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Page 41
[Winthrop has been listening eagerly, but towards the latter
part he turns away, looking off across the river. When
he turns he is strangely pale and worn looking. He speaks
with an effort.
Winth. And Fair, how is she now?
Marthy. Well, sir, dat child done keep Old Mistus live, I recon.
She and Mars Bev dey took de old place rite in dey own hands and
run hit, sir. Dey do mos everything whats did roun dar now. Cose Cupid
he helps a little, but den he cripple wid de rumatiz and cose he can't
do much. Dem chullen gets us mos all what we has ter eat. Dey raise er
little crap ob corn and work hit demselves. Dey got ol Jack yet. Dey
done gib de other hoses to de army, since Old Mistus say she recon she
ant need um no mo. Yes, sir, deys de bestis chullen. But Mars Bev still
talk bout goin in de army. He say he bleged ter go, cause he par say de
las thing fo he died dat he want hit (she is speaking slowly, almost to
herself). Miss Fair done got de uniform ready. I reckon hit wont be long
now; yes, sir, I reckon it wont be long.
Winth. (suddenly). Marthy, I want you to do something for me.
Will you?
Marthy. Yes, marster.
Winth. (gives her a roll of greenbacks). I want you to take this
and see that they want for nothing (she hesitates). I am their kinsman,
and I have a right to give this for their support. Here, take it.
[He presses the money into her hands.
Marthy. I thanks you sir; I sho does. Hit'll do me a power er
good ter git um somethin' they kin eat. I reckon I better say nothin'
'bout hit, though. Dey's Stuarts yet, sir, even do de war done brek um.
Winth. Of course. And here--I'll send you more when this is gone.
Where can I send it?
Marthy. De post office at de junction don bin burn down. But ef
you leave hit wid any one of um over dar, I'll git hit.
Winth. Yes. And is there anything else--anything on God's earth I
can do for them?
Marthy (slowly). No, sir. And I thanks you fer doin' so much. But
I rekon dey ain't nothin' none of us kin do.
[She slowly exits up the road (Left).
Winth. (looking after her). I guess she's right. There's nothing
we can do.
[Enter Hopkins.
Hop. The men are coming on to camp here in the old place; the
ground is too bad down there.
Winth. Yes, yes; of course.
[Enter Evans and a party of some ten or twelve soldiers. Two of
them begin to light a fire on the old place covered with
ashes.
Evans. We found good shelter for the horses underneath the pines.
[The men begin to spread the blankets and another to make coffee.
Winth. Have you a picket out?
Evans. Yes, down on the river bank. Shall we stop here to-night?
[It begins to snow very gently.
Snow! I'm glad we got into camp before night.
Hop. (rubs hands and looks towards the fire). And we'll have
coffee soon. This reconnoitering ain't much to my taste.
[He turns to Winthrop. A noise (off Right).
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