Don't let him do it——!

Doctor

What's that?

Tom

You shan't bleed her—I don't know nothin' 'bout doctorin'—but I know that'll kill her——

Doctor

I've a notion to give you the worst cussin' you ever had in your life, Tom Lincoln....

Tom

'Twouldn't do no good—Doctor——

Doctor

[Throwing his arms up.]

'Twould do me good! I've rode all night—thirty-five miles—from my home in Kentucky across the Ohio, into this wilderness, just for you to insult me——

Tom

I didn't mean to——

Doctor

Well, you're doin' it—and I'd give ye the cussin' that'ud pay me for my trouble comin' up here—if I hadn't heard what you've been doin' for your neighbors, in this plague. There's no doctor in thirty miles—— You've been the doctor and nurse—mother and father to 'em all. And when they die, you go into the woods, cut down a tree, rip out the boards, make the coffin, dig the grave and lower the dead with a prayer—I'd like to cuss you, Tom Lincoln—but I can't—damn ye——!

Tom

I'm sorry, Doctor—but I just couldn't let ye bleed her——

Doctor

All right—good-by——

[With a snort of anger, the Doctor throws his lancet into his saddle-bags, snaps them together, and starts for the gate.]

Abe

[Following the Doctor to gate.]

Doctor——!

Doctor

What do ye want——?

Abe

[Seizing his hand.]

Please don't go—I'm mighty sorry we made ye mad—I didn't go to do it—you see——

[He falters.]

I love my Ma so, I just couldn't see ye cut her arm open. And Pa didn't mean to hurt yer feelin's—won't ye stay and help us? Can't ye do somethin' else for her——?

[Pauses.]

I'll pay ye——! I'll work for ye a whole—year——

Doctor

You'd work for me a year?

Abe

[Eagerly.]

I'll work for ye five years if you'll just save her—just save her life—that's all—don't go—please, don't——

Doctor

[The Doctor slips his arm around the boy, draws him close and holds him a moment.]

You're a good boy, Abe——

Abe

You'll stay——?

Doctor

I'd stay and do something if I could, Sonny, but to tell ye the truth, I don't know what to do—I'm not quite sure I'm right about the bleedin', or I'd stay and make you both help me——

[He pauses.]

But I'm not sure——! I'm not sure! And I don't know what else to do—I've got no medicine—so I can't stay. All I can tell ye is to keep her warm—and give her everything good to eat that she can take—she's in God's hands—Good-by——

[The Doctor hurries through the gate—and leaves Abe and Tom gazing forlornly after him, as Sarah comes from the house.]

Sarah

I've got the towel and bowl all ready——

[Pauses.]

What's the matter——?

[Looks around.]

Where's the doctor——?

Abe

He's gone——

Sarah

Gone——?

Tom

Yes——

[Nancy enters by door of cabin.]

[Nancy's sudden appearance in the door swings Abe around with a quick cry of pain. The sun is tinging the eastern sky with the splendor of an Indian Summer morning. The mother's figure in blue homespun suggests against the dark background of the cabin door the coming of a spirit from the unseen world. She pauses a moment in the doorway and smiles at her son.]

Abe

Oh, Ma, you mustn't——

Tom

[Following.]

Nancy——!

Nancy

I'm better, I'm a lot better——

Abe

You're too sick to come out here, Ma——

Nancy

[Smiling.]

I can walk—as well as you can,—see——

[She sways slightly toward the settee.]

Abe

But the Doctor says you must keep warm——

Nancy

Well—I have on the warm stockings that Sarah knit for me and the coon skin moccasins you made—don't you see, I'm better now——?

Abe

[Joyfully.]

Look, Pa, she's better!

Sarah

Yes—she's better!

Tom

[Alarmed.]

Don't try to walk—set down, honey!

Nancy

[Sinking on bench.]

Yes—I will——

[The boy comes closer, staring eagerly into his mother's face.]

Nancy

Come closer, my boy——

[Abe kneels at her feet.]

Tom

I'm a feared of this, Nancy—you better let me git a hot rock and wrap it up for your feet.

Nancy

Yes, Tom—and bring me the Bible. I want Abe to read to me.

[Tom goes into the cabin worried over her.]

Abe

Feel all right, Ma——?

Nancy

[She nods and breathes deeply—her eyes alight.]

I wanted to see the sun rise through the trees! You remember the day you cut down your first tree to begin the clearing and the sunlight came through the hole you'd made to the sky——

Abe

Yes—I remember.

Nancy

You called me to come and see it——

Abe

[In a whisper.]

Yes——

Nancy

I was proud that morning as I saw you stand with your ax on that big log—anything my boy starts to do—he does——

[Pauses.]

Your father taught you to use the ax and——

[Turns and looks at Abe.]

Your father's a good man, my son—kind-hearted and true and everybody likes him. They made him road supervisor of his township in Kentucky once. If he could read and write he would have gone to the legislature——

[Tom enters from the cabin with the rock and Bible, he crosses to Nancy, and Abe takes the rock and puts it under her feet—Sarah kneels and helps him. Nancy's hand drops on the bench. Tom picks up her hand, and the chill of it worries him.]

[Abe and Sarah rise.]

Nancy

Read to me, son—I like to hear your voice——

Abe

[Brightly.]

All right—what——?

Nancy

The Twenty-third