Books: They Called Him Pa

LINCOLN'S SONS (373 pp.)—Ruth Painter Randall—Little, Brown ($5).

Abraham Lincoln and a judge friend were bent over a chessboard when the little boy first announced that dinner was ready. Lincoln promised to come home but went on with the game. A second, more urgent call went totally unheeded. Furious, the boy marched forward and with one good kick sent board and chessmen spinning into the air. Calmly, Lincoln took the boy's hand, and turning at the door with a good-natured smile, said: "Well, Judge, I reckon we'll have to finish this game some other...