Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-06-02
LINCOLN'S LOVE.
A New Story Of an Engagement---Miss
Mary OWens...The Match Broken
off by LincOln,s Failure to Garry
BabV.

off by Lincoln's Failure to Garry
a Baby.
C A. T. in the Chicago Inter Ocean,
am about to relate how the match be-
tween Abraham Lincoln and Mary Owens
was broken off.
1T was in this way" said Mr.. Green: MY
cousin Nancy Green, had great, strappin@
baby that she was in the habit of Juggling
about with her wherever she went. Posi-
bly, Lincoln didn't have a passion for babies
at any rate he was not in love with this one,
and | 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 trouble in the family for a few
minutes, but no remonstrances or appeals
could never make him good nurse. He
would read, and so far as appearances went.
was deaf to all the intantile cries that came
from his hopeful heirs. When the babies
grew up bit, and knew something, they
found in their father a companion and
friend but they had to look elsewhere for q
nurse.
LINCOLN AND MARY OWENS
Well, at the time ] mentioned, Lincoln
had grown very fond Of Mary Owens, and
she seemed to take 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 neighbors, and Lincoln went
with them AS usual Nancy took the baby
and trudged along with it, although it was q
very 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 such expecta-
tiOns they were not realized, for he put his
hands in his pockets and leisurely sauntered
by the side of Mary Owens without glance
toward the baby.
"Pretty soon Mary became cold, and an
swered Lincoln with short and curt senten-
ces. 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
glances. Lincoln did not know, Or seemed
not to know, what the matter was, and at
last asked an explanation"
LINCOLNs OFFENsE.
What's up, Nary" said he, you seem to
be in bad humor.'
"Oh, no" she replied mockingly, I'm ez
purring and gOod-natilred ez q kitten. What
is there to ruffle q body, my gracious"
Its something I've done / suppose said
Lincoln.
NO" replied Mary, tartly; its nothing
you've done. It's what you hain't done and
that's Just what's the matter.
We'll, what is it q" said Lincoln.
You don't know, Of course responded
Mary disdainfully.
NO, I'll be hanged if / do said Lincoln.
well, I'll tell you," said Mary. you've
walked yer for more'n mile with us-a
great long feller like you-and let that
woman carry baby that weighs nigh onto
forty pounds, and never so much as lifted
your finger to help her. That's what ais me-"
why she never asked me- said Lincoln.
''Oh, she didn't! And you hadn't polite
ness enough to offer to help her, but must
wait to be asked"
why, I never thought CT it, returned
Lincoln Il 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"
Yes, now," said Mary, bitterly.
ANY time said Lincoln.
IF asked you?' responded Mary.
We'll, reckon you could ask me if you
wanted them carried, retorted Lincoln.
II just tell you what it is, Abe Lincoln"
cried Mary, getting excited, "any 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.
mo you didn't" responded Mary.
And SO | amt fit to be a husbando" said
Lincoln.
That's Just the fact, you haint," said
Mary
Lincoln turned about with a 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 serious impression,
for from that time their intimacy began to
wane, and after a while there was a general
understanding that the engagement was can
celed. There were no more words about the
baby believe, but it was the baby after all
that broke up the match.