nner be served to several urchins he had
picked up outside--two of whom were sons of soldiers. Peter had
protested that he "had other fish to fry" just then.

The President recognized at once that this was a case for diplomacy.
Turning to various members of the cabinet, he called on each to
contribute from his store of wisdom, what would be best to do in a case
of such vast importance. Tad looked on in wonder as his father set the
great machinery of government in motion to make out a commissary order
on black Peter, which would force that astonished servant to deliver
certain pieces of pie and other desired eatables to Tad, for himself and
his boy friends.

At last an "order" was prepared by the Chief Executive of the United
States directing "The Commissary Department of the Presidential
Residence to issue rations to Lieutenant Tad Lincoln and his five
associates, two of whom are the sons of soldiers in the Army of the
Potomac."

With an expression of deep gravity and a solemn flourish, the President
tendered this Commissary Order to the lieutenant, his son, saying as he
presented the document:

"I reckon Peter will _have_ to come to time now."

CHAPTER XXI

LIEUTENANT TAD LINCOLN, PATRIOT

There was no more sturdy little patriot in the whole country than
Lieutenant Tad Lincoln, "the child of the nation," nor had the President
of the United States a more devoted admirer and follower than his own
small son. A word from his father would melt the lad to tears and
submission, or bring him out of a nervous tantrum with his small round
face wreathed with smiles, and a chuckling in his throat of "Papa-day,
my papa-day!" No one knew exactly what the boy meant by papa-day. It was
his pet name for the dearest man on earth, and it was his only way of
expressing the greatest pleasure his boyish heart was able to hold. It
was the "sweetest word ever heard" by the war-burdened, crushed and
sorrowing soul of the broken-hearted President of the United States.

Mr. Lincoln took his youngest son with him everywhere--on his great
mission to Fortress Monroe, and they--"the long and the short of it,"
the soldiers said--marched hand in hand through the streets of fallen
Richmond. The understanding between the man and the boy was so complete
and sacred, that some acts which seemed to outsiders absurd and
ill-fitting, became perfectly right and proper when certain unknown
facts were taken into account.

WAVING THE "STARS