Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-30
Tad Lincoln
q Presidents
Son

His name was not really Tad. 1t was
Thomas. But as little child, he could
not speak plainly. He had called him
self Tad, and everyone had adopted
the name.
Tad was the youngest son of our
great President Lincoln. He had two
brothers, Robert and William. Robert
was almost man. He was away at
college, and only came home for short
vacations. But Willie was near Tad's
age, and the two little fellows of ten
and eight were always together - ?
They were wide-awake, jolly boys,
and they kept the house in an uproar.
They had minstrel shows in the attic,
and smuggled all sorts of pets into
the white house itself.
These were dark days for our
country. The great civil war was CO.
ing on. Grave responsibilities weighed
heavily upon the president. One of the
few things that could bring a smile
across that sad face was the merry
laughter of his boys.
But alas! before they had been quite
a year in their new home, Willie died.
His father mourned silently, but pro-
fOundly, for the child of great promise.
This loss made him even more in
dulgent to his youngest boy. Taddie
could rush into his fathers presence
at any time and the busy man would
stop to listen to his little sons re-
quest.
Tad would climb on his lap, sit on
his shoulder, or give him a bearlike
hug, while important secretaries sat
by. waiting to 60 on with their ousl-
ness.
Tad was a child of great energy. He
had many hobbies, each OF which ne
rode in turn. Once the hobby was
tool chest. He began to make furnl'
ture to send to the hospital. Next he
tinkered on the carriages and carts in
the white house stables. Then the tool
chest appeared in the white house
itself But when Taddie was found
hammering the mahogany furniture IN
the stately east room, the tool chest
was doomed It vanished that very
night.
Tad dearly loved pets of all kinds
He had a pony, several dogs, and
goat. This last was especially beloved.
Once when Tad was away from
home, the goat disappeared. Lincoln
wrote his wife as follows:
"Tell dear Tad that poor Nanny
Goat is lost, and Mrs. Cuthbert and
are in distress about it. The day you
left, Nanny was found resting herself
and chewing her little cud on the mid
die Of Tad's bed; but now she's gone!
she disappeared, and has not been
heard Of since. This is the last we
know of poor Nanny
Tad was soon consoled with lam
lily of goats. He was now able to have
team. Once party of ladies were
visiting the east room. They were
startled by sudden cry, Get out or
the way there" A small boy riding
on an overturned chair drawn by a
couple of goats dashed into the room.
After whirling about the room. the
reckless rider drove out at the front
door. 1t was Tad!
When away from home Tad longed
for news of his beloved goats. In 1864
these kilograms were exchanged by
his parents:
New York. April rs, 1864.
Hon A. Lincoln, president United
states:
1--WE reached here in safety. Hope
YOU are we'll Please send me by mail
today a check for $50. Tad says are
the goats we'll?
''Mrs. Lincoln
The president replied:
Executive Mansion, Washington,
April %, 1864.
"The draft will go to you. Tell Tad
the goats and father are very we'll
especially the goats.
"a. Lincoln
An even more unusual pet was a
huge turkey that stalked freely about