The Faith Healer Part 20

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!

MRS. BEELER.

That's not the Black Man.

UNCLE ABE.

That's him, sh.o.r.e's yo' born! Jes' what he looks like. I's seen 'im, more'n once.

RHODA.

Seen the Black Man, Uncle?

UNCLE ABE.

Yais, ma'am. I's spied 'im, sittin' in de paw-paw bushes in de springtime, when de snakes a-runnin', an' de jays a-hollerin', and de crick a-talkin' sa.s.sy to hisse'f.

_He leans nearer, more mysteriously._

En what you s'pose I heerd him whis'lin', for all de worl' lak dem scan'lous bluejays?

_Chants in a high, trilling voice._

"Chillun, chillun, they ain' no Gawd, they ain' no sin nor no jedgment, they's jes' springtime an' happy days, and folks carryin' on. Whar's yo' lil gal, Abe Johnson? Whar's yo' lil sweet-heart gal?" An' me on'y got religion wintah befo', peekin' roun' pie-eyed, skeered good. En fo'

you could say "De Lawd's my Shepherd," kerchunk goes de Black Man in de mud-puddle, change' into a big green bullfrog!

MRS. BEELER.

You just imagined all that.

UNCLE ABE.

_Indignant._

Jes' 'magine! Don' I know de Devil when I sees him, near 'nough to say "Howdy"?

MRS. BEELER.

There isn't any Devil.

UNCLE ABE.

_Astounded._

Ain't no Devil?

MRS. BEELER.

No.

_Uncle Abe goes, with puzzled headshakings, towards the kitchen door. He stops to smell the Easter lilies, then raises his head and looks at her again, with puzzled scrutiny._

UNCLE ABE.