Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-01-27
LlNCOLN'S FAVORITE DISH.
Touching Incident of His Busy Life at
the White House.

| OF his death adhered to them strictly.
The discouraged steward complained
bitterly of his utter lack of apprecia-
ton of his finest work, and never quite
forgave him for saying to Mr.. Lovejoy,
who was dining with him one day,
'.None of this fummery goes to the
tired spot" And once he was heard to
say to his wife: 81 do wonder why we
do not get such good m eat and potatoes
in Washington as we used to have in
Illinois! Do you know, Mary?"
During the latter years of his life, he
ate SO little and so irregularly that
often ncontime found his breakfast I'M
tasted, and Secretary Stanton one day
remarked: "Mr. Lincoln, whose din
ner is this, | wonder, covered up so
nicely 1t will be cold very soon!"
Dinner? Why that's my breakfast!
What time is it, Stanton? I do feel
kind of empty!'
Through the influence Of Hon. Owen
Lovejoy, Miss Alice tombstone, of Chi
cagO, was appointed to desk in the
post office. During her first winter in
Washington she slipped on an icy pave
ment, and for three months was con-
fined to her room. Ill and discouraged,
she determined to return to the west
and give up her office. Mr.. Lovejoy
spoke to Mr. Lincoln of her sad condi-
ton, and said in his great-hearted way:
eff l hadn't five girls OF my own I'd
adopt Alice! My wife always has room
| for one more at home"
See here, Lovejoy, we need just such
a girl! I'll speak to Mary at once"
So, ito make long story short"
Alice became a member of the presi-
/ dents family. Her capabilities were
| quickly discovered by all; her work adj
mired and commented on by guests and
servants. She proved perfect COM
fort to the lonely, sorrowful man,
weighed down with the nations fate"
and to the busy woman, in the whirl of
fashionable life, "a constant treasure
Tad remarked to his father one day:
eve are having better times since Allie
came, because, you see, | can have all
! the boys | want to now. She don't
mind our parties, and can get any thing
of the cook.
Alice was deeply attached to the
! family, and especially impressed with
the gentle, domestic life of the prest-
dent. She said:
"Should / live to be one hundred
years old, the kind, quiet, good-morn-
! ings of the sad-faced, tired man whom
/ saw every day, will never cease to
! thrill my heart! ] used to watch him
! standing with his arms folded, looking
steadily from the south window, across
the Potomac toward the battle-fields,
/ l. - Ill 7 Al.
of yesterday, and yet up since day
break, looking over his maps. I
| longed to help him."
He grew more gaunt and worn as the
| year crept on. The servants went to
Mrs. Lincoln with complaints; they
served lunch upstairs to save his time;
! but hours afterward would find it I'M
| touched.
"Alice!'' Mrs. Lincoln exclaimed one
morning, ''Do you know how to make
an old-fashioned fricassed chicken?
| Not on toast, as we have it nowadays,
but with small cream biscuits and
! thick cream gravy poured over them,
! all served on a large platter. / used to
cook chicken that way when we were
first married and my husband would
say: Mary, that is fit for kingp Do
you think you could do it exactly sop
ooh, let me try!" Alice said. 'It
| would be SO good to see Mr.. Lincoln
eat!'
She had no trouble with the force be-
low stairs. The cook, steward, wait
ers, and the use of shining range-com-
bined to perfect the dish.
| A table was laid in Mrs Lincoln's
private sitting-room; old-fashioned
pinks glorified the quaint meal; at
tendants and walters were dismissed
Little Tad was sent to the Office for
his father. Twice he came back with
a long face. Father says he is too
busy. Secretary Stanton is there"
| But the third imperative visit brought
| "Father." Tad rushed in, dragging
his father by the hand, and shouting,
''I've got him-Tve got him! Hurry
up the dinner"
would like to give Alice's own
! Chicago:
eff you could have seen Mr.. Lin
| coins face, you could have cried! He
stood in the doorway, silent. tired and
distracted. Tad tugged and pushed
him along, while Mrs. Lincoln looked
up to him, and said: You will eat din
ner with us to-day; we have something
you like
1.-THE surprise and pleasure dawned
| slowly into his eyes. He sat down OPP
posite his wife, with Tad between
| them. He seemed to understand it
all-his little family, the old-fashioned
home dish, the loving attention. Be-
fore he ate one mouthful, he rose from
his chair, walked around to his wife,
laid his big hand on her shoulder, and
said:
Mary / wish we were back in the
old home, when you did the cooking
and I helped with the chores! They
were our best days"
81 hustled into the hall, almost chok-
ing to death, with Jumps in my throat,
and when | came back with glass of
milk for Tad. Mr.. Lincoln was -laugh-
ing and eating my chicken with all his
might! His whole salary couldn't have
given me the pleasure and reward that
his smile and good appetite did. He