Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-04-27
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
How His Engagement WIN MAR!
Owens Came to be Broken.

writer in the Chicago Tribune tells this
anecdote of Abraham Lincoln, as coming
from the lips of w. G. Green: my cousin.
Macy Green, had a great, strapplng baoy
that She was in the habit of tagging ABOUT
her everywhere she went. Possibly Lincoln
didn't have passion for babies: at any rare
he was not in love with this one. At the
time mentioned, Lincoln had grown very
fond of Mary Owens, and she seemed to take
quite fancy to him. They were together
a good deal, and finally, as was understood,
became engaged. One day Nancy and Mary
Green were going mile or so to nelShoor
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 re-
lieve her, but, if she had such expectations
they were not realized, for he put his
hands in his pockets and leisurely saunter-
ed by the side of Mary Owens, without
glance toward the baby.
Pretty soon Mary became cold and an
swered Lincoln with short and curt sem
tences Then she refused to talk with him
at all, and, b. the time the end OF the
journey was reached, she fairly withered
him with her glances. Lincoln did not know
or seemed not to know, what the matter was,
and at last asked an explanation.
"'What's up, Mary? said he. You seem
to be in bad humor.' oh, no. she replied,
mockingly, I'm ez purrins and good ma
tured az a kitten. What is there to ruffie a
body, my gracious" Its something I've
done, l suppose said Lincoln. NO. re-
piled Mary, tartly, Its nothing you've
done. It's what ye haint done,
and that's just what's the matter.
We'll, what is it?' said Lincoln. You don't
know, of course responded Mary, distain-
fully No, I'll be hanged if do, said Lin
coin. Wall, I'll tell you.' said Mary. You've
walked yer for more'n a mile with us-a
great, strong, feller like you-and let that
woman carry baby like that weighs nigh on
to 40 pounds. and never so much AS lifted yer
finger to help her. That's what ails me.
why. she:never asked me- said Lincoln. 'Oh,
she didn't! And you hadn't politeness
enough to offer to help her, but must wait to
be asked why, never thought of it, re-
turned Lincoln. L always supposed she
would be afraid to let a fellow like me touch
the baby for fear he might hurt it or some
thing. I'd carry bushel of em for you,
Mary Yes, how,' said Mary, bitterly. ANY
time,' said Lincoln. If l asked you?' re-
sponded Mary. We'll, reckon you could
ask me if you wanted them carried retorted
Lincoln. 4 just tell you what is it Abe Lin
coln,' cried Mary, getting excited amy man
as 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
didn't offer?' said Lincoln. NO, you didn't, re-
sponded Mary. 'And so amt fiji to be a
husband! That's just the fact, you hain't,
said Mary. Lincoln turned about with a
laugh, and didn't appear to think much more
xbo ~,
and much as if nothing had been said, bu,
her words no doubt made a serious impres
sion. for from that time their intimacy began
to wane, and, after while. there was a
general understanding that the engagement,
was cancelled. There were no more words
about the baby, belive, but it was the baby
after all, that broke up the match