“Lincoln Apparently Never Even Thought Of Correcting His Son”
The liberties he allowed his children at times appear extraordinary. For example, once when he was playing chess with a judge of the Supreme Court, Robert came and told his father it was time to go to dinner. Lincoln replied, “Yes, yes.” But, being very fond of the game, he quite forgot that he had been called, and played on. Again the boy appeared, with another urgent message from Mrs. Lincoln. Again Lincoln promised to come, again he forgot.A third time Robert arrived with a summons, a third time Lincoln promised, and a third time he played on. Then, suddenly, the boy drew back and violently kicked the chess-board higher than the players’ heads, scattering the chessmen in every direction. “Well, Judge,” Lincoln said with a smile, “I reckon we’ll have to finish this game some other time.” Lincoln apparently never even thought of correcting his son.
The Lincoln boys used to hide behind a hedge in the evening and stick a lath through the fence. As there were no street lights, passers-by would run into the lath and their hats would be knocked off. Once, in the darkness, the boys knocked off their father’s hat by mistake. He didn’t censure them, but merely told them that they ought to be careful, for they might make somebody mad.
By Dale Carnegie，“Lincoln, the Unknown” ，Carnegie-070-14