chess

[RJNorton]

When I read the story I thought the purpose of it was to show how Lincoln was too lenient with his son Tad.

William Herndon wrote, "He (Lincoln) was in the habit, when at home on Sunday, of bringing his two boys, Willie and Thomas – or “Tad” – down to the office to remain while his wife attended church. He seldom accompanied her there. The boys were absolutely unrestrained in their amusement. If they pulled down all the books from the shelves, bent the points of all the pens, overturned inkstands, scattered law-papers over the floor, or threw the pencils in the spittoon, it never disturbed the serenity of their father’s good-nature. Frequently absorbed in thought, he never observed their mischievous but destructive pranks, as his unfortunate partner did, who thought much, but said nothing. And, even if brought to his attention, he virtually encouraged their repetition by declining to show any substantial evidence of parental disapproval."

Herndon also wrote, "Lincoln would, when his wife had gone to church, to show off her new bonnet, or when she had kicked him out of the house, bring to the office Willie and Tad— these little devils . . . would take down the books, empty ash buckets, coal ashes, inkstands, papers, gold pens, letters, etc., etc., in a pile and then dance on the pile. Lincoln would say nothing, so abstracted was he, and so blinded to his children’s faults."

I interpreted Judge Treat's story as being in support of Herndon's feelings about Lincoln as an overly indulgent parent.