Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-02-18
LINcoLN's LOVE.
HOW & Mat. h Was Broken.

How a NIats h Was Broken.
 U. A.P., in Chicago Inter ocesn-l My cousin, Nancy Green, had great strapping baby thatshe was. insthe habit of lugging about wherever she went. Possibly Lincoln didn't have passion for babies at any rate, he was not in love with this one, and remember very well tnat, when his own son Bob was in the cradle, Lincoln used to lie on the floor reading, and let the future Secre- tary of War split his lungs yelling to be carried about the house. If Mrs. Lin- coln happened to arrive home about this time there was trouble in the family for few minutes, but no remonstrances or appeals could ever make him a good nurse. He would read, and, so far as appearances went, he was deaf to all il,- fantile cries that came from his hopeful heirs When the babies grew up bi,. and knew something, they found in thel. father Q companion and a friend, bui they had to look elsewhere for a nurse. Well, at the time I mentioned, Lin coin had grown very fond of Mary Owens, and she seemed to take quite t fancy to him. They were together Il good deal, and finally, as was under stood, became engaged. One day Mary and Nancy Green were going mile or so to nelghbor's, and Lincoln went with them. As usual, Nancy took tlls baby and trudged along with it, thousA it was g heavy weight for her. Perhaps she expected that Lincoln would offer to shoulder the boy himself for part of ths distance, and so relieve her but if she had such expectations they were not real ized, for he put his hands in his pock- cts and leisurely sauntered by the side of Mary Owens, without glance toward the baby.
 Pretty soon Mary became cold, and answered 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 with cred him with her giances. Lincoln did not know, or seemed not to know, what the matter was, and at last asked an ex- | planation.
 What's up, Mary ?" said he. "You seem to be in bad humor."
 70, no," she replied, mockingly, "Im ez purring and good natured ez kitten. What is there to rufiie body, my gracious!'' :. :" something I've done, Isuppose. said Lincoln.
 "No,' replied Mary, tartly, I" it's nothing you've done. It's what ye haunt done, and that's just what's the matter"
 "Well, what is it?' said Lincoln.
 You don't know, of course, respond ed Mary, dlsdainfully.
 ''No, I'll be hanged if do, said Lin coin.
 "Wall, I'll tell you," said Mary. You've walked yer for more'n 8 mile with us-a great, strong felier like you and let that woman carry baby that weighs nigh onto forty pounds, and never so much as lifted yer finger to her. That's what ails me.
 "Why, she never asked me-" said Lincoln.
 70, she didn'tl And you hadn't po- Iiteness enough to offer to help her, but must wait to be asked"
 "Why, I never thought of it." re- turned Lincoln. q always supposed she would be afraid to jet a 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. l II loaSO yOu! ICcpO1lASo 1udIy
 Well, reckon you could ask me, if you wanted them carried, retorted Lin coln.
 q just tell you what it is, Abe Lin- coln," cried Mary, getting excited, "any man as is it to be husband would have offered to a-carried that child when he could see its mother was near about tired to death"
 "And I didn't offer ?" said Lincoln.
 "No, you didn't" responded Mary.
 "And so ain't fit to be husband 2p' said Lincoln.
 "Thats just the fact, you hain't, !" said Mary.
 Lincoln turned about with a laugh, and didn't appear to think much mora 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 awhile there was general understand ing that the engagement was cancelled. There were no more words about the baby, believe, but 1t was the baby, after all, that broke up the match.