and the night. He is in the sun and the wind, the trees and the
grass--and not a sparrow falls to the ground without He knows. You
recollect the year you put up those gourds there----

[_She points to the pole._]

for your martins----? You cried when they circled away in the fall----

[ABE _nods._]

I told you God would send them back in the spring, didn't I----?

[_She laughs softly._]

You said that He'd forget to tell them and they'd never find the
way--but they came--didn't they----?

ABE

Yes, Ma, and I know now they'll come again next spring.

NANCY

So--I want you never again to doubt God, my boy, and I want you never
to doubt yourself. Your bare feet, your ragged clothes, how poor you
are--this is nothing! It doesn't count here--it's what you feel, it's
what you believe--it's what you see that counts! I've taught you to
read and write, and now you can do anything! If God takes me----

[_She pauses exhausted._]

ABE

But you mustn't say that, Ma----!

NANCY

"The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether!"

ABE

No! no, Ma! Don't talk that way! You'll give up if you do----!

NANCY

If He calls, my son, then _my_ work is done--and _you_ can do
all I've tried and failed to do----

ABE

[_Alarmed._]

Had she better talk so much, Pa----

[_Stoops to fix her feet._]

TOM

[_Feeling her hand._]

Nancy----!

NANCY

Just a minute more, Tom----! Don't let him know yet--_you_
know----!

TOM

[_With upward look of faith._]

Yes, I know----

[_To_ ABE.]

It's all right--boy----

NANCY

Come back close, my son, I want to tell you something I saw last night!
I had a dream--the same one I had the night before you were born. You
had grown a man--strong and brave--wise and gentle. The people hung on
your words, and did you homage. But you remembered this cabin here in
the deep woods and you were humble. I walked with you between two white
pillars. It was still and solemn, in there. Outside I could hear the
people calling your name. You bowed low and whispered in my ear: "This
is all yours, my Mother. I bought it for you