"[GIRL SOBBING]" "Don't cry." "Janie." "Don't cry." "You'll be all light soon." "Come on." "Janie. don't cry." "NARRATOR:" "Kids think nothing ever happened before they were born." "But what happened to all of us... began the day my mother and father gut all the steamboat... in Eureka, Wisconsin." "It was September. 1856." "Oh. heh." "I wonder. uh. could you direct a body to the house ol Will Jamison?" "Oh, heh, for..." "Forgive me for not introducing myself." "My name's Robert Strong Eunson." "And I come from the Shetland Isles." "My wife's uncle Will Jamison wrote us a letter inviting us to America." "Will never mentioned it." "Well. that's the Jamisons for you." "Closemouthed, eh, Mamie?" "Excuse me. this is my missus." " Mister ...?" " Bradley, Harry Bradley." "Well. we're pleased to make your acquaintance, MI." "Bradley." " This is Howard Tyler." " Pleased to meet you, MI." "Tyler." "I'm afraid you folks must prepare yourself for a shock." " Oh?" " Will Jamison's dead." "His house burned to the ground three weeks ago." "[MAMIE SOBBING]" "Now. lass... you hadn't seen your uncle since you were a wee one." "Don't grieve." "We work and slave and pinch our pennies 10!" "the journey... with the family telling us how foolhardy we are." "Aye. lass. aye." "But we wanted the baby to be born in the New World." "MAN:" "Hello." "Hello there." "Whoa. whoa. boy." "Well. come on." "Lela." "We heard that you young folks had come out here." "Hany Bradley should've had better sense than to let you." "I'm Dr. Delbert and this is my wife." "Oh. how do you do. doctor?" "Mrs. Delbert?" "This is my missus." " How do you do?" " How do you do?" " You're coming straight home with us." " Oh, no." "No, thank you." "We have money to pay 10!" "a night's lodging at the inn." "Oh, no." "I'm afraid there isn't any inn this side of Oshkosh." "We're certainly not going to let you go to the stable." " Thank you. but we couldn't be a bother..." " No bother at all." "Come along. deal." "You can have the gills' loom." "They'll sleep on the parlor ﬂoor." "They've done it before." "[THUNDER CRACKING]" "Rob. where are you?" "Right here. lass." "There. jo." "There. there. there." "Jo." "It wouldn't be pains you're feeling, would it?" "Oh. would you...?" "Would you like a tumbler ol water?" "Oh. jo. there. there. now." "You're not to fret." "Tomorrow we start back to Fail Isle." "With me like this and only $45 in your belt?" "Well. then..." "You remember Green Bay... the city on the water where we purchased the nanny goat?" "I'll find work to do there in one of the sawmills or grist mills... and work." "Couldn't you find"?" "Couldn't you find work herein Eureka... and we'd be put?" "Not flying off hither and thither to that Blue Bay or this Green Bay." "Well, the men on the riverboat, they were talking of the logging camps." "No." "A man cannot leave his wife to fend for herself and a newborn." "No." "Don't worry about Robbie and me." "Robbie?" "Then you've named the lad?" "Hm?" "If it does not displease you." "Not if you think you can stand having two Roberts underfoot." "WOMAN:" "Whoa." " Well. how are you, Mrs. Runyon?" " Fine. 'fine. thank you." "Well. that's good." "Good to see you." "Well. what's that?" "Hm?" "Oh. that's a pump." "Well." "I know it's a pump." "But inside the cabin?" " Aye, Mrs. Runyon." " Why, I never heard of such a thing." "[LAUGHING] Neither did I." "But with the baby coming next month and myself in the woods all winter... well, a man don't want his missus digging her way through drifts... to the pump each morning." "Well, folks will think it's queer, you being immigrants and all." "Well. uh. ma'am..." "I don't know why folks would think it queer..." "".101 a man to want to ease a burden on his missus." "You've only been here two weeks." "Does Mrs. Eunson think she's better than other folks?" "Mrs. Runyon... in the words of our great poet, Bobbie Burns:" "It's hardly in a body's power" "To keep at times from being sour" "Giddap!" "Giddap!" "Uh..." "Don't worry." "Where's that boy?" "Where's that lad?" "Where is he?" " I can help you with the lower logs." " In your condition." "I won't allow it." "But it's because of my condition you've got to hurry." "I still don't see how you and just one young lad... can get the cabin up in time." "Beggars cannot be choosers." "When you're pool and got no money... you gotta make do with what the good Lord sends you." "I got help." "We'll have he!" "up by sundown." "Oh. lad. lad." "You shouldn't have done that." "I've got no money to pay grown men's wages." "You wouldn't be offering us money, would you?" "No. but a man is worthy oi his hire." "But not on the Lord's Day and not ii it's your neighbors." "Come on. everyone. let's go." "And only a fortnight ago, we didn't have one friend in all America." "[BELL CLANGING]" "Uh..." "I don't know what to say." "Well. don't say a thing." "We were glad to do it." "Would you hand me the yeast?" "Thank you." "We're proud to have you as a neighbor." "Mr. Eunson." "Look." "Mrs. Delbert." "I brought you a setting of buckwheat yeast." "Tend ii. replenish it and keep it warm." "And it will live as long as you do." "Good night." "BRADLEY:" "Come on. everyone. let's go." "I wanted to make a speech." "The Wall's run dry." "Oh. has it?" "I doubt that." "Here." "Ah." "Rob. you should have married a practical woman." "Well. there was a woman on the mainland had he!" "cap set 10!" "me." "And he!" "name was...?" "Oh. the name is ol no importance." "But naturally, she could cook and bake and fish... and. naturally. prime a pump." "And why didn't you many this cooker and baker and fisher and pump-primer?" "Because she was as homely as a peat bog." "Now, now, is this the time and place for a respectable married worn"?" "[SIZZLING]" "The soup." "Deal me." "What a mess." "Pump-primer." "[ROBERT CHUCKLES]" " Rob." " Mm?" "What day is it?" "Today is Sunday, October 12th." "Why, jo?" "To remember the baby's birthday." "Oh." " You mean the time's upon you?" " I think so." "Ale you warm enough?" "Would you like a spot ol broth?" " I'm going to have a baby." " Baby." " Now. there's only one thing 10!" "you to do." " Aye." " Go and find the midwife." " Aye." "October 12." "October 12." "Why. that's the birthday ol Columbus." "The man who discovered America 10!" "us." "[ROBERT CHUCKLES]" "Mrs. Pugmister, hurry. please." " Please hurry, Mrs. Pugmister." " There's no rush, Mr. Eunson." " It's the first one." " No lush?" "No lush. you say." "Mrs. Pugmister, she's in mortal agony." " Call out if you need me." " I'll not be needing you." "But there might be something a man can do." "You've already done it." "[BELL CLANGING]" "Mrs. Pugmister." "What are you making that racket for?" "Let the folks know what we've got." "We've got something then?" "Might I ask what it is we got?" "I ling this bell when it's a boy." "I blow this whistle... when it's a gill." "NARRATOR:" "So the night I was burn, Papa went off to the woods." "He walked all night... and it was daylight when he got to Cullen's logging camp." "Come on. men." "Move." "Good day." "Now." "I want a lot ol work out ol you." "All right, the rest of you men, come on out here." " Could you tell me where MI." "Cullen is?" " Cullen." "Come on, boys, move on." "Or it'll be over before we get out there." " Why don't you look where you're going?" " Oh." "I'm sorry." "Well, what is it?" "What do you want?" "I'm. uh." "Robert Strong Eunson and I'm ready 10!" "work." "MI." "Cullen." "Well. and what kind ol work might you be ready 101?" "You said you'd use me as a chopper." "Oh." "I did. did I?" "And what did I say I'd be paying you, Nevsky?" "Uh. twenty dollars a month." "But not to plough through the snow all night and use up all your energy." "Can you give a good 13 hours' work 10!" "the company?" "I'd be much obliged if you'd watch me, Mr. Cullen." "I'll do just that, Norsky." "Get one thing straight, Mr. Cullen." "I have no doubt the Scandinavians are a fine lace... but it just so happens I'm Scottish." "Stop telling me your family history on the company's time." "The stand of timber's that way." "Half a mile." "Get an ax and keep your nose clean." "[KNOCKING ON DOOR]" "He's going to glow up to be a great, big. strong man." "It's blowing up something." "The Wind's from the north." " Oh." "Katie." "Lela." " I'm glad to see you." "[WOMEN CHATTERING]" "I've. uh..." "I've made you some scones." "LELA:" "Yes." "KATIE:" "How is your...?" "MRS. BRADLEY:" "Nothing like a baby in the house." "They're so cute." " My mother's recipe." "KATIE:" "I know." "But when they get to be about eight months." "Oh. my." "MRS. BRADLEY:" "I know it." "KATIE:" "Then it's friends..." "MRS. BRADLEY:" "When they start..." "KATIE:" "Oh. yes." " But then it's very sad." "LELA:" "Yes. ol course. but..." "KATIE:" "When a child is about 10." "LELA:" "Oh. deal." "Where am I going to sit them?" "My deal. when doctor and I first came to the wilderness... we had only one chair." "Don ' t worry." " Ladies. tea is ready." " Oh. tea." "A hot cup ol tea will be good alter that long walk." " Yes." " I should say." "[ROBERT COUGHS]" "Robbie." "Robbie." "Is this a propel welcome when I've walked 25 miles..." ""because I was hungry 10!" "the sight ol you?" " Come here." " Oh. no." "Hob." "Rob. please. please." "We've got company." "Oh. ladies. forgive me." "LELA:" "Congratulations again." " Thank you." " We had such a lovely tea time." " Did you see my bully lad?" "LELA:" "It's no problem. it's all light." "MAMIE:" "I'm so glad you joined us." "LELA:" "Oh. thank you." "Mamie." " Why, he favors me." " And who has a better right?" "MRS. BRADLEY:" "Oh. what fine heavy pelts." " They're lovely, aren't they, Mrs. Bradley?" " Oh, yes." "Oh. my husband can get you a good price." "Well. thank you." "Mrs. Bradley." "But these are not 10!" "sale." "I trapped them myself near the lumber camp." "Excuse me." "Accept the gift Though humble he who gives." "Rich is the tribute of the grateful mind." "In the immortal words ol Bobbie Bums." "We've got to go." " Yes. goodbye." "Mamie." "ROBERT:" "You be careful, ladies." "Thank you." "Be careful, it's quite a gale." "Say hello to your husbands." "And come back." "Hey, lass, what's the trouble?" "The ladies are gone." " That disgusting growth." " Oh. 'tis nothing yet." "Wait till next time." "You'll scarce be able to see my face." "I will not kiss with a monkey." "But all the lumberjacks grow something on their faces." "I did not marry with a lumberjack." "Now myself." "I deem it a handsome addition." "O wad some Pow'!" "the giftie gie us To see oursels as others see us!" "In the immortal words ol Bobbie Bums." "Heh." "Jo." "Aw. jo." "Jo, I have ached for you." "I have ached 10!" "you." "[WIND HOWLING]" "Rob." " Is it time to go?" " Aye. lass." "But I'll never make it to camp in this blizzard." "Then come back to bed." "The storm will keep you with me 10!" "a while." "Aye. lass. aye." "But it keeps me from my job too." "I het 10!" "you." "Hob." "Oh?" "Why. jo?" "Well. the ladies. they..." "They tell me ol a danger... ol clashing trees and the ﬂying axes." "The rough and violent men." "Why, lass, the lumberjacks are only full of fun." "Oh. ol course. they may scrap a little." "Well. the ladies tell me that they thrive on fighting and brawling... and." "Rob." "I'm aware ol your terrible temper." " Your only fault." " Thank you, lass." "If you could just learn not to use your fists." "I'll try. jo." "I'll try." "I'll do my best." "But that Irish... that Irish is just begging 10!" "trouble." "[BABY GURGLING]" "[ROBERT GROANS]" "What do you suppose he'll be?" "Well. born in America... could be president." "Would you be liking that?" "Hm?" "Yes." "But more I'd like him to be a good man." "Like his father." "Come now. lass." "Lei': go to sleep." "[ROBERT SIGHS]" " Rob?" " Mm?" "Now what?" "Could I learn to lead?" "[ROBERT SCOFFS]" "What in Tophet for?" "Well." "I never thought on it in Fail Isle." "But here. most ol the ladies know how to lead." "Aye..." "I'm not so sure it's a good idea 10!" "a female to know how to lead." "MAN:" "Timber!" "[LAUGHING]" "NARRATOR:" "From then on, Mama and I were alone most of our first winter..." ""because Mr. Cullen wouldn't give Papa time off." "[ROBERT WHISTLING]" "You're aware." "Nevsky." "That the wild game belongs to the company?" "The company owns the timber." "Nothing else." "You calling me a liar?" " If the shoe fits." " I ought to fire you for that." "MI." "Cullen. you can do anything you like." "I'll swallow my gorge and my sell-respect until my belly's aching with it." "And what do you propose to do about it, Norsky?" "That's..." "That's another thing." "Ale you figuring on fighting the boss?" "Aye, if he's not too much of a coward to tangle with a Scot." "[LAUGHS]" "You're talking to an Irishman." "[ROBERT PANTING]" "[SIGHS]" "And now, Irishman, if you'll be good enough... to instruct the paymaster to hand me my March wages..." "I'll be turning my back on you." "[HUMBLING]" "Well. the river's breaking up." "We'll be starting the log drive in a couple ol weeks." "Well. it's no concern ol mine." "I'll need a good jack on the sluice." "Well." "I hope you find one." "You think you're man enough to handle the job?" "You can say that to me while you're sitting there... with your tail wet in the snow?" "[LAUGHS]" "Maybe you don't know how dangerous the job is." "I've heard." "Of course, the company will bury you if you get killed." "Scotty." "Oh." "It's Scotty now." "You know." "I think you saved the boss a trip to the dentist." "[LAUGHING]" "[LAUGHS]" "[BELL CLANGING]" "That same spring, Mrs. Pugmister rang her cowbell again... and my brother Jimmie was born." "Named after Mama': brother James." "[BOTH LAUGHING]" "Papa was very proud." "Since Papa': trade was boatbuilding..." "Mama persuaded him to give up lugging and open his own boatyard... with money borrowed from the Oshkosh Bank." "Oh." "Because she said logging was too dangerous." "Mrs. Pugmister rang he!" "cowbell again." "This time. for my brother Kirk." "Named after Mama': brother Kirk." "When I was 4 years old, Mama and I started in school." ""Mr. Post and the Little Girl." "One cold night..."" "That summer, Papa taught me how to help in the boatyard." "Stroke the blush with the grain." "Not against it." "That's it." "[WHISTLE BLOWING]" "That's Mrs. Pugmister now, Papa." "Oh. no." "Robbie. no." "She rings a bell." "Not 10!" "gills. she don't." "They named her Annabelle." "Mama had sisters also." "[WHISTLE BLOWING]" "They named this one Elizabeth." "Now Mama': second sister was taken care of." "[WHISTLE BLOWING]" "[FIDDLE PLAYING]" "Now that we were getting to be a family, Papa had to enlarge the cabin." "He even made a fiddle for Kirk, who couldn't fiddle too good." "Papa joked a lot and made us laugh." "It seemed like he was always there when he was needed." "Do not laugh at your sister." "Will you stop it?" "That's my new sister." "Jane." "Named after another of Mama's sisters, of course." "It was some time before Lizzie and Jane were old enough to go to church with us." "And Papa could hardly wait to show off the whole family." "It was about this time that my younger brother Jimmie... began to have some very serious problems." "That's Mr. and' Mrs-Raider:" "and' their five girl's." "The twins had their eyes on Jimmie." "MAMIE:" "Now careful, Annabelle, careful." " There." "HO BERT:" "Careful." "Come along." "Kirk." "Oh." "Kirk. now look at you with your feet wet and a tickle in your throat already." "I should take him home and change his clothes." "You coddle him." "He's got to learn to stand on his own feet like his brothels." "Children are not all ol one piece." "Come on." "Come along." "Annabelle." "You stay away." "Jimmie. lad. we all know... that you're a brave fighting man like your father before you." "But it's hardly fitting 10!" "you to spar with gills." "But, Papa, they're always after me." "And one day. you'll find the good Lord had a purpose in that." "Hurry up, everybody's going in." "We'll be late." " Now go on. away with you." "ROBERT:" "Come on." "Good morning." "Herbert." "Good morning." "Kirk." " Good morning. how are you this morning?" " Good morning." "Good morning." "Reverend." " Nice to see you." " Nice to see you." "Thank you." " Good morning." "Jimmie." " Good morning." "Good morning. gills." "Good morning." "Annabella." "And how is Jane?" "I'm Jane." "Good morning." "Is there somewhere the other children could go?" "I'll try to find a place." " Why, doctor?" " What is it?" "Diphtheria." "The others will have to go somewhere else." "They've been exposed... and they must be kept away from other children... until we know whether any ol them come down with it." "After they've gone, you put Kirk to bed." "Keep him warm." "Swab his throat every two hours." "And ii you notice any blackening in the throat, come for me at once." "I will." "I will." "He must be quarantined." "Do you have a piece ol green cloth?" "Will you try not to worry?" "Kirk. you do what your mama says." "Diphtheria." "There. there." "Now. lass." "Oh." "Rob. what are we to do?" "Well, in this weather, all that's needed is a roof to keep off the rain." "There's the Tylers' old homestead across in Indian land." "I'll ask him." " Papa." "Jimmie and I saw..." "MAMIE:" "Stand back." "Don't come any closer." "Find your brothels and sisters." "Wait outside." "Your father's taking you into the woods for a spell." " Why?" "ROBERT:" "Don't ask questions." "Robbie." "Just do..." "Do what Mama says." "Hm?" "Away with you." "You mind Kirk." "I'm going to see to things." "Well." "Kirk. you be a good boy." "And you do what Mama says." "Hm?" "Don't go away." "But, Kirk, you wouldn't want your brothers and sisters to sicken too now, would you?" "I don't want you to go away." "I'll tell you what I'll do." "I'll sand and varnish your fiddle while we're gone." "Hm?" "Don't go." "Papa." "Please." "Papa." "Don't go." "Papa." "Please." "Papa." "ROBERT:" "Be careful, Annie." "MAMIE:" "Wait, wait." " Yes, Mamie?" " Here." "Oh." "Mamie. don't worry." "I will be fine." "The children will be fine." " We'll take good care ol the children." " Goodbye." "Mama." "[ALL CHATTERING]" "The children will be fine." "Bye-bye." "[WOOD CRACKS." "ELIZABETH SCREAMS]" "Oh. there. there." "Here." "ANNABELLE:" "Janie." " There." "There." "Lizzie. darling." "Watch the hole. children." "Now don't cry. baby." "Papa will fix it in the morning." "ANNABELLE:" "Now." "I'll be the mama." "And you be the papa." "And this is our baby." "Now you go out, and then you come in, and you sniff like this:" "[ANNABELLE SNIFFS]" "And. uh. then you say." ""What's in the stew tonight?"" "Well. come on." "Do it." "[ELIZABETH SNIFFS]" "And I say." ""I haven't even thought about supper." "This baby has been so bad."" "Well, you come in, and then you sniff, and then you say it." "I wanna be the mama." "You can't be the mama." "You're shy." "[WATER SPLASHES]" "You darn fool, I had a bite." " Did not." " I had to." " No. you didn't." " I did to." "[BOTH SHOUTING]" "Boys." "Jimmie." "Hob." "Here." "Boys." "Just stop it." "I'm surprised at you." "I'm surprised at both ol you." "Brawling, fighting like a couple of lrishers over nothing." "When your brother's so sick." "We don't know how he's getting along." "You should be ashamed ol yourselves." "Ashamed." "We were so busy enjoying our new surroundings... we didn't realize haw worried Papa was." "[KIRK COUGHING]" "Open up your mouth." "Open up your mouth 10!" "Mama." "[HARMONICA PLAYING]" "JIMMIE:" "I see a Chippewa." "ROBBIE:" "You're crazy." "Nobody': seen an Indian around these parts in years." "Robbie. is Kirk gonna die?" "Hush up." "You want Papa to heal you?" "Papa." "Aye." "Nothing bad could happen, could it?" "To Kirk." "I mean." "Pesky mosquitoes." "Could ii." "Papa?" "Oh." "Robbie. you're only a lad." "You stay that way yet a while." "Let Papa do the worrying." "I want to know." "Papa." "Come here." "Hob." "That's a sign you're glowing up." "But you see." "It isn't given anybody to know the future." "You hope and you play 10!" "guidance... and. uh. you do what you can within your powers... because if you don't..." "It you don't and the worst happens to somebody that you love... well, then a man cannot live with himself." "When I glow up." "Papa." "I want to be just like you." "I've dried the dishes." "Oh." "Annabelle." "And it is proud I am ol you 10!" "being such a good helper." "Now you go fetch your slate." "It's time 10!" "your ABC's." "Oh. do I have to?" "You know. your mama sets great stole by a gill learning how to lead." "You got the slate, Annabelle?" "[ROBERT SIGHS]" "Now." "Annabelle." "What is that?" " Aye." "Annabelle." "Thank you." "Jim." "And now. darling. tell your papa." "What is that?" ""B." Papa." "It is proud ol you I am." "Now. darling. tell your old papa." "What is that?" ""C-"" "Don't laugh at your sister." "That it looks like a C for a fact." "MAMIE:" "Rob." "What's that?" " No. darling." "Listen." "MAMIE:" "Rob." " Rob." " It's Mama." "You stay here." "All ol you." "Oh." "Mamie." "Rob." "You show me your face, jo." "Then the lad's all light?" "He passed the crisis last night." "And the others?" "Have you been watching 10!" "any sign oi anything?" "Oh. they're fine." "Just fine." "And the baby?" "The baby?" "The baby needs you, jo." "We all need you." "DI." "Delbert said that you can come home on Saturday." "Saturday." "Kirk's fine." "Then nothing bad': gonna happen." "The lad's getting well." "I'll tell them." "[SOBBING]" "That was the only time I ever saw Papa cry." "Here you are." "Kirk." "Now you drink this up like a good boy." "[KIDS SHOUTING]" "Mama." " Mama." " Mama." "Mama." "Hiya." "Kirk." "Look at you." "ANNABELLE:" "Oh, golly, you know, I saw a wolf." "A real live wolf." "You did not." "It was a fox." "It was a wolf." " I saw a wolf." "ROBBIE:" "Did you have a temperature?" " I did see a wolf." "KIRK:" "Yeah, 104." "JIMMIE:" "You did not." "We went to a big house." "Ale you not speaking to me?" "How could you let the children get so dirty?" "Mamie, don't be at me, I'm tired." "Don't talk to me about being tiled." "JIMMIE:" "Yes. it was." "ROBBIE:" "No. it wasn't." "JIMMIE:" "I saw a Chippewa." "A real live Chippewa brave." "ANNABELLE:" "He didn't." "Jimmie should have his mouth washed out with soap." "MAMIE:" "I'm gonna scour his outside first." "Oh, Lizzie, look at your hair." "How could your father let you get like that?" "He did the best he could." "He was awful worried." "Here." "Robbie." "You get the tangles out." "ROBBIE:" "Yes. ma'am." "[ROBERT COUGHING]" "Rob." "Is that...?" " Rob." " Oh." "Open up your mouth." "No." "Mamie." "Go away." "Open up your mouth." " Mama." "I can't get all the tangles..." " Robbie. go 'fetch DI." "Delbert." "Quick." " Rob." " Mm?" "Do you remember when..." "When you were on the expedition... searching for Franklin up at the North Pole?" "Aye." "Well." "I didn't tell you at the time..." ""because I thought you'd be mad at sister Annabelle." "Those three years you were away and no wold... she was after me to wed with Gower MacDerrnott." "Do you remember him with the curly red beard?" "No." "Everyone thought that you were as dead as Franklin." "But I knew you'd come back." "Oh." "[ROBERT COUGHS]" "Then..." "Then why did you go into mourning?" "Oh. it came to me... that it wouldn't be fitting for any man, not even the rich Gower MacDerrnott... to court a maid when she was in mourning 10!" "he!" "late intended." "[ROBERT CHUCKLES." "COUGHS]" "Wasn't that canny ol me." "Hob?" "Canny." "I've often thought on it." "If I'd listened to them and married him..." "Robbie and the rest of the children, they would have taken after Gower... and I would not like that." "Oh." "Mamie." "Nor I." "Just think on it." "Hob." "Not since the children joined us have we been alone like this." "[MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY] and let thy mercy endure forever." "Thankful for the life which though hast given us these seasons... we play thy help now to resign it obediently unto thee." "Amen." "We, therefore, commit his body to the ground." "Earth to earth." "Ashes to ashes. dust to dust." "Looking for the general resurrection on the last day... and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ." "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth." ""Yea." said the spirit... that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them." "God. have mercy upon us." "Amen." "You come here." "Lizzie." "You're going to be the papa." "ELIZABETH:" "I won't, I won't, I won't." "ANNABELLE:" "Yes. you will." " Can't you control your young ones?" " I'll be mama and you papa." "Play outside. bonnie lambs." "Not unless I can be the mama." " Let he!" "be the mama." "Annie." " Oh..." " See?" " Come on." "Lizzie." "Now see?" "You got Mama all upset." "Now you come outside." "And I'll tell you what to do." "[MAMIE SIGHS]" "I'm sorry." "Mrs. Runyon." "I'm so used to children." "You ought to set your cap 10!" "some nice old bachelor." "Thank you." "Mrs. Runyon." "No." "I'll not many again." "Well. then why don't you return to your kin in Scotland?" "Money 10!" "the passage doesn't glow on trees." "Well. perhaps I could take up a collection lo!" "you." "Tum. please." "Now your eldest is a strong boy." "Put him out 10!" "the day." "He's been sweeping at the sawmills all summer." "But his school starts next week." "Book learning is a luxury your offspring can ill afford." "And it's time somebody talked turkey to you." "Mrs. Runyon." "When I need your advice." "I'll ask 10!" "it." "Get me out ol this." "ANNABELLE:" "He's coming. he's coming." "JIMMIE:" "Where?" "ANNABELLE:" "Shh." "Is everybody ready?" " Ale you ready?" " Yeah." "Okay." "[KIDS GIGGLE]" "ANNABELLE:" "Shh." "Be still." "ALL:" "Surprise." "Surprise." "Surprise." "[ALL SINGING "AULD LANG SYNE"]" "KIDS:" "Surprise." "ANNABELLE:" "Here's your present." "Did you make them." "Annie?" "Of course, she didn't make them." "Annie helped." "Gee, Mama, they fit perfect." "Come on." "Robbie." "Cut your cake." "Wait just a second." "I gotta tell Mama something." "You know what MI." "Cullen gave me 10!" "the horse?" "Forty dollars." "That's fine." "Robbie." "But that isn't all." "He gave me a job 10!" "this winter." "Indeed. you have a job 10!" "this winter." "To finish 6th grade." "I told him you'd say that." "So he's letting me work just Saturdays and Sundays." "Know what he's gonna pay me?" "Fifty cents." " For doing what?" " Being coffee boy." "Now don't you start getting a notion about being a logger." "Papa was a logger." "What's the matter with being a logger?" "I won't have you wandering through the woods... with the clashing trees and the bitter cold." "ROBBIE:" "But me and MI." "Cullen shook on it." "And he gave me 50 cents in advance." "MAMIE:" "Well. you'll have to give it back." "ROBBIE:" "You can't give back a handshake." "MAMIE:" "From your father." "Put it on." "KIRK:" "Robbie." "Aren't you ever gonna cut your cake?" "The popcorn's getting cold." "Mama. will you think on it?" " Hi." " Hi." "JIMMIE:" "You know what she was gonna do?" "She said she was gonna take a steamboat to Oshkosh." "ROBBIE:" "Whoa. whoa. whoa." "One at a time." "Here." " Where's Mama?" " Up to Mrs. Raiden's." "She finished the Christmas dresses 10!" "those gills." "Hey. you wanna know what happened to me in the woods today?" " What happened." "Robbie?" " Yeah. tell us." " I met a bear." " A bear?" "[ANNABELLE GASPS]" " Did he growl at you?" " What happened?" "I'm walking down the trail lugging the coffee and cups... and suddenly. there he is." " What did he do?" " Well. he looked at me and I looked at him." "Then I guess." "He heard the tin cups rattling together." "But I just looked him in the eye." "Suddenly, he turned and ran off into the woods." "Oh." "Robbie. weren't you scaled?" "Of course, I wasn't scared." "Then what were you shaking 101?" "Who said anything about shaking?" "You said the cups were rattling and you were standing still... so you must have been shaking." "[DOOR OPENS]" "ANNABELLE:" "Oh." "Mama." "Robbie met a bear in the woods and was scaled to death." "MAMIE:" "Shame on you, Robbie, telling tales to frighten the children." "JIMMIE:" "But he did." "Mama." " Is that true, Robbie?" " Yes, Mama." "Then you don't go back into the woods with the wild animals prowling." "But you depend on me." "I've told you. you don't go back up there." "Not so long as I'm alive." "I'm gonna lie down 10!" "a spell." "Is Mama sick or something?" "[MAMIE SOBBING]" "I can't..." "I know he'll come back." "No." "I tell you. sister Annabelle..." "Robert will come back." "Come back." "ROBBIE:" "DI." "Delbert." "DI." "Delbert." "DI." "Delbert." "Your mama is a sick woman." "A very sick woman." "You mean, she might not get well?" "Well. it's typhoid." "Typhoid fever?" "Your mama's not as strong as she was." "You'd better get Mrs. Pugmister to take over." "She's away until after New Year's." "[DELBERT SIGHS]" "You ought to have somebody." "We'll be all right." "I'll stay home from school." "Your mama probably won't like that... but I'll get Mrs. Delbert to look in every little while." "One of you boys come running if there's any change." "What are you standing around 101?" "Get to bed." "You're not the boss around here." "[ORGAN PLAYING "DECK THE HALLS"]" "What do you want?" "GIRL 1:" "Jimmie. we think you're cute." "Ah. shut up." "GIRL 2:" "We think you're the prettiest wise man of all." "Come along, girls." "Hurry back to your seats." "We're ready to start." "MAN:" "This way." "Come over here." "And you here." "That's it." "Where's my frankincense?" " Oh. no." "WOMAN:" "Here it is." " Oh, yes." " Here you are, Howie." "Where's Joseph?" "BOY:" "Here I am." "Hob?" "Is that you." "Hob?" "No." "Mama." "It's me." "Robbie." "Where are the children?" "Jimmie and Kirk are being wise men." "I want to see them." "Now." "Mama?" "I've..." "I've got to see them all." "ROBBIE:" "Annabelle." "Go and get Jimmie and Kirk. quick." "[ORGAN PLAYING "GOOD KING WENCESLAS"]" "Jimmie." "Kirk." "Robbie said to come home quick." "It's Mama." "Come on." "Hello." "Mama." "Hello." "Mama." "JANE:" "Hello." "Mama." "ROBBIE:" "We're all here." "Mama." "James." "Kirk." "Annabelle." "Lizzie." "How nice ol my brothels and sisters... to come and visit me... all the way from Fair Isle." "But, Kirk, you" You didn't write." "You could. you know." "I can lead now." "Well, you're all named after family." "Now go on. get out." "Mama don't wanna be bothered." "[SOBBING]" "MAMIE:" "Robbie." "Yes." "Mama?" "Come here." "I'm ﬂighty." "Not now. you're not." "I know they're my children." "And they're bonnie. aren't they?" "Yes." "Mama." "Anybody would want them." "What are you talking about?" "Your brothels and sisters have to have homes." "Good homes where they're wanted and loved." "Janie's such a wee one still." "I'll take care ol them." "Mama." "I promise." "It's too big a job lo!" "such a small lad." "But you know what your brothels and sisters are like." "I want you to decide where they're to be offered." "Don't talk like that, Mama." "Place them with families that have children of their own... so that they won't be so lonesome to!" "each other." "Robbie..." "I don't know what I would have done without you." "You've truly been a man ol the house." "And..." "Find a good place for yourself." "Don't worry about me." "[BELL TOLLING]" "Well." "DI." "Delbert. what are we gonna do about these orphans?" "Mrs. Runyon, have you no feeling?" "I suggest you call an emergency meeting ol the council." "And the sooner the better, DI." "Delbert." "Mrs. Runyon. there is a time and place." "But this is neither." "Robbie." "She shouldn't have said that light now... but, of course, we are going to have to find a place for you." "Mama said I was to decide where we were to go." " You." "Robbie?" " Yes. sir." "I'm..." "I'm head ol the family now." "But..." "But you're only 12." "Why don't you come to see us this afternoon?" "Maybe by then. we'll have a plan." "But tomorrow's Christmas." "Can't us kids stay together just to!" "Christmas?" "Well." "I don't know." "You children all alone in that house at night." "Probably be our last chance to be together on Christmas." "So can't we make up our minds day after tomorrow?" "That's not too much to ask. is it?" "No." "Jimmie." "I don't think it is." "ROBBIE:" "A wink of his eye and a twist of his head" "Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread" "He spoke not a word, But went straight to his work" "And filled all the stockings, Then turned with a jerk" "And laying his finger aside of his nose And giving a nod. up the chimney he rose" "He sprang to his sleigh, To the team gave a whistle" "And away they all ﬂew Like the down of a thistle" "But I heard him exclaim As they drove out of sight" "Happy Christmas to all To all a good night" "Jane's asleep." " I'll go get the slate." "Shh." " What 101?" "Take he!" "to bed." "What you gonna do?" "Make a list of families that like kids." "What about the Tylers?" "They're well-fixed." "The Tylers?" "For whom?" "Annabelle." "All they've got':" "Howie and Bruce." "They might like a gill to help Mrs. Tyler." "Well. maybe." "But it don't cut no ice what we think." "Mama said I was to decide." "And if I don't quick, we'll all end up in the state home, orphans." "That's what we are. aren't we?" "No. and we never will be." "Well. anyway. they won't let you decide." "Not if I wait till day after tomorrow." "And tomorrow's the best day 10!" "me to do what Mama told me." "But tomorrow's Christmas." "That's just it." "On Christmas. we ought to get just about anybody we want to take any ol us in." "See?" "MR. TYLER:" "What we ale about to receive this Christmas Day... may the Lord make us truly thankful." "[MR. TYLER CLEARS THROAT]" " Amen." "HOWIE:" "Amen." "BRUCE:" "Amen." "KATIE:" "Amen." "Papa." "I want the drumstick. remember?" "BRUCE:" "Me too." "Now, hold your horses or you'll get the part that went over the fence last." "Oh." "I 'feel so bad about the Eunson children." "They're probably having dinner with the Delberts or Bradleys." "Well. we should have made sure." "[KNOCKING ON DOOR]" "Wonder who that would be." "Folks should be at home enjoying Christmas dinner this time of day." "Papa, what's frankincense?" "It's what one ol the wise men took to the baby Jesus." "I know that." "I took it to him. but what is it?" "Look who I found." "Robbie Eunson." "And Annabelle." "You'll have Christmas dinner with us." "And don't argue." "We won't take no." "We certainly will not." "Begging your pardon, Mrs. Tyler." "Yes?" "Jimmie and I was wondering ii you... ll you didn't need a..." "Well. a sort ol sister 10!" "Howie and Bruce." "But I'm your sister." "Robbie." "I know you are." "Annie." "But you could be their sister too." "Annie's a good girl, and she'd be an awful help to you." "She"" "She was learning to sew." "And she can wipe dishes... and she knows he!" "ABC's." "A. B. C." " D. E." " What you got in that bundle?" "F. G..." "My clothes. silly." "What do you think?" "E. F." "Howard. it's Christmas." "ANNABELLE:" "G. H." " I know." "Katie. but..." "ANNABELLE:" "I." " We've always wanted a gill." "ANNABELLE:" "J. K." "L. M. N." "O. P." "Mama always said Annie was a mighty good helper." "H. S." " T. U. V." " T. U. V." "W. X." "Y. Z." "Do you think you'd like living in our house?" "I don't know." "MI." "Tyler." "Sure, Mr. Tyler." "She'll like it a lot." "She likes anybody that's good to her." "We'll be good to her." "Robbie." "I guess you and I know each other." "I know you." "MI." "Tyler." "For what we have just received, may the Lord make us truly thankful." "Robbie, we were just talking about you." "Come in." "Well. no. thanks." "DI." "Delbert." "I just brought you old Molly." " Old Molly?" " Yes. sir." "Well, uh, I don't quite understand." "Why would you bring me your cow?" "To pay the debt." "For Kirk. and Papa and Mama." "That isn't your debt, boy." "Mama would want me to pay." "I'd be much obliged if you'll take old Molly." "Adam. who is it?" "Oh." "Hello." "Robbie." "Robbie." "Mrs. Delbert and I would be happy to take one ol you children." "Well." "DI." "Delbert, I appreciate it." "But with both your gills married and Millie with a baby and all..." "I see." "Robbie." "That makes us grandparents, doesn't it?" "It's a little late to start a new family, is that it?" "You know Mama and Papa thought the world of you both, but..." "Robbie. you've got a head on your shoulders." "You place the children where you think tit." "And you'll take old Molly?" "I'll take old Molly." "ROBBIE:" "Jimmie." "What's the matter?" "Wouldn't the Potters take her?" "They weren't home." "I thought folks would be home on Christmas." "What are we gonna do?" "We can't keep he!" "out much longer." "She's getting blue." "There's the Fischers." "What about them?" "I'm surprised at you." "James Eunson." "You know how Mama felt about saloons." "[ELIZABETH SOBBING]" "Why. you hush." "Lizzie." "We're doing everything we can to get lid oi you." "[SLEIGH BELLS RINGING]" "What do you think?" "But the Stephens don't have any kids of their own." "Yeah, I know, but you know how Mama felt about book learning and all." "But what ii Lizzie grew up to be a schoolteacher?" "Well. light now. she's homely enough." "Well. maybe it's the best we can do." "Now. you be a good gill, Lizzie." "MR. STEPHENS:" "Whoa." "Well, Robert, Mrs. Stephens and I have just been to your house." "We thought there might be something we could do." "Well..." "Well. there is. if..." "Well. speak up. son. speak up." "I'm not quite the monster you think me in the classroom." "Well." "I was wondering ii you'd like to take Elizabeth." " That's her." " That is she." "Take her?" "Well. sort ol adopt her." "She doesn't look very pretty light now." "But you'll learn to like her." "Mama and Papa did." "Mama never had any favorites... but if she had, I guess Elizabeth would have been the one." " She wasn't her favorite." " Shh!" "You wouldn't care to shoulder this responsibility. would you." "Glace?" "Wouldn't I just." "Look." "Flank." "He!" "eyes are just like yours." "Now. you boys come and see us whenever you can. huh?" "Yes. ma'am." "[MH." "STEPHENS CLICKS TONGUE]" "Her eyes aren't like that old schoolteacher's." "Of course not." "They're like Papa's." "Gee." "She didn't even wave goodbye." "Kids forget awful fast." "Yeah." "RUNYON:" "Now you stay out ol here." "Robbie." "Jimmie." "Mrs. Runyon's inside." "Says she's gonna take Jane." "Runyon?" "Yes. says it's he!" "Christian duty." "She's putting he!" "things on." "What are we gonna do?" "Tell he!" "she's already promised to the Ellises." "She knows them." "She'd ask them." "Well. what are we gonna do." "Robbie?" "I don't know." "Well?" "You can't have Jane." "Mrs. Runyon." "She..." "She's already promised." "She is?" "To whom?" "You don't know them." "I know everybody in Eureka." "Well, these folks, they don't live in Eureka." "They..." "They're..." " Up to Berlin." " That's light, up to Berlin." "I don't believe you." "By whose authority are you children being disposed oi?" "Mama said I was to decide." "You?" "Well." "I'll see about this." "I'll call an emergency meeting ol the council." "And I'll be back." "You take Kirk over to Mr. and Mrs. Cramer." "But we had the Gustafsons wrote down for Kirk." "But they live way up country." "And we only got a short time." "What's that got to do with the price of eggs?" "Don't you see?" "I can't start off with Janie until we get Kirk placed." "JIMMIE:" "But the Cramers, they don't have no kids neither." "ROBBIE:" "But Mrs. Cramer's got the only real piano in town." "Tell he!" "Kirk can fiddle pretty good." "But I don't wanna go." "I want to stay with you." "You can't Kirk." "Nobody': gonna stay here anymore." "But I don't wanna go." "And get a move on." "Don't be a crybaby." "I don't wanna go." "Robbie." "Who do you think you are?" "Annie didn't cry. and Lizzie didn't cry." "You're 10 years old." "Kirk." "Don't you cause no trouble." "Stand on your own two feet." "I don't wanna go." "Robbie." "Go on. get out." "Get out." "Go on." "Go on." "[SOBBING]" "Did the Cramers take Kirk?" "Yeah." "You didn't see old Runyon. did you?" "What you gonna do with Janie?" "Take he!" "up to Berlin." "But I just said that." "Berlin's 10 miles." "I'll pull he!" "up by sled and bring it back to you sometime." "You gonna stay up there?" "Yeah." "I'm gonna work at Cullen's logging camp." "And not go to school no more?" " Mm-mm." " Lucky." "You can keep the sled." "The sled and my skates 10!" "your led sled." "Fail enough?" "Fail enough." "You talked to the Raidens?" "No. but I don't have to." "They'll take me." "Mrs. Raiden's always lollygagging about how she wished she had a boy like me." "Well. she got he!" "wish." "I'll go get the sled." "You better get a move on. or first thing you know. old Runyon will get you." "You like them all right, don't you?" "Like who?" "The Raidens." "I like them all light." "Then what's eating you?" "All those gills." "I can just heal them:" ""This is our new brothel, Jimmie." "Ain't he cute?"" "Well. ain't you?" "Give up?" "Give up." "Let me go." "Not till you say you're cute." "I'm cute." "Say it again." "All right, I'm cute." "[BOTH LAUGH]" "I'm sorry I popped you one." "Robbie." "I had it coming to me." "But you ought to watch your temper." "Jimmie." "Yeah." "I got a terrible temper." "You gonna sell it?" "ROBBIE:" "Not light away." "You go first." "You'll come down once in a while?" "Sure. every chance I get." "And don't start wearing dresses with all those gills around." "You shut up." "[FOOTSTEPS]" "[KIDS LAUGH]" "[LAUGHTER]" "[BELL JINGLING]" "Well. 10!" "mercy': sake." "Please, ma'am." "I was wondering if you'd care to have my sister." "You're sure you'll be all light?" "Yes. ma'am." "I'll be fine." "Well, don't worry about your baby sister." "We'll take care ol her." "Thank you. ma'am." "You come see he!" "sometime." "Yes. ma'am." "[ENGLISH SDH]"