New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-29
"REMINISCENCES OF LOGAN.
AN INCIDENT OF HIS CLOSING DAYS.
WHEN HIS FAMILY FIRST REALIZED HIS CONDITION.
YOUNG LOGAN AND THE SQUIRRELS.
[BY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE

WHEN HIS FAMILY FIRST REALIZED HIS CONDITION.
YOUNG LOGAN AND THE SQUIRRELS.
fBY TELEGRAPH To THE rRIBUSE.J
WASHINGTON. Dec. % General Logan never
talked in a light way as many do of the probs-
bility OF not living to accomplish plans involving
future time. For this perhaps and also that
he had been of exceptionally strong and robust
health with great youthful vigor his family naturally
thought of him as likely to live to old age. They were
an xious because of his physical pain but not because
they thought he would recover just he had re-
covered once or twice before from long and
Illness OF the same nature Finally when the reali-
cation of his danger came to them it was through a
little incident which at any other time would in itself
have been mere triHc Logan Tucker, the Generals
younp grandson had returned from the Christmas
Eve party given by Secretary and Mrs Whitney Tho
boy was excited with delight over the great Christmas
tree he had seen, and with impusive joy showed the
presents he had brought home but he was not entirely
happy until he was allowed to 60 upstairs and show
them TO his grandfather. His mother told HIM to go up
very quietly to the Generals room II was hardy
possible for small boy OF seven naturally impuisve
and now oyer-excited to be very quiet The little
fellow burst into the room crying: oh, grandpa,
see what I've got today" holding out his gifts as he
went up to the bedside of the General.
Logan, 20 out. You trouble me- was the Generals
reply, in a tone the boy had never heard from his
grandfather before
Mrs Tucker had followed the little bow. and was
now startled by her fathers voice. II was like blow
She had never heard him speak impatient word to
the child whom he had always induged petted ana
fairly idolized No matter how tired he might bo,
however annoyed or impatient with Others however
busy or absorbed he never annoyed, never weary
never busy or absorbed when the boy wished or de-
,nandod bis attention His prandson's childish talk
aud quick, bright sayings were a of untailing
interest and pleasure to him, and little Logans auto
cratic sway over the General recognized and
accepted by all the tamil The General never
pretended TO exercise the least authority over the
child, but spoke TO him IN a tender, coaxing' per-
suasive manner On this evening Tor the hrs time the
Generals voice was one of authority and hrmnes-.
Mr- fucker took the boy out OF The room, Dul not
before had enough in her fathers lace 10 con-
firm the shock given by his words From that moment
she saw and elt tine fatal change and knew that ne
WIS not bn,se1. -,
white face and fearful eyes Ii was blow. saw
it in bis face Then | knew before that be was very
sick and had suffered pain, but had not thought
OF his dying until that momvnt" , ,
Among the incidents OF General Logan's cmidhOOu
none exh ted character OF the man Jr gave
n clearer indication OF what he was to be than that
related of hi when he only ten years old 1t seems
that one day when the farm hands were all busy at
other work his father having observed that the
squirrels we're attacking one OF his corn Fields, sent
young John drive them of. road ran by the held
aud on au ad iacent it customary 10 PIN win
wooden tacks certain public notices, that passcrsby
might read and accordingly The boy had observed
this, and probably because he did not want Just
then 10 obey his father, he pinned the following,
written in a large boyish hand, to the tree {:
| give notice to Ill the squirrels keep out of tnis
cOrreld. II they don't keep out they Will be sGot
And sure enough he was on hand next morning With a
lot of comrades armed with shotguns and the squirrels
were extermiuateL