Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-02-01
NE of the Late Abra.
aaEN lincoln.
His Grief for his Dead Willie.

By L. II. OARPENTER.
William Wallace Lincoln died Thursday,
Feb. 90 1862. After the funeral, the Pre-
sident resumed his official duties, but me-
chanically, and with terrible weight at
his heart. The following Thursday he gave
way to his feelings, and shut himself from
all society. The second Thursday it was
the same; he would see no one. and seemed
a prey to the deepest melancholy. About
this time the Rev. DR.. Vinton, of Trinity
church, New York, had occasion to spend
few days in Washington. An acquaintance
Of Mrs. Lincoln and her sister, Mrs. Ed
wards, of Springfield, he was requested by
them to come up and see the President.
The setting apart of Thursday for the indul-
gence of his grief had gone on for several
weeks, and Mrs. Lincoln began to be seri-
ously alarmed for the health of her hus-
band, of which fact DR.. Vinton was appraised.
Mr.. Lincoln received him in the parlor, and
an opportunity was soon embraced by the
clergyman to chide him for showing so re-
bellous disposition to the DEGREES of Pro-
violence. He told him plainly that the in
diligence of such feelings, though natural,
was sinful. 1t was unworthy one who be-
leved in the Christian religion. He had
duties to the living, greater than those of
any other man, as the chosen father, and
leader Of the people, and he was uniting
himself for his responsibilities by thus Civ
ing way to his grief. To mourn the depart
ed as lost belong to heathenism-not Christi
anity. "Your son." said DR.. Vinton, sis
alive, in Paradise. Do you remember that
passage in the Gospel: Good is not the
God Of the dead but of the living, for all live
unto him." Mr.. Lincoln had listened as
one in q stupor, until his ears caught the
words, g Your son is alive" Starting from
the sofa, he exclaimed, "Alive alice
Surely you mock me-" emo, sir, believe
me-" replied Dr. Vinton, i" it is most COM
forting doctrine of the Church, founded
upon the words of Christ himself" Mr..
Lincoln looked at him moment, and then,
stepping forward, he threw his arm around
the clergyman's neck, and, laying his head
upon his breast, sobbed aloud. "ANUe
a7ive!" he repeated. "My dear SIR" said
DR.. Vinton, greatly moved, as he twined his
own arm around the weeping father, "be-
lieve this, for it is Gods most precious
truth Seek not your son among the dead,
for he is not there, he lives to-day in Para
disc Think of the full import of the
words have quoted. The Sadduces, when
they questioned Jesus, had no other concep-
ton than that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
were dead and buried. Mark the reply a:
CHOW that the dead are raised even Moses
showed at 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 hve unto
him!" Did not the aged patriarch mourn
his sons as dead "Joseph is not, and ST.
neon is'not, and vet you will take Benjamin
ALSO" But Joseph and Simeon were both
living, though he believed it not. Indeed,
Joseph being taken from him, was the ulti-
mate means of the preservation of the whole
! family. And so God has called your son
into his upper kingdom-a kingdom and an
existence as real, more real than your own !!
It may be that he, too, like Joseph, has
gone, in Gods good providence, to be the
salvation of his fathers household. 1t is q
part of the Lords plan for the ultimate hap
piness of you and yours. Doubt it not. 81
have Sermon" continued DR.. Vinton,
"upon this subject, which think might in
terest you" Mr.. Lincoln begged him to
send it at an early day-thanking him re-
peatedly for his cheering and hopeful words.
Through q member of the family, have
learned that the sermon was sent, and read
over and over by the President, who caused
copy to be made for his own private use,
before it was returned. Upon the same au
thority, I have been informed that Mr.. Lin
coins views in relation to spiritual things
seemed changed from this hour. Certain it
is, that thenceforth he ceased the observance
of the day of the week upon which his son
died, and gradually resumed his accustomed
cheerfulness.