Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-29
ANECDOTES OF LINCOLN.
HOW HE CANE TO SPEAK IN NEW
YORK.
How a Child Broke His engagement to
Mary 0wens-An Awkward Incl
dent at His First Meeting
With Dick Yates. -


WIN Dick Yates.
Corrsspondenceo Of the Chicago Inter-ocean.
On THE CARs, April l6.-I left off lust
as our host, Mr.. w. G. Green, was
about to relate how the match between
Abraham Lincoln and Mary Owens was
broken of.
1T Was this way," said Mr.. Green.
my cousin, Nancy Green, had a great.
Swapping baby hiatt she was in the habit
OF Juggling about with her wherever she
went.l Possibly Lincoln didn't have a
passion for babies; at any rate, he was
not in love with this one, and | remem.
Der very we'll that when his own son
Bob was in the cradle Lincoln used to
lie on the floor reading and let the fu.
ture Secretary of War split his lungs
yelling TO be carried about the house.
II Mrs. Lincoln happened to arriye
home about this time there was trouble
in the family for few minutes, but no
remonstrances or appeals could ever
make him a good ndrse. He would
read, and, so far as appearances went,
was deaf 10 all the infantile cries that
came from his hopeful heirs. When
the babies grew up a bit, and knew
something. they found in their father a
companion and friend, but they had
to look elsewhere for nurse.
"Well, at the time / mention, Lincoln
had grown very fond OF Mary Owens,
and she seemed to take quite a fancy to
him. They we're together q good deal,
and finally, as was understood, became
engaged. One day Mary and Nancy
Green were going mile or so 10
neighbor's, and Lincoln went with
them. As usual, Nancy took the baby
and Judged along with it, although it
was a 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 il
she had such expectations they were
not realized. for he put his hands in his
pockets and leisurely sauntered by the
side Of Mary Owens, without a glance
toward the baby.
pretty soon Mary became cold, and
answered Lincoln with short and curt
sentences. Then she refused to talk
with him at all, and BY the time the
end of the journey was reached she lair
ly withered him with her glances. Lin.
coin did not know, or seemed not to
know, what the matter YVES, and at last
asked an explanation.
"'What's up, Mary% said he. you
seem TO be in bad humor. oh, no, she
replied, moekingly. 'PmGz purring and
good-natured az a kitten. What is there
to rutfie body, my gracious It's
something I've done, / suppose said
Lincoln. No. replied Mary, tartly,
it's nothing you've done. It's what We
hain't done, and that's just what's the
matter 'Well, what is it?' said Lin
coin. You don't know, OF course re-
sponded Mary, disdainfully. No, I'll
be hanged il do said Lincoln. wall,
I'll tell you, said Mary. You've walk
ed yer for AOre'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 as lifted yer finger to help her.
That's what ails me- why, she never
asked me- said Lincoln. oh, she did
not! And you hadn't politeness enough
to offer to help her, but must wait to be
asked why, never thought OF 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 a
bushel of 'em for you, Mary Yes,
now. said Mary bitterly. ANY time
said Lincoln. III asked you ?'respond-
ed Mary. We'll, reckon yeu could
ask me il you wanted them carried, re-
torted Lincoln. Il Just tell you what il
ia, Abe Lincoln cried Mary, getting
excited, ANY man as is DIT to be hus-
band would have offered to a carried
that child when he could see It's mother
was near about tired to DEATH 'And i
didn't offer?' said Lincoln. No you
didn't responded Mary. And 80 l
amt tit to be husbandP said Lincoln.
That's just the fact, you haint, 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 il nothing had been
said, but her words no doubt made a
serious impression, for from that time
their intimacy began to wane, and after
a while there was general understand
ing 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
THAT'S fue picture OF Yates, said
7 ylaneing at the wall, where hung q
larve photograph, half life size, perhaps,
Of the war Governor OF Illinois, Yes,
replied Mr.. Green, its good picture.
Yates, I think, was the handsomest
man i ever saw, except John G. Breck-
inridge. though; a great deal OF him,
and knew him when We were both
bows. must tell you how Lincoln and
Yates first met. Lincoln was tending
store down at Salem, and Yates and
Carlin, from the southern part OF the
State, came up TO my mothers to spend
"Ope morning l said: Boys, come
down 10 Salem with me. There's
voun1 fellow there | want 10 introduce
Won to- So we went down, and as we
came 10 the store saw Lincoln stretch
ed ont on the cellar door reading Burns.
his fayorite poet. by the way. | intro.
dneed him to Yates and Carlin, and
afisr while he put OH his coat and
went back with US to dinner. Mother
had invited some young ladies' In, and
there was quite party oil US. AS L
said a while ago, lincoln was feariully
awkward and timid when girls were
around. and l thought he would STUN
HE over everything in the house that
DIV. We were not very luxurious In
opr habits in those days, and at dinner
had large, brown earthern bowls Of milk
at each persons plate instead OF tea or
O. flee. The house had a puncheon
floor. and the table was liable to rock a
good deal. We often put chip under
n leg or two To keep it steady, and had
done so that day, but Lincoln, in trying
to get his legs under the table, had
knocked the chip out He sat next to