Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-12-21
Tad Lineoln's Christmas Box.

Around a fire in Buffalo an old SOL
der was telling the boys Of his last
Christmas in the army. Three sons
of generals were listening to these
stories and one begged for some
thing about Tad Lincoln"
Father knew him WE'LL" said one;
MY Uncle John used to show him all
about the camps" said another; and
Never mind about your Uncle john"
said the old soldier. my little
grandson, Abra'm Lincoln West, has
part Of a picture-book that was sent to
us in a cold miserable winters camp
by little Tad. and had been written
in in his own writing, To the soldiers,
from Tad Lincoln Bless the little
fellows memory! He sent 'em when
we were dying and freezing and suf-
fering from miseries of every kind.
Hal that Christmas box 1t
makes me feel young to talk about it.
We laughed and cried. and just like
little children looked at the picture
books till they were most worn out.
That was years ago. But we kept
track of the books; and, when Abra-
ham Lincoln died an little Tad went
on into the blessed kingdom, too (for
he couldn't live without his father,
you know, then We put away the
old books safe, and divided them up.
So my grandson has one today"
The little story of Tad's Christmas
box has often been told by Preside and
campfire, but it is never old. That
winter was bitter cold and stormy.
The soldiers encamped across the Po-
tomac, just over Long Bridge. suf-
fered from scanty shelter frozen
ground, and bleak. cherries quarters.
Among the many presents sent to
Tad for the holidays was a box of
splendid books from a big firm in
Boston. The marvellous stories,
with beautiful illustrations, were
Tad's constant delight He would
lean over his fathers knee night after
night, when the house was still. be-
fore the glowing fire in the Red
Room" asking his quaint, odd ques-
tions, enthusiastically talking over
the pictures with his father"
Suddenly a thought struck him.
Jumping up and clapping his hands,
he exclaimed
Father, don't you remember how
cold and lonesome the soldiers looked
over in Virginia, where we went the
other day?"
Yes, my son. They did look cold,
! poor boys!"
well, I'm going to send them these
beautiful books! You see, they
don't have any good times; and we"
(patting the bony knee lovingly
I'VE have such good times together!"
The big dark face and sad eyes
cleaned with light The father put
his arm closer about the boy, and said
tenderly:-
That's right, little son! Send
them all the nice books you can
spare. Tell the steward in the
morning to pack a box for you. big
and strong, of all the good things to
eat in the house. Your mother will
help you. And let's give the boys
nice Christmas dinner,-a gift from
Tad"
The next day the box was packed.
Mrs. Lincoln herself experimenting
the work. Never was there a hap
pier boy than Tad. He was every
where in a minute. from the kitchen
to the cabinet room! The cook de-
clared, Master Tad had cleaned out
the storeroom and cupboards!" He
grove the last nails. He ran for
black paint, with which the coachman
printed in large letters on the top
and both ends (for Tad said it might
get wrong side up), For the soldiers,
from Tad Lincoln"
Father was marched to the win
dow to see the box as it started off.
When the expressman drove down
Pennsylvania Avenue to the express
office, people laughed to see the little
boy sitting on top of a huge box,