background).
Isn't Abe coming?

NANCY LINCOLN
(shaking her head).
No, Abe isn't even in sight yet. But he'll surely be here as soon as he
has finished splitting those rails.

ONE OF THE LITTLE GIRLS
(joyfully).
Andrew is beginning to play!

[Andrew Smith's fiddle gives out the first notes of a reel. Those who
are bending at their various occupations begin to nod and trip. In an
instant everything is dropped, and the young people are all for
merriment. They begin, center of sward, a grand right and left. Andrew
Smith stands at right fiddling with the greatest possible gusto.

As the dance ends, Andrew Smith points with his fiddle-bow to a figure
seen approaching from the background, a tall, lank, kindly-faced boy,
dressed like the others but with an ax over his shoulder.

ALL
(with a loud cry--intense delight--at the very top of their lungs).
Lincoln! Abe Lincoln!

[They run to meet him. He comes down center with an admiring group on
each side.

NANCY LINCOLN