822
THE FAITH HEALER
Are the people still gathering from the town?
Rhoda. Yes, and they keep coming in from other places.
Mrs. Beeler. Are there many of them?
Rhoda. Many! Many! It's as if the whole world knew.
Mrs. Beeler. The more there are, the greater will be the witness.—Pause. When do you think he will go out to them?
Rhoda. They believe he is waiting for Easter morning.
(Martha enters from kitchen, with bonnet and shawl on, and a large basket in her hand.)
Martha. Mary, you'd ought to be abed. You're tempting Providence. (She takes off her bonnet and shawl, and deposits the basket.) I saw your doctor down in the village, and he allowed he'd come up to see you this afternoon. He was all on end about your bein' able to walk.
Rhoda. I did n't know till to-day you had a doctor.
Mrs. Beeler. Yes. He's a young man who's just come here to build up a practice.
Martha. (To Rhoda.) You better finish packin' the basket. There's a lot o' hungry mouths to feed out yonder.
(Exit by hall door. Rhoda continues the preparation of the basket, taking articles from the cupboard and packing them. Annie has climbed on a chair by the picture of Pan and the Pilgrim. She points at the figure of Pan.)
Annie. Uncle Abe, tell me who that is.
Uncle Abe. (Glancing at Mrs. Beeler and Rhoda.) H'sh!
Annie.What's he doing up there in the bushes, blowing on that funny whistle?
Uncle Abe. Look hyah, chil', you jus' wastin' my time. I got frough wif dis hyah fool pictuh long 'go!
(He tries to draw her away; she resists.)
Annie. (Petulantly.) Uncle Abe! Who is it?
Uncle Abe. (Whispers, makes big eyes.) That thah's Ole Nick, that's who that thah is! That thah's de Black Man!
Annie, terror-stricken, jumps down and retreats to her mother's chair. Mrs. Beeler rouses from her revery and strokes her child's head.)
Mrs. Beeler. Oh, my child, how happy you are to see this while you are so young! You will never forget, will you, dear?
Annie. (Fidgeting.) Forget what?
Mrs. Beeler. Tell me that whatever happens to you in the world, you won't forget that once, when you were a little girl, you saw the heavens standing open, and felt that God was very near, and full of pity for His children.
Annie. I don't know what you're talking about! I can't hardly breathe the way people are in this house.
Mrs. Beeler. You will understand, some day, what wonderful things your childish eyes looked on.
(Annie retreats to Uncle Abe, who bends over the child and whispers in her ear. She grows amused, and begins to sway as to a tune, then chants.)
Annie.
"Mary an' a' Martha's jus' gone along,
Mary an' a' Martha's jus' gone along,
Mary an' a' Martha's jus' gone along,
Ring dem charmin' bells."
(As she finishes the rhyme she runs out into the hall. Mrs. Beeler begins again to read her Testament. The old negro approaches Mrs. Beeler and Rhoda, and speaks mysteriously.)
Uncle Abe. That thah chil' she's talkin' sense. They's sumpin' ain't right about dis hyah house.
Mrs. Beeler. Not right? What do you mean?
Uncle Abe. (Shakes his head dubiously.) Dunno, Mis' Beeler. I's jes' a ole fool colored pusson, been waitin' fer de great day what de 'Postle done promise. En hyah's de great day 'bout to dawn, an' de Lawd's Chosen 'bout to show Hisse'f in clouds o' glory 'fore de worl', an' lo 'n' behol'— (He leans closer and whispers.) de Lawd's Chosen One, he's done got a spell on 'im!
Mrs. Beeler. (Shocked and startled.) Uncle Abe!
Uncle Abe. (Pointing at the Pan and the Pilgrim.) Why do you keep that thah pictuh nail up thah fur?
Mrs. Beeler. My husband likes it.
Uncle Abe. Mighty funny kin' o' man, like to hev de Black Man lookin' pop-eyed at folks all day an' all night, puttin' de spell on folks!
