Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-10-28
YOUNG TAD LINCOLN.
A Story OF his Shop Keeping in the
White House.

The following amusing anecdotes of
the late President Lincoln's Youngest
son, Tad" are taken from Noah
Brooks's sketch, entitled "a Boy in the
White House, in 50. Nicholas for No
vember. Mr.. Brooks was President
Lincolu's private secretary at one time
and great friend of his mischievous
son
Mingled with his boyish simplicity
Tad had q great deal Of native shrewd-
ness. The White House was infested
with numerous horde of Office seekt rs
From day 10 day these men crowdt d
the corridors leading TO the Presidents
office. Sometimes they were so numer-
Gus as to line the halls ali the way
down the stairs. II was not long before
Tad found out what this assemblnge
meant, aud It then became one of his
greatest diversions, when other re-
sources failed, to go around among the
Office seekers and sympathetieally in
quirc what they wanted, how long they
had waited, and how much longer they
proposed to wait. To some he gave
good advice, telling them to go home
and chop wood for q living. Others he
tried to dismiss by volunteering to
speak to his father in their behalf, II
they wonld promise not TO come again.
Many of these people were at the White
House for weeks and even monthe, never
missing day, unless they learned that
the President was ont If town, or other
wise absent from me house.
Tad levied tribute on the men whose
faces he had learned 20 know. Once he
mounted guard at the foot Of the stair
case and compelled every passenger to
pay au admission ee of five cents-''for
tue beueit Of The Sanitary Fuud, " IS
he explained. Most Of the visitor took
it in good part, and some Of the fawu-
ing creatures, glad of an opportunity to
earn the good will Of the little fellow.
paid their way with "stamp" of some
considerable value Tins venture was
so successful that Tad resolved on hav-
ing one Of the Sati airy Commission
fairs then 80 much Ia vogue all over the
country. He placed table in the grand
corridor, on entrance hall, If the White
House, stocked il with Il few broken
toys, some purchases Of fruit, snndry
articles of food begged from the ia Ill y
pantry, and 81 lot Of miscellaneous odds
aid ends contributed by admir.ng
friends. Before hight, sho sanitary ia r
Of the Whit House was closed out. No
man who locked as il he had money in
his pocket was permitted to pass into
the House thatda without first buy ing
something Of Master Lincoln's stock III
trade.
His success in this venture cmbold-
ene1 him soon afterWard to branch out
in a larger speculation. Having saved
up quite a sum OF pocket money, he
bought ont the entire 4 EEK Of al old
woman WHO sod apples ara gingerbread
near the Treasury building. \ pair Of
trestlcs and Il board, exiort,d from the
carpenters employed on Tie building,
gave the yOung merchant his counter,
and he set up bis shop in the grand. his
toric pOrticO Of the White House. much
to the horror of some Of the emineutly
respe ctable people who passed by and
beheld this most undigniied proceeding.
Before noon almost every tflice seeker
who entered had bought luncheon,
under compuision, frou the alert young
shop keeper. who drove brisk trade as
long RS his goods lasted. When Tad
had sold ont all he had 70 sell, a gooliv
lot Of The fractional cuweucy of those
times was stuffed into Lis pockets, bis
bat, and his little fist He was "the
Presidents son, and that was enough
for the fatterers, who were glad to buy
of him But Tad was TOO gelerous aud
o. eu-handed TO be long gamer by any
snch operations. Before night, capital
and profits had been sqnandercd and
the little spsculator went penniess to
bed.