Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-21
Molly GARFIELD
AND HER FATHER.

wrote to her an abject apology. as we'll
as a pressing invitation that she honor
him the night of the ball.
So pretty Harriet dried her tears
ard came down to the baron's
Christmas party, radiant figure in
her prettiest gown. And how inn
patiently that nobleman awaited her
coming, asking his guests to point her
out to him, because he had never seen
her before! 1t was a fateful meeting.
for he fell in love with her at first
sight. and shortly afterward they were
married in the presence of the President
and distinguished company of Of
ficlalS, including the foreign ministers
in their dazzling court dress; also the
army officers in their resplendent uni
forms.
Following Mr.. Van Buren, there sue
ceeded to the presidency a doting grand
father. William Henry Harrison, with a
little grandson of seven. who thought
that he was cheated out of White House
Christmases forever when his good old
grandpa died. after having been Presi-
dent for only a few weeks. But per-
haps it was through the aid of Santa
Claus-who knows?-that this same dis
appointed little boy-Benjamin by
name-did have four Yuletides in the
same White House, where he, years
afterward. dwelt as the second Presi-
dent Harrison, whom most of US still
remember with much pleasure.
And 1T came to pass that upon those
four Christmases which little BENJAMIN
Harrison had hoped to enjoy at the
Executive Mansion there We're frolics,
presided over by little Alice Tyler, who
when she first came to live in the big
mansion, was lass of twelve, de-
scribed by her father President John
Tyler, as "the latest thing and the
sweetest and the worst you ever saw"
She had a little brother TaZewell and
lot of grown-up brothers and sisters.
There was also a handful of merry
grandchildren in this presidential fam
lily. and to one of these. little Mary
Fairlie Tyler. the chief magistrate one
Christmas week gave a grand fancy
the tiny hostess as Titania queen of
the fairies. with gauzy wings and silver
scepter. sat upon miniature throne
while her Lilliputian courtiers bowed
before her.
After these joyous days there befell the
longest and dreariest stretch of childless
White House years that old Kris Krngle
can remember For there had been. all
in row, President Polk. who had only
an adopted child-a grown nephew:
Presidents Taylor and Fillmore, whose
children were all grown up: President
IieTce, WHOSE only SURVIVING ciillu, a Tau
of thirteen, had been killed in railway
accident three months before his father 6
and James Buchanan. the
old bachelor president who brought with
him only grown niece.
But following those twenty quiet Yule
tides came the great President, Abraham
Lincoln, with two little boys, both prime
favorites of jolly st. Nick. These lads.
Willie and Tad We're respectively ten
and eight years old when their father
moved into the official home of our chief
magistrates. But poor little Willie was
destined to enjoy only one Christmas In
the big house, for he died after living
there just a little over a year. Then
Tad" after his sorrow had somewhat
healed. used To amuse his playmates in
theater which he ttte. up in an I'M
occupied room. And this elfish Tad" had