amusing intimacy evidently
the official gentleman took off his hat,
and the Napoleon did the same, all making
the young prince President a ceremoni-
GUS salute. Not bit staggered with the
homage, Willie drew himself up to his full
height, took off his cap with graceful self
possession, and bowed down formally to the
ground, like q little ambassador. They
drove past, and he went on unconcernedly
with his play; the impromptu readiness
and good judgment being clearly part of
his nature His genial and open express
sion of countenance was none the less inge-
nious and fearless for a certain tincture Of
fun; and it was in this mingling of equalities
that he SO faithfully resembled his father.
With all the splondor that was around
this little fellow in his new home. he was so
bravely and beautifully himself. A wild
flower, transplanted from the prairie to q hot
house, he retained his prairie habits, unal-
terably pure and simple, until he died. His
leading trait seemed to be fearless and
kindly frankness. willing that everything
should be as different as it pleased, but rest
ing unmoved in his own conscious single
heartedness. l found was studying him
irresistibly, as one Of the sweet problems OF
childhood that the world is blest with, in
rare places; and the news of his death
Il was absent from Washington, on visit
to my own children, at the time) came to
me like kuell heard unexpectedly at q
merry making.
On the day of the funeral went, before
the hour, to take near farewell look at the
dear boy; for they had embalmed him to
send home to the West-to sleep under the
to be closed before the service The family
|
servants and nurses were seeing hiin for the
last time-and with tears and sobs who'll,
unrestrained, for he was loved like an lido
BY every one of them. He lay with his eye
! closed-his brown hair parted as we hat
II known it-pale in the sumber of death, bu
c otherwise unchanged, for he was dressed a
for the evening, and held in one of hi
hands crossed upon his breast, bunch O
exquisite flowers, message coming iron
= his mother. While we were looking upo,
him, praying that these flowers might b
preserved for her, she was lying sick i
her bed, worn out with grief and overwatch
The funeral was very touching. OF tn
s ,s entertainments in the East room, the bo
), had been-for those now assembled, NOR
especially-a most lfe-giving variation. :
With his bright face and apt greetings an
replies, he was remembered in every part (
>, that crimson curtained hall built only fl
81 pleasure of all the crowds, each nigh
certainly the one least likely to be Death
first mark. He was his fathers favorite. !.
They were intimates--often seen hand
hand. And there sat the man with . bu
then on his brain at which the world ma
vels- bent now with the load at both hea
and brain-staggering under blow like Il
: taking from him of his own child! II
men Of power sat around him-McClella
with moist eye when he bowed to q
prayer, as / could see from whore l stoo
aud Chase aud Seward with their auste
features at work, and Senators and Ambs
Of eadors and soldiers, all struggling with tht
us us, tears-great hearts sorrowing with y
Is President as stricken man and broth.
all That God may give him strength for all !
burthens, is, ! am sure, at present, t
prayer Of q nation. -