The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-03-22
YOUNG ABRAHAM l.
Touching "reminiscences by
Knew and Love

Poor Jack ! 1t is
that the coldsoundiI,Ss ~
sage that young Abra.ss,
is no more can have an
whatever to the boy whose e
ance | made during a sumEt
to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, a few
mers since. Many tears will
from boyish eyes in that little town
over yesterdays message, and many
a boy will whisper Poor Jack for
he was their hero, their idol.
This young son of Robert Lincoln
was no ordinary boy. He had no
need Of the lustre of the great names
of his two Observation-Disclosures
Lincoln and Senator Harlan-tT
single him out from among all II
boys of a school or town as ong
a thousand. He was honorablef !.
manly, the companion and defti
of his sisters, especially the
nearest his own age, and nonf
have seen those children abo{
house and grounds of Granc.
Harlan's lovely home but W
their tears for the dead boy s
tears for the bereaved sister whoS
life was SO closely woven in with hisN
| seem to see them now as | So
them last, flying down the street.
hind their pet pony, in the little
cart, bare headed, tair curls fyiEs
the wind, joyous laughter float !.
back on the breeze-a beautiful sig
for they were both beautiful childrei
Poor Jack, poor Jill!-tor Jack ant
Jill" they were always called.
The long residence of the Lin
coins at Washington had given Jack
i cannot call him Abraham-a
great opportunity for observing mil
itary movements and the habits OF
camp life, Of which he was very fond,
and so he would no more than strike
his summer home with Senator Har-
Ian than the place was a camu AT
once. Without particle of any
thing doglnatic or dictatorial in his
disposition. he was yet born leader,
and every boy gave willing obedi-
ence. One summer OF which | have
knowledge, when not over IL years
of age, he organized a military COM
pany Immediately after his arrival OF
thirty or more boys. Tents were
put up and the company slept in
them the whole summer. Certain
hours were for drill, which was
taught after the strict rules of the
army, and through all that summer
these boys kept up to the highest
state of military discipline, even to
the extreme OF mounting guard.
1t came to be quite the thing for
old and young about the town to go
up at sunset to witness the formal
guard mounting" which was car
ried out with as much form and dig
nifty as at any military post. All
night long and every night the SEMI
nels, relieved every two hours,
walked their beats and kept guard
over this miniature encampment,
and, officer though he was, little
Jacks shoulder was under guard
musket as often as any of his "men."
1t is not uncommon to see boy CON-
panies organize and run well for a
season, but it is a rare sight to see a
company held together month after
month and made TO do hard duties
by the unaided executive ability and
the natural personal magnetism OF
one boy, especially when that boy
was nearly II not quite the youngest
Of his company.
And through it all, through all his
lie at Washington, and. in spite Of
all the attentions which had been
showered upon him coming through
his connection with the illustrious,
both living and dead, he was as un-
spoiled, as honorable, as manly and
lovable as a boy could be. Had he
lived and had ali gone well with him,
humanity speaking, there was every
reason to suppose that he would add
new honors to the honored name he
bore and gladden. the heart OF the
world by the sight of favorite of
fortune unspoiled by fortunes tavors.
While mothers heart that has
tasted this sorrow goes out in SYM
pathy too deep for words to the
mourning mother and father across
the seas, let none forget that other
household on which the repeated
strokes of bereavement have fallen
until there remains but It's honored
head, on whom this last blow will
fall with force past human appre-
citation. Years ago, in the grave of
his only son, brilliant and promis-
ing young man, Senator Harlan
Luried his earthly hopes and ambi-
tons. When, after years of MOURN
ing, this little boy claimed his loye.
he again bound up his heart in the
life of a child, and again it is broken.
God knows why these things must
be. He only knows why such brilli-
ant, capable, hopeful young lives
must be cut off in the first bud of
young manhood; and He is able to
put His everlasting arms of love and
mercy round about and underneath
those who suffer and those who
mourn -NS. Harriet G. Walker
IN tile MinncaboAs -/00NaI.