Mower County transcript., 1897-02-10

FROM THE MA GAINES
LINCOLN AND THE GOATS.
They Occupied Considerable Place In Hia
2szS# Affections.
On tho ocoasion Of visit to New York
either returning from the north or going,
being accompanied by Tad, Mrs. Lincoln
announced her arrival thus: szs>
rs rs#S :. NEW YoRK OITY, April 28, 1854 4,
Hon. A.Lincoln, President United States:
We reached here In safety. Hope you are
Well: Please send me by mail today check
for $50 directed to me. care Mr.. Warren Le
land. Metropolitan hotel, N. Y. Tad says are
the goats wellP MRS. LINCOLN.
The president sent the following unique
reply: t-..
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
p g. WAsHINGTON, April "a, 1884,
Mrs.. A. Lincoln, Metropolitan Hotel, New
York: .-.-
The draft will go to you. Tell Tad the goats
and father are very we'll, especially the goats.
~ ., ~. A.LINCoLN. Is
There are scores of persons still living
in Washington who remember distinctly
this pair Of "White House goats" Lin.
coin, as we'll as Tad, was very fond of
them. On warm, bright days the father
and son would play with these pets in the
yard for an hour at time. TO Mrs. Keck-
ley the president one day said: "Co1ne here
and look at my two goats. See how they
sniff the clear air and skip and play in the
sunshine! Whew, what jumpl" as one
of them made lofty spring. "He feeds
on my bounty and Jumps for joy," con-
tinued the president. "Do you think we
could call him a bounty jumperp My goat
Is far above him; the man who .enlists in
to the service for consideration and de-
serts the moment he receives his money
but to repeat the play is bad enough. See,
my pets recognize me-" as the two goats
advanced and gazed up into the window,
shaking their heads: "There they go again.
What jolly fun!' And he laughed outright
as the goats went skipping across the green.
The goats certainly appear to have occu:
pied considerable place in Mr.. Lincolns
affections, for in the following telegram,
later the same year, he mentions them
again:
WAR DEPARTMENT, }
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 1854.
Mrs. A. Lincoln, Manchester, VT:
All we'll, including Tad's pony and the goats.
Mrs. Colonel Dimmiok died night before last.
Bob left Sunday afternoon. Said he did not
know whether he should see you.
A. LINCOLN.
While the central figure in the White
House was occasionally indulging in such
innocent diversions he was deeply en-
crossed with the vast preparations for the
spring campaign then going forward. The
armies of Grant, Sherman and the Others
began their concerted forward movement
on the 4th of May, 1854, about q week aft
er the interchange Of the "goat' tele-
grams quoted above. The enemies of the
Union, by sneers at Lincoln's so called
"bufoOnery," endeavored to convince the
north that he not only lacked dignity, sta
bility of character and capacity, but had
no proper appreciation Of the trials of the
nation nor the hardships of the soldiers
Doubtless many good people were con-
vinced that Lincoln was deficient In feel
ing, but it is quite certain that there never
was day when he did not have the affec-
tions of the soldiers.
Mr.. Stoddard relates that on one of Lin
coins visits to the theater, after the audi
ence had risen and cheered him, a harsh
voice near the center aisle croaked out:
"He hasn't any business here! That's all
he cares for his poor so1diers!' Instantly
yells Of "Put him outl'' resounded from
all quarters The ruffian, quickly identi-
fed, was not a soldier at all, and he was
1noontinently hustled through the door in
to the street by party Of real soldiers
amid a clang of patriotic music opportune-
ly struck up by the orchestra. Lincoln ap-
peared not to notice the incident.-From
"Lincoln's Home Life In Washington" by
Leslie J. Perry, in Harper's Magazine For
February.