Extra Credit Questions

[David Lockmiller]

(02-25-2019 05:22 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  I think Tad was well aware his behavior and actions often were not those of a good (behaving) boy, and that he made "(ab)use" of his "protected status", at least these words from "Behind the Scenes" indicate:
"Pa is dead. I can hardly believe that I shall never see him again. I must learn to take care of myself now. Yes, Pa is dead, and I am only Tad Lincoln now, little Tad, like other little boys. I am not a president's son now. I won't have many presents anymore. Well, I will try and be a good boy, and will hope to go someday to Pa and brother Willie, in Heaven."

No doubt nevertheless inside he was a good hearted boy, as all his charity actions proved.

I note that you selectively quoted from the one paragraph that Elizabeth Keckley wrote in her book Behind The Scenes on pages 197-98 about Tad Lincoln after his father’s death. I am sure that all of the participants on the Lincoln Symposium would prefer to read the entire paragraph, especially the first two sentences.

Tad had been petted by his father, but petting could not spoil such a manly nature as his. He seemed to realize that he was the son of a President – to realize it in its loftiest and noblest sense. One morning, while being dressed, he looked up at his nurse and said: “Pa is dead, I can hardly believe that I shall never see him again. I must learn to take care of myself now.” He looked thoughtful a moment, then added, “Yes, Pa is dead, and I am only Tad Lincoln now, little Tad, like other little boys. I am not a President’s son now. I won’t have many presents any more. Well, I will try and be a good boy, and will hope to go some day to Pa and brother Willie, in heaven.” He was a brave, manly child, and knew that influence had passed out of their hands with the death of his father, and that his position in life was altered. He seemed to feel that people petted him, and gave him presents, because they wanted to please the President of the United States. From that period forward he became more independent, and in a short time learned to dispense with the services of a nurse. While in Chicago, I saw him get out his clothes one Sunday morning and dress himself, and the change was such a great one to me – for while in the White House, servants obeyed his every nod and bid – that I could scarcely refrain from shedding tears. Had his father lived, I knew it would have been different with his favorite boy. Tad roomed with Robert, and he always took pride in pleasing his brother.