[_As_ NICOLAY _goes to the door_, LINCOLN _follows to meet the young woman. She enters, a forlorn little figure with baby face and blonde hair. She is plainly dressed in homespun cloth and does not wear hoopskirts. The President greets her with the utmost deference._] [_Taking both her hands._] My dear young lady--I'm glad to see you--good old Pennsylvania Dutch! I knew you before you spoke--my folks came down to Virginia from there, in the old Colonial days---- THE SISTER [_Overcome._] Oh--Meester--Presiden--you are so goot to me--you are so kind---- [_Pauses overcome._] I haf no speech---- LINCOLN Come now, tell me in your own way what I can do to help you---- THE SISTER Oh--Meester Presiden--you can do all--you can do any t'ing--und I am so happy to see you--I cannot begin---- LINCOLN [_Soothing her._] Take your time, little girl--all the others will have to wait on you now---- THE SISTER Ya-ya--it is my turn now--ya, und I must hurry. You see, it's mine brudder--he ist just von leetle poy, Meester Presiden--von leetle poy with curly hair like mine---- [_She chokes._] LINCOLN [_Taking her hand._] And what happened to him, my dear? 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 title 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._]