Page:Behind the scenes, or, Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House.djvu/102

100 His Country has her part to pay To'rds those he has left behind; His widow and his children all, She must always keep in mind. Finding that Willie continued to grow worse, Mrs. Lincoln determined to withdraw her cards of invitation and postpone the reception. Mr. Lincoln thought that the cards had better not be withdrawn. At least he advised that the doctor be consulted before any steps were taken. Accordingly Dr. Stone was called in. He pronounced Willie better, and said that there was every reason for an early recovery. He thought, since the invitations had been issued, it would be best to go on with the reception. Willie, he insisted, was in no immediate danger. Mrs. Lincoln was guided by these counsels, and no postponement was announced. On the evening of the reception Willie was suddenly taken worse His mother sat by his bedside a long while, holding his feverish hand in her own, and