"I declare," he said, grinning, "we ain't had a meal like this since Nancy died."
Abe jumped up at the mention of his mother's name. He was afraid that he was going to cry. He had started for the door, when he felt his father's rough hand on his shoulder.
"Abe Lincoln, you set right down there and finish your cornbread."
Abe looked up at Tom out of frightened gray eyes. But he shook his head. "I can't, Pa."
"A nice way to treat your new ma!" Tom Lincoln sounded both angry and embarrassed. "You clean up your plate or I'll give you a good hiding."
The young Johnstons gasped. Abe could hear Sally's whisper: "Please, Abe! Do as Pa says." Then he heard another voice.
"Let the boy be, Tom." It was Sarah Lincoln speaking.
There was something about the way she said it that made Abe decide to come back and sit down. He managed somehow to eat the rest of his cornbread. He looked up and saw that she was smiling at him again. He almost smiled back.
Sarah looked relieved. "Abe and I," she said, "are going to have plenty of chance to get acquainted."