ound of Francois' fiddle, and the same
gay group breaks into the room, augmented by Jason and Lucy Brown. They
surround Lincoln, who has risen.

TOM.
Now, Abe, you know you like a husking better than anything else.

LINCOLN.
Better than most things, Tom; but not better than all.

[Looks toward his books.

JASON
(coaxing).
Come On, Abe, it's no fun without you.

LINCOLN
(decidedly).
Not to-night, Jason.

FRANCOIS.
You'll miss ze husking, Abe.

LINCOLN.
I know that, Francois; but then I'll gain--so much else! (Looks again
towards his beloved books.) There's husking to do there, Francois.

NANCY.
You'll be sitting here all lonely, without any friends.

LINCOLN
(with one of his rare smiles).
Without any friends--! Why, Nancy!

[Glances towards his books for a third time.

POLLY
(with a sniff).
He means that he'd rather have Defoe and Bunyan and Aesop than us.

LINCOLN.
Now, Polly.

POLLY
(with conviction).
You would. You know you would.

JASON.
Then you're not coming?

LINCOLN.
No, boys, I'm not coming. I tell you, it's like splitting rails. Once
you get tired or give up, your work gets the better of you. I mean to
stick to what I've set out to do.

TOM
(regretfully).
Well, then, good-night, Abe.

LINCOLN
(with the utmost friendliness).
Good-night. Good-night. (With a general stir and in the midst of a
chorus of leave-taking, he sees them to the door.) Watch your lantern,
Amy. Good-night. Good-night, all.

[For a moment he stands and there comes to him the sound of laughter
and retreating footsteps, and a gay lilt from Francois fiddle. As the
sound grows fainter and fainter he crosses resolutely to the hearth,
tosses on a cone or two, places the shovel where it will be within easy
reach, and stretches himself on the floor before the fire.

From outside a sudden gust of wind brings clearly a last snatch of the
air that Francois is playing in the distance. Lincoln raises his bead
and listens, smiles whimsically to himself, and then opens his books.

LINCOLN.
And now for the husking!

[He lies full length, absorbedly studying in the fire-glow as the
curtain falls.

COSTUMES
ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Blue flannel shirt. Faded black knee-breeches and
much-worn coat. Tall boots which he wears for out-of-doors, and changes
for old slippers.

POLLY. A brown woolen dress and scarlet cloak. Hair worn in quaint
fashion with combs.

NANCY LINCOLN. Dark-scarlet woolen dress, and brown cloak.