Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-30

! the grounds. This great bird nad Deen
sent to Lincoln for his Christmas dim
ner. 1t had arrived some weeks before
Christmas. Tad had made the &C
quaintance Of the turkey, and had
named him Jack. The two had grown
fond of each other. and Jack would
follow Taddie about like dog.
| One day wild roars were heard out
side the room where the president sat
with his advisers. With scarlet face
Tad burst into the room. Flinging him.
sell upon his father he shouted that
| they were about to kill Jack.
But Jack was sent to us to be killed
and eaten this very Christmas said
the president.
II don't care" cried Tad. Jack is
good turkey. and he mustn't be killed
Needless to say, Jack was spared.
| In 1864 the troops quartered on the
! grounds of the white house were vot-
| ing for president. Taddie asked his
father to como to the window 20 view
the interesting sight. To his amuse-
) ment, the president saw Jack march
ing around amongst the soldiers.
What business has the turkey
stalking about the polls in that way?
Does he vote?"
mo-" replied Taddie. Hes not OF
age yet"
The president chuckled over this
bright retort. Again and again during
the next few days he told the story
to his friends. -
Here is another incident that
amused the president. He had ap
pointed a certain day to be spent as
20 do Tha rfc fn1
on that day he would have nothing to
eat from sunrise to sunset.
This seemed a sad fact to the little
boy. He brooded over the situation
and acted accordingly.
A few days before the fast day, the
coachman undertook to brush out one
OF the state carriages. Tad watched
uneasily.
Suddenly, in moving the cushions,
store of bread, cold meat, and cake
appeared. "Oh, that's my fast-day pic
nic!" cried Tad. "You let it alone.
Like squirrel, the child had laid
in a stock of supplies against the ex-
pected evil day.
Lincoln related this incident with
glee. IF he grows to be man. he
added "Tad will be what all women
love-a good provider."
What this child was to the good Lin
coin none can realize. A flash of sun
light through his gray days, the mo-
mentary easing Of the crushing bur-
den-such was the ministry of Tad.
Night after night he would escape
into his fathers study On sofa or
floor he would fall asleep. The father
would write on far into the night,
finding blessed companionship in the
child. Finally he would
lift him gently and carry him to his
own little bed.
One more picture of Tad.
The war is over; peace has come;
the day is one of rejoicing. All Wash
ington has crowded to the white
house to serenade the president. The
hand has played Dixie and then Yam
kee Doodle. Now the president is to
speak.
He stands on the balcony reading
his clear and wonderful words to the
breathless crowd before him. Sheet
after sheet drops to the floor to be
eagerly collected by his boy. On his
hands and knees, Tad crawls about,
hidden by the railing from the eyes of
the multitude Occasionally, in whis-
pers, he urges his father to let fall
another page.
This was a happy day for Lincoln
and his boy shared it with him.
Less than a week later the good Lin
coin was dead. At twelve Tad was
fatherless.
A beautiful seriousness now ap-
peared in Tad, and he applied himself
~ n~r
brother and many friends hoped that
his would be life of wide usefulness
and service. But it was not to be. The
lad passed on to his great father at
the early age of eighteen.
Fanny E. Coe.