Daily globe., 1882-05-14
LINCoLN's LOVE.
How a match Was Brokens

My cousin, Nancy Green, had q great
strapping baby that she was in the habit
Of Juggling about wherever she went.
Possibly Lincoln didn't have O 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 Seere-
tary of War split his lungs yelling to be
carried about the house. II Mrs. Lin
coin 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 In
fantile cries that came from his hopeful
heirs. When the babies grew up bit,
and knew something, they found in their
father companion and friend, but
they had to look elsewhere for nurse
Well, at the time I mentioned, Lin
coin had grown very fond of Mary
Owens, and she seemed to take quite a
fancy to him. They were together a
good deal, and finally, as was under
stood, became engaged. One day Mary
and Nancy Green were going mile or
so to a neighbor's, and Lincoln went
with them. As Usual, Nancy took the
baby and trudged along with it, though
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 such expectations they were not real
lied, for he put his hands in his pook-
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 glances. Lincoln did
not know, or seemed not to know, what
the matter was, and at last asked an ex-
PLANTATION.
"What's up, Mary p said he. "Yon
seem to be in bad humor."
go, no." she replied, mockingly,
"Tm ez purring and good natured ez a
kitten. What is there to rufiie body,
my gracious!"
It's something I've done, Isuppose, ;"
said Lincoln.
"No," replied Mary, tartly, !" it's
nothing you've done. Its what ye
hain't done, and that's just what's the
matter"
swell, what is it?" said Lincoln.
"You don't know, of course, respond
ed Mary, disdainfully.
"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 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.
80, she didn't! And you hadn't pc
likeness enough to offer to help her, bun
must wait to be asked"
"Why, never thought OF it," re-
turned Lincoln. ''I 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
DuSuti VI Gill lOI yOti, nuuiy.
eyes, now," said Mary, bitterly.
"Any time" said Lincoln.
"If I asked you?" responded Mary.
"Well, [ reckon you could ask me, II
you wanted them carried" retorted Lin
coin.
81 just tell you what it is, Abe Lin
coln," cried Mary, getting excited, can!
man as is fit to be husband would have
offered to a-carried that child when he
oould see its mother was near about tired
to death"
"And I didn't offer ?" said Lincoln.
"No, you didn't, responded Mary.
"hnd SO I amt fit to be husband ?"
said Lincoln.
"That's just the fact, you hain't, 7"
said Mary.
Lincoln turned about with g laagh,
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 a
Serious impression, for from that time
their intimacy began to wane, and after
awhile there was a general understand
ing that the engagement was Cancelled.
There were no more words about the
baby, believe, but it was the baby,
after all. that broke up the match.