Tad Lincoln's Father

Chapter 3

three The President and Mrs. Lincoln attended the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, but it was not long before Willie and Tad formed the habit of going with us to the Fourth Presbyterian, of which Doctor J. C. Smith was pastor. Many in our church were in sympathy with the secessionists, and when Doctor Smith prayed for the President of the United States they would express their disapproval by rising and leaving the church, banging their pew doors and the outside door on their way out. This went on for several weeks until one Sunday a slim young lieutenant appeared with a file of soldiers. When the hour for service arrived the lieutenant marched to the front of the church, wheeled, and in a crisp, military tone, announced: “It is the order of the Provost Marshal that any one disturbing this service or leaving it before it is out will be arrested and taken to the guardhouse.” It seemed to me that Doctor Smith prayed rather longer and more fervently than usual that day for the President but there was no disturbance on the part of secessionists. Tad Lincoln was frankly disappointed . The indignant exodus of the secessionists with their banging of pew doors had been a welcome respite in the long prayer. He had more than once remarked, “I don’t see why preachers always pray so long for Pa.” After the service he expressed his scorn of the “Secesshes,” as he called them, for not accepting the lieutenant’s challenge. “If I was Secesh,” said Tad, “I wouldn’t let him stop me banging pew doors.” tad lincoln’s father 13 “Yes,” answered Willie, “and get put in the guardhouse.” “Well, I guess Pa could get me out,” was Tad’s answer. I remember that Sunday, as Tad sat on the floor of the pew, as he usually didamusing himself with whatever hehadin his pocket, a young officer, who was with us, gave him his knife, thinking Tad could not open it. But he did and cut his finger and I had to bind it up with my best embroidered handkerchief. I hissed, “I will never take you to church again, Thomas Lincoln.” Some biographers of Lincoln call Tad’s name Thaddeus. That is a mistake. Other writers represent the boys as calling their parents “Papa-day” and “Mama-day.” I never heard them call their father and mother by any other name than Pa (paw) and Ma (maw), with the broad accent. Tad hated to be called Thomas. It was his grandfather’s name and I never called him by it except when I was angry. Now he replied, to my horror, out loud, “Just you keep your eyes on Willie, sitting there good as pie.” It may have been the next day or perhaps a day or two later, while we were playing in the sitting room of the White House, that the President asked me: “Why do our boys like to go to your church, Julie?” I have a distinct recollection of him as he put that question to me. He was sprawled out in his big chair by the window and there was a book upon his lap which he had been reading. It may have been his Bible. The big, worn leathercovered book stood on a small table ready to his hand and quite often, after the midday meal, he would sit there reading, sometimes in his stocking feet with one long leg crossed over the other, the unshod foot slowly waving back and forth, as if in time to some inaudible music. Mrs. Lincoln sometimes protested against this habit of sitting in his stocking feet and would order a servant to bring his slippers. Again, I have heard her criticize his cuffs for being a trifle more frayed than was becoming to his position, but I do not think these wifely admonitions made much impression upon Mr. Lincoln. Now he sat there, peering kindly at me over his glasses. “Yes,” said Mrs. Lincoln. “Why do Willie and Tad like your church? They won’t go to Doctor Gurley’s unless Bud and Holly go too.” “Why,” I answered, “I reckon our church is livelier.” “Do you think it is livelier, Willie?” asked Mrs. Lincoln. 14 tad lincoln’s father “Oh, yes,” answered Willie. “Lots livelier. Only, maybe it won’t be as lively any more.” And he told...