Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-09
Rec0llectiOns of Abraham Lincoln.
His Grief For his Dead Willie.
BY F. B. CARPENTER.


William Wallace Lincoln died Thurs.
day, February 20, 1852. After the
funeral the President resumed his offic.
ial duties, but mechanically, and with
terrible weight at heart. The follow
ing Thursday he gave way to his feelings,
and shut himself from all society. The
second Thursday it was the same; be
would see no one, and seemed a prey to
the deepest melancholy. About this time
the Rev. DIR. Vinton, of Trinity church,
New York, had occasion TO spend q few
days ia Washington An acquaintance
of Mrs. Lincoln and her sister, Mrs.
Edwards, of Springfield, he was request
ed by them to come up and see the Presi.
dent. The setting apart of Thursdays
for the indulgence of his grief had gone
on for several weeks, and Mrs Lincoln
began to be seriously alarmed for the
health Of her husband, of which fact
DR.. Vinton wac appraised Mrs. Lincoln
received him in the parlor, and an op.
portunity was soon embraced by the
Clergyman to chide him for showing so
. irebellious disposition to the DEGREES of
Providence He told him plainly that
the indulgence of such feelings, though
natural, was sinful. Tt was unworthy
one who believed in the Christian relig-
ion. He had duties to the living, great
er than those of any other man, as the
chosen father and leader OF the people,
and he was uniting himBely for his re-
sponsibilities by thus giving way to his
grief. To mourn the departed as lost
belonged to heathenism-not Christian
ity. Your son," said DR.. Vinton, /" 10
alice in Paradise. Do you remember
that passage in the Gospel: God 10 not
the God of the dead but of the living, for
aRt live unto Him Mr.. Lincoln had
listened as one in stupor, until his ears
caught the words, Your SON 10 alive. "
Starting from the sofa, he exclaimed,
(" Alive, alsrei Surely you. mock me. =
No, sir, believe me, replied DR.. VIM
ton, sit ia most comfortable doctrine
of the church, founded on the words OF
Christ himself" Mr.. Lincoln looked al
him q moment, and then, stepping for
ward he threw his arms around his neck
aud laying his head upoh his breast
sobbed Aige alipef' he repeated.
My dear sir, said DR.. Vinton, greatly
moved, az he tWined his own arms
I around the weeping father, "believe this
for it 10 Gods most precious truth. Seek
not your SON among the dead, for he il
not there, he lives Co day in Paradise
Think of the full import of the words
have quoted. The Sadducees, when they
questioned Jesus, had no other connep
ton than that Abraham, Isaac and jacob
were dead and buried. Mark the reply
Now that the dead are raised even Mo
SEES showed ct the bush when he called
the Lord the God Of Abraham, the God
of Isaac and the God of jacob. For
He is not the God Of the dead, but Of
the living, for all iivs unto Hmm Did
not the aged patriarch mourn his sons "A
dead: aJoseph 10 not, and Simeon ia not
and We will,take Benjamin also" But Jos
eph and Simeon were both living, thouEl
hs believed it not. Indeed Joseph beinl
taken from him, was the ultimate mean
of the preservation Of the whole family
And so God has called your son into Hi
upper kingdom--a kingdom and an ex
iatance as real, more real than your own
IL may be that he, too, like Joseph, ha
gone, in Gods good providence, TO b
she salvation of his fathers household
To ia q part Of the Lords plan for tn
ultimate happiness of yon and yours
Doubt il not 1 have a Sermon con
tinued DR.. Venton, "upon this subieci
which think might interest yon." Mi
Lincoln begged HIM to send ID at an earl
day-thanking him repeatedly for hi
cheering and hopeful words. Through
member Of the family, have learne
thar the sermon was sent, and read owe
and over by the President, who caused
copy of it to be made for his own priyat
use, before it was returned. Upon til
same authority, have been informe
that Mr., Lincoln's views in relation /
spiritual things seemed changed fror
that hour. Certain 1t is, that theme,
forth he ceased the observance of til
day of the week upon which bis son dice
and gradually resumed his accustome
cheerfnlness.
Mr. friend George z. Baker, Mr.. Sew
ards private secretary, informed me ths
he was much amused and interested in
phase of Mr.. Lincoln's character whic
came ander his own observation It VA
Mr.. Bakers province to take to the Pre-
ident all public documents from Il
State Department requiring bis sign