The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-02-02
BIDDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY MORNING, FEB. 2, 1866
PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND WILLIE"

PhbSlUhNT LlNUULN AMI WlLhlb'
Irrom r. H. csrpentcrs Personal Impressions snd ,ecOl
lrcions d ABRAHAM LScoLS," Published In the New YORK
Independently
In my last article, it will be remembered, |
gave glimpse Of the home life of MIR. Lincoln,
especially his intercourse with little Tad. y
William Lincoln | never knew. lilo has been
described to inc as remarkably mature child,
thoughtful aud serious beyond his years. Ills
death was the most terrible allliction the Prcsi.
dent had ever been called upon to pass through
To the day of his u, sassination, ho could scarcely
ever trust himself to speak Of Willie" ]
never heard him refer to his lost son but once
That was tho morning after the burning of the
White House stables. Speaking OF the hire, he
said tho greatest loss was that OF Willlcs
pony," which, together with ono belonging to
"Td," tho men were unable to save. lie
added that, when little "Tad !" was informed
of the death OF the two ponies, "he threw
himself at full length upon tho floor, and could
not he conlorted"
William Wallace Lincoln died Thursday,
Feb. 90, 1862. After tho funeral, tho Presi-
dent resumed his official duties, hut mechani-
cally, and with terrible weight at his heart.
The following Thursday ho gave way to his
feelings, and shut himself from nll society.
The second Thursday it was the same; he
would see no one. and seemed prey to the
deepest melancholy. About this time, Rev
DR.. Vinton, OF Trinity church, New York, had
occasion to spend lew days in Washington.
An acquaintance of Mrs. Lincoln and her sis
ter, hirs. Edwards, of Springfield, requested
him to come up and see the President. The
Getting apart Of Thursday for tho indulgence
Of his grief, had gonc on Tor several weeks, and
Mrs. Lincoln began to be seriously alarmed Tor
the health Of her husband, Of which tact DIR.
Vin,on WIS apprised. Mr.. Lincoln received
him in the parlor, and an opportunity was
soon embraced by the clergyman to chide him
for showing so rcbelliOus a disposition to the
decrees Of Providcnce. lie told him plainly
that the indulgence Of such feelings, though
natural, was sinful II was unworthy one
who believed in the Christian religion. lie
had duties to the living greater than thosc OF
any other man, as the chosen father and loader
of the people, and he was uniting himself Tor
his responsibilities by thus giving way to his
grief. To mourn the departed rs lost belongs
to Hcathsnisln not Christianity. "Your
son." said DIR. Vinton, "is alipe, in Paradisc.
Do you remember that passage in the Gospels :
God il mt the God OF tho dead, but Of the
living, for all live unto him?'" Mr.. Lincoln
had listened rs ono in stupor, until his ear
caught tho words, "Y0ur son is alive" Start
inc from tho sofa, he exclaimed, "Alivc !
aiire, Surely, you mock me-" "No, sir, be-
lieyc me-" replied DIR. Vinton, "it is n most
comforting doctrine OF tho church, founded
upon tho words OF Christ hlmscli." Mr.. Lin
coin looked ut him moment, and then, step
ping forward, he threw his arm around the
clcrgyman's neck, and, laying his head upon
his breast, sobbed aloud. "AHre? aHrc?" he
repeated. "My dear SIR" said DIR. Vinton,
greatly moved, as he twincd his own arm
around tho weeping father, "bclcye this, for
it is Gods most precious truth. Seek not your
son among the dead, he is not there, no lives
to day in Paradise! Think OF the full import
Of the words have quoted. The Sadducccs,
when they questioned Jesus, had no other con-
ccption than that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
wore dead and buried. Mark thereby: Now
that the dead are raised, even Moses showed ut
the bush, when he called the Lord God 0l
Abraham. the God of Isaac and the God Of
Jacob. For he is not the God Of tho dead, but
OF the living, for all lire unto him. Did not
the aged patriarch mourn his sons as dead,
Joseph is not and Simeon is not, and yo will
take Benjamin Also But Joseph and Simeon
were both living, though hc believed II not.
Indeed, Joseph being taken from him, was the
ultimate means Of tho preservation Of the
whole family.
And so God has called your son into his up.
per Kingdoms "a kingdom and an existence us
real, more real, than your own II may be,
that he, too, like Joseph has gonc, in Gods
good providence, to be tho salvation of his IA
theirs household. II is part of the Lords
plan for tho ultimate happiness of you and
yours. Doubt il not. have u Sermon" con-
tinued DR. Vinton, "upon this subject. which
| think might interest YOU" Mr.. Lincoln
begged him to send 1t at an early day-thank
ing him repeatedly for his cheering and hopeful
words. Through member of tho family,
have learned that the sermon was sont, and
read over and over by the President, who caused
q copy to be made for his own private use. be.
lore II was returned. Upon tho sarno author.
ity, | have been informed that Mr.. Lncoln's
views In relation to spiritual things, seemed
changed from this hour. Certain 1t is, that
thenceforth no ceased tho observance Of the
day Of tho week upon which his son died, and
gradually resumed his accustomed cheerful.
ness.