Tom placed a firm hand on Abraham's arm. He stared at him and leaned closer. "This money is very important to all of us, son. So don't you ever come home without it... understand me, boy?"



"Yessir, Pa. I mean no, sir, Pa! I won't." Abraham forgot he had hidden a book inside his linsey-woolsey shirt. He pulled it aside and showed his father the special pocket his mother had sewn for him. "I'll keep it right here, Pa, see?"



Tom's temper changed like the wind. "Didn't I tell you no more books in my house, boy!" He slammed his fist down on the table and stood up abruptly, spilling the pitcher of milk. The children were startled by his outburst and jumped. "Give it here!" Abraham reluctantly passed the book to his father and he threw it across the room. "You mess up this job, boy, an' I swaney I'll--"



"I won't, Pa! I promise! You can count on me!"

"Really?" Tom snapped. "For the last five years, all I been able to count on is you disappointing an' disobeying me!"



Young Abraham has big dreams--but after his mother dies from the dreaded milk sickness, life in the Lincoln home becomes very harsh indeed. Now he and his siblings face a hardscrabble life in the Indiana wilderness with a father who is distant and unforgiving. As his father pushes him to learn to become a man through hard physical labor, Abraham sees his chance of going to school and getting an education slowly slipping away. The words of his dying mother, though, continue to ring in his ears, "Never give up on your dreams, son. No matter how hard things may get. Promise me you'll never quit!"