Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-07-08
Abraham Lincoln'S Love.

Abraham Lincoln'5 Love.
I ielt oti Just i: our iY=:. II. j..
iIf. "a, Mss abort Il le-..,. Au., &.
mach between Abraham Lincoln and
Mary Owens was broken Of. - Il was
this way, said Mr.. Greer: NJ cousin
Nancy Green, Lad great stamping
baby that she was in the lalit %; lug
Cing ahou; wherever she weH,. Posi-
bly, LjEcGln didu't have Il passion for
babies; 81 any rate. he WAS not in love
with this one, asG l reuemA.r very
well that when his son Bob was in the
cradle, Lincoln used to lie on tire floor
feadlng, and let the future Secretary
Of War split his lungs yelling to be
carried about the house. II Ms Lin
coin happened to arrive bone about
this time there was trouble III the family
for L few minutes, but no reInols'cances
or appeals could ever make him good
nurse. lie would read anG. 20 lar ne
appearances went. he wai d'ai - all
infau:lle cries that came from his hope
full heirs. When the babes grew up
bit and knew something, they found In
their father companion and friend,
but they had to look elsewhere for
nurse.
"Well, M the time | mentioned,
Lincoln had grown very fond OF Mary
Owens, and she seemed to take quite a
fancy 20 him.
They were together great deal, and
finally, as was understood, became en-
gagel. Ono day Mary and Nancy
Green were going a mile or SO TO a
neighbours, and Lincoln went with
them. AS usual, Nancy took the baby
and trudged along with it, although it
was heavy weight to her. Perhaps
she expected that Lincoln would offer
to shoulder the boy himself for part of
the distance, and SO relieve her, but if
she had such expectations they were
not realized, for he put his hands in
his pockets and leizurely sauntcred by
the side Of Mary Owens, without g
glance toward the baby.
pretty soon Mary became Cold"
and answered Lincoln with short and
curt sentences. Then she refused to
talk at all, and by time the end Of the
journey was reached she fairly withered
him with her glauces. L'ucoln did
not know, or seemed not TO know
what the matter was, aud AT Inst asked
an explanation.
"' What's up, Mnry = SAID lie.
You seem to be i'll bal humor.'
'Oh. no., she replied, mockingly,
L n - purring and go0d-natured AS a
/ kitten. VIVA Is there 10 ruills body,
nv gracious!
"' It's something I've done, sup
pose said Lincoln.
"'N No. replied Mary. tar!ly. it's
uothing you've done. 1t. what you
/ hain't done, ami that's jas, what g the
matter.
90 Well, what is it?' said Lincoln.
49, I'll don't know Of course re-
spondal Mary. disdainfuiiy.
as No. III be hanged il do said
Lincoln.
+" Wall, III tell you.' said Mary.
You hev walked yer for more'n a
mile with us--a great strong Teller like
you-and let that woman carry baby
that weighs nigh onto forty pounds, and
never SO much Us lifted yer finger to
help her. That's what ails me-
"' Why, she never asked me- said
Lincoln.
"Oh, she didn't. And yon hadn't pc.
likeness enough to ofi4r 10 huip her, but
must wait to be asked.
- Why, L never thought of it, re.
tarped Lincoln. 1 always supposed
Sd. would be afraid to let fellow like
me- touch the baby for fear he might
bresk it or something. I'd carry a
bushel Of 'em for you. Mary
"' Yes. now said Mary bitterly.
"' Auy time said Lincoln.
IF asked your responded Mary.
" Well, L reckon you could ask me
if you wanted them carried retorted
Lincoln.
"' just tell you what it is, Abe Lin
boln.' cried Mary, getting excited, any
man IS is fit to be husband would
have offered to carried that child
when he could see its mother was near
about tired to death
And l didn't offer ? said Lincoln.
90 No, you didn't responded Mary.
Z" And so / amt tit to be husband?'
said Lincoln.
"'That's just the fact, you amt, said
Mary.
Lincoln turned about with laugh
and didn't appear to think much more
of the matter. He treated Mary very
nicely, and much as if nothing had
been said, but her words, no doubt,
made a serious impression, for from
that time her intimacy begau to wane.
and after while there was general
understanding that the engagement was
Cancelled. There were no words about
the baby, l believe. but il was the baby,
after all, that broke up the MATCH
Chicago Inter Ocean.