Mr. Jeriah Bonham, in describing a visit he paid Lincoln at his room in
the State House at Springfield, where he found him quite alone, except
that two of his children, one of whom was “Tad,” were with him.
“The door was open.
“We walked in and were at once recognized and seated--the two boys still
continuing their play about the room. “Tad” was spinning his top; and
Lincoln, as we entered, had just finished adjusting the string for him
so as to give the top the greatest degree of force. He remarked that he
was having a little fun with the boys.”
At another time, at Lincoln’s residence, “Tad” came into the room, and,
putting his hand to his mouth, and his mouth to his father’s ear, said,
in a boy’s whisper: “Ma says come to supper.”
All heard the announcement; and Lincoln, perceiving this, said: “You
have heard, gentlemen, the announcement concerning the interesting state
of things in the dining-room. It will never do for me, if elected, to
make this young man a member of my Cabinet, for it is plain he cannot be
trusted with secrets of state.”