Colonel Sellers
Act II

(A lapse of nine years is supposed to have occurred.
A room in HAWKINS' [log cabin ] at Hawkeye—
poorly furnished. HAWKINS discovered [seated at table.])

HAWKINS

Over nine years since we left Tennessee. We've had our up's and we've had our down's, but the down's have got the advantage now. That Steamboat calamity nearly sent us to the poor house, but the mules set us on our feet again, then Sellers' sugar speculation fetched us down once more. We made money in a tannery but sunk it all in a perpetual motion machine invented by Sellers. Poor Sellers, he means well—but—well, just as soon as he got the Columbia River appropriation [well] under way, along comes the war and [spoils] everything. But thank Heaven, the Tennessee land is safe, the Children will be rich even if we die poor. In the blackest days, I've been sorely tempted to sell it when I had big offers, but I've always had the strength given me to refuse at the last moment. But, to tell the truth, times are blacker now than ever before.

(Enter MRS. HAWKINS.)

MRS. HAWKINS

Si, I don't know what we're going to do. [Fayette, Frankie and Georgie] are not fit to be seen. Their clothes are in such a state, but there's something more serious still, [there's scarcely a bite to eat in the house.

HAWKINS

Why Nancy! Go to Johnson!

MRS. HAWKINS

Johnson indeed! And you saved that man from [ruin] twice! He told Frankie this morning that our bill was running pretty high and turned away without giving him the meat he went for.

HAWKINS

Why Nancy! Is it so bad as that? This is astounding— astounding—

[(Sighing and rising.)]