All Mine to Give Page #3

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. Raiden

and their five girls.

The twins had their eyes on Jimmie.

Now careful, Annabelle, careful.

- There.

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 brothers.

Children are not all of 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 for you

to spar with girls.

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.

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, girls.

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 of them

come down with it.

After they've gone, you put Kirk to bed.

Keep him warm,

swab his throat every two hours.

And if 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 of 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...

Stand back.

Don't come any closer.

Find your brothers and sisters,

wait outside.

Your father's taking you

into the woods for a spell.

- Why?

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.

Be careful, Annie.

Wait, wait.

- Yes, Mamie?

- Here.

Oh, Mamie, don't worry, I will be fine.

The children will be fine.

- We'll take good care of the children.

- Goodbye, Mama.

The children will be fine. Bye-bye.

Oh, there, there. Here.

Janie.

- There.

There, Lizzie, darling.

Watch the hole, children.

Now don't cry, baby.

Papa will fix it in the morning.

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:

And, uh, then you say,

"What's in the stew tonight?"

Well, come on. Do it.

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.

You darn fool, I had a bite.

- Did not.

- I had to.

- No, you didn't.

- I did to.

Boys. Jimmie, Rob.

Here. Boys.

Just stop it.

I'm surprised at you.

I'm surprised at both of you.

Brawling, fighting like a couple of Irishers

over nothing.

When your brother's so sick,

we don't know how he's getting along.

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Ashamed.

We were so busy enjoying

our new surroundings...

...we didn't realize

how worried Papa was.

Open up your mouth.

Open up your mouth for Mama.

I see a Chippewa.

You're crazy.

Nobody's seen an Indian

around these parts in years.

Robbie, is Kirk gonna die?

Hush up. You want Papa to hear you?

Papa.

Aye.

Nothing bad could happen, could it?

To Kirk, I mean.

Pesky mosquitoes.

Could it, 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, Rob.

That's a sign you're growing up.

But you see,

it isn't given anybody to know the future.

You hope and you pray for guidance...

...and, uh, you do what you can

within your powers...

...because if you don't...

If you don't and the worst happens

to somebody that you love...

...well, then a man

cannot live with himself.

When I grow up, Papa,

I want to be just like you.

I've dried the dishes.

Oh, Annabelle.

And it is proud I am of you

for being such a good helper.

Now you go fetch your slate.

It's time for your ABC's.

Oh, do I have to?

You know, your mama sets great store

by a girl learning how to read.

You got the slate, Annabelle?

Now, Annabelle.

What is that?

- "A."

- Aye, Annabelle.

Thank you, Jim.

And now, darling, tell your papa.

What is that?

"B," Papa.

It is proud of 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.

Rob.

What's that?

- "G."

- No, darling.

Listen.

Rob.

- Rob.

- It's Mama.

You stay here. All of you.

Oh, Mamie.

Rob.

You show me your face, jo.

Then the lad's all right?

He passed the crisis last night.

And the others?

Have you been watching

for any sign of anything?

Oh, they're fine. Just fine.

And the baby?

The baby?

The baby needs you, jo.

We all need you.

Dr. Delbert said

that you can come home on Saturday.

Saturday.

Kirk's fine.

Then nothing bad's gonna happen.

The lad's getting well.

I'll tell them.

That was the only time

I ever saw Papa cry.

Here you are, Kirk.

Now you drink this up like a good boy.

Mama.

- Mama.

- Mama, Mama.

Hiya, Kirk.

Look at you.

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.

Did you have a temperature?

- I did see a wolf.

Yeah, 104.

You did not.

We went to a big house.

Are 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 tired.

Yes, it was.

No, it wasn't.

I saw a Chippewa.

A real live Chippewa brave.

He didn't. Jimmie should

have his mouth washed out with soap.

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.

Yes, ma'am.

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...

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