A Man of the People Part 14

THE SISTER

Vell, you see he lif wid me in Pennsylvania--ve are all alone to-gedder--und he lef me und go into der armee--und von bad man he giv him a leetle book vot tell him to desert und go home to his peoples--I haf dot leetle book, Meester Presiden----

[_She hands him the book._]

Und my brudder he's such a leetle poy, he read und he tink vot ze book say is so, und he leef ze armee und come home und kiss me und say, "I vill take care of you now, mein seester----"

[_Breaks down._]

Und zey come und take heem, und now he is to be shot----

[_She chokes._]

[LINCOLN _reads the t.i.tle of the little book._]

LINCOLN

"Why should Brothers Fight?" "By Richard Vaughan"--an old Copperhead leader I'll warrant!

[_Pauses._]

And you came to me, all alone, little girl?

THE SISTER

Ya--I haf no friens here----

LINCOLN

Your Congressman does not know of this?

[NICOLAY _begins to make out the pardon._]

THE SISTER

I do not know ze Congress-man--mein leetle brudder is all I haf----

LINCOLN

Alone, friendless--with no Congressman to speak for you! Well, little girl, you don't need anybody to speak for you--you speak for yourself--you're good and honest and love your brother--and by jings, you don't wear hoopskirts--I'm sorry to rile old Stanton again----

[_Laughs._]

But I'm going to pardon your brother----!

THE SISTER

[_Seizes and kisses his hand._]

Oh--Meester Presiden--I praise ze good G.o.d----

LINCOLN

There! There! Now, don't do that, you'll have me crying in a minute and John Nicolay here will see me----

THE SISTER

Ya! Meester Nicolay--won't mind--he so kind to me too----

[NICOLAY _has prepared the pardon and the President signs and hands it to her._]

THE SISTER

[_Seizing the pardon._]

Wiz all my heart!

LINCOLN

[_To_ NICOLAY.]

Send her to Stanton, and tell him to rush that order to stay the execution. They shall not shoot this poor boy, ignorant of our laws, but if he can find the man who put that little book----

[_Holds up book._]

into his hand, advising desertion--I'll hang him on a gallows forty cubits high!

[_He lays the booklet on his desk._]

[NICOLAY _writes on the back of the pardon._]

THE SISTER

[_Joyfully._]

Mein brudder he vill go back und he vill be von goot poy for you, Meester Presiden----

LINCOLN

Yes, I know he will, my child, I know he will. Good-by, and G.o.d bless you.

THE SISTER

Und G.o.d bless you, Meester Presiden----!

[NICOLAY _pauses at the door and gives orders to the doorman._]

NICOLAY