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 Psalm.

[ABE _looks for the place._]

I love to hear you read, my boy. It means that you can do what any
other man can--it means so much!

ABE

[_Reads._]

The Lord is my shepherd--I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures. He leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my
soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's
sake----

NANCY

[_In a whisper._]

Yea, tho' I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil, for thou art with me----

[ABE _stops, looks up at his mother in amazement._]

ABE

Ma----

NANCY

Remember always, my boy, that God _is_ with you! He is in the day