"For the things that are to be? What can a man do when that which alone could make life worth living is taken from it forever?" "There are other incentives to life than love. There is ambition with its measure of fame, and service with the pleasure of duty," Dr. Allen said. "Ambition--fame," Lincoln repeated wearily. "What is fame but a bauble--a passin' bauble." "But think what you may live to do for humanity in some way or another. You have made a good beginning--you have put in the foundation, Lincoln. You might be Governor of Illinois some day. Think then what you might accomplish for liberty--for freedom and justice." "My interest in these things is dead. Everything is dead." "No, not dead, only numb. Great pain brings numbness, but Time heals the deepest cuts. The edges stay tender, the old wounds bleed and the scars remain. But in spite of all, the numbness and the pain give way in time to the healing forces of nature." Lincoln dropped his head wearily on the table. He was ill, tired, hungry, suffering from loss of sleep--all this with the other. Dr. Allen looked helplessly at Green and wiped his eyes again. "Abe"--it was Green speaking. "Can't you pull yourself together for a little while--at least until you get Jim Henry's note paid? Tom Dickson from up near Springfield says they're having hard luck. He was over their way and found Jim's wife and baby sick and him about to lose his place. Just a little along now and then will save the day. He was talking about your note, said you would pay every cent of it. On the strength of this they were given more time. This here's a plain duty and a man's job, Abe." Lincoln raised himself and looked at Green. "Jim Henry's dependin' on me and they've given him more time because my note is good?" "That's it. And when his wife was down a few months ago and went to see Ann Rutledge, Ann told her you would pay every cent of it if it was the last act of your life." "I suppose this is one of the things that are to be," he said, addressing Dr. Allen. "No doubt. And with the days that follow new duties and new opportunities will unfold. 'God moves in a mysterious way,' the hymn book tells us, 'His wonders to perform.' We don't know how or why, but back of it all He moves, and He needs strong men, men not afraid, men who cannot be bought or sold to stand for the interests of the people and the rights of those helpless ones who are always the prey of the powerful and unscrupulous." "Perhaps you are right," he answered. "I'll not neglect a duty." Thus it was that the man who did not care to stay in the world to be a governor chose life with all its losses in order to pay an honest debt. Then William Green delivered a message from "Baby Green" which was a pressing invitation to Abe Lincoln to visit her for the very unselfish reason that the door had mashed her toe and she needed a great, tall horse to ride her.