The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-10
THE PRESS.
Lincoln'S Love.
A New Story of an Engagement.
T"G. A. P" in Chicago Inter-Ocean.l

t"G. A. P" in Chicago Inter-Ocean.l
am about to relate how the match between
Abraham Lincoln and Mary Owens was broken
off.
SIT was in this way" said Mr.. Green; "My
cousin, Nancy Green, had a great strapping
baby, that she was in the habit of Juggling
about with her wherever she went. Possibly
Lincoln didn't have passion for babies; at
any rate he was not in love with this one, and
1 remember very well that when his own son
Bob was in the cradle Lincoln used to lie on
the floor reading, and let the future secretary
OF war split his lungs yelling to be carried
about the house. If Mrs. Lincoln happened to
arrive home about this time, there was tronble
in the family for few minutes, but no remon.
strances or appeals could ever make him a
good nurse. He would read, and so far as
appearances went, was deaf to all the infant
lie cries that came from his hopeful heirs
When the babies grew up a bit, and knew
something, they found in their. father COM
panion and a friend but they had to look
elsewhere for nurse.
Well, at the time 1 mentioned, Lincoln had
grown very fond of Mary Owens, and she
seemed to have taken quite fancy to him.
They were together good deal, and finally,
as was understood became engaged. One day
Mary and Nancy Green were going mile or
SO to a neighbol's and Lincoln went with them
AS usual Nancy took the baby and trudged
along with it, although it was heavy weight
for 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 any such expectations they were not
realized, for he put his hands in his pockets
and leisurely sauntered by the side of Mary
Ovens without glance toward the baby.
Pretty soon Mary became cold, and ans
wered Lincoln with short and curt sentences
Then she refused to talk to him at all, and by
the time the end of the journey was reached
she fairly withered him with her gances
Lincoln did not know, or seemed not to know,
what the matter was, and at last asked an ex-
PLANTATION"
What's UP, Mary?" said he; "you seem to
be in bad humor''
ooh, no." she replied mockinglv, sI'm ez
pu'ring and good-natured ez "a kitten. What
is there to rut1e body, my gracious!'
ITS something I've done, 1 suppose" said
Lincoln.
INC" replied Mary, tartly, 'It's nothing
done It's INV what ye bant done, and
WELL" what is it?' said Lincoln
You don't know, of course" responde
Mary, disdainfully.
NO, III be hanged if 1 do,' said Lincoln.
wall, III toll you," said Mary. You've
strong Teller like you-and let that woman
carry baby that weighs nigh onto forty
pounds, and never so much as lifted yer finger
to help her. That's what ails me-"
why, she never asked me-" said Lincoln.
ooh, she didn't! And you hadn't polite
ness enough to offer to help her, but must
wait to be asked"
why, never thought of it," returned
Lincoln. 81 always supposed she would be
afraid to let fellow like me touch the baby
for fear he might break it or something. I'd
carry bushel of em for you. Mary"
Eyes, now" said Mary, bitterly.
"Any time" said Lincoln.
IF asked you?" responded Mary.
We'll, reckon you could ask me if you
wanted it carried" retorted Lincoln.
II Just tell you what it is, Abe Lincoln, %
cried Mary getting excited, "any man as is
fit to be a husband would have offered to
carried that child when he could see its moth
or was near about tired to DEATH
And didn't offer?" said Lincoln
mo you didn't" responded Mary.
And so l amt fit to be a husband" said
Lincoln.
"That's just the fact you hain't," said
Mary.
Lincoln turned about with laugh and
didn't appear to think much more of the mat
ter. He treated Mary very nicely, and much
as If nothing had been said, but her words, no
doubt, made ia serious impression, for from
that time their intimacy waned, and after a
while there was general understanding that
the engagement was cancelled. There were
no more words about the baby, I believe, but
it was the baby, after all, that broke up the
match