SCENE II—The flat represents the lake.—The rays of the setting sun tinge the waters with gold.— A large tree R. 3. E.—Beneath this a grassy bank, on which EVA [L.] and TOM [R.] are seated side by side. EVA has a Bible open on her lap.—Music. Tom. Read dat passage again, please, Miss Eva? Eva. [Reading.] “And I saw a sea of glass, mingled with fire.” [Stopping suddenly and pointing to lake.] Tom, there it is! Tom. What, Miss Eva? Eva. Don't you see there? There's a “sea of glass mingled with fire.” Tom. True enough, Miss Eva. [Sings.] Oh, had I the wings of the morning, Eva. Where do you suppose New Jerusalem is, Uncle Tom? Tom. Oh, up in the clouds, Miss Eva. Eva. Then I think I see it. Look in those clouds, they look like great gates of pearl; and you can see beyond them—far, far off—it's all gold! Tom, sing about 'spirits bright.' Tom. [Sings.] I see a band of spirits bright, Eva. Uncle Tom, I've seen them. Tom. To be sure you have; you are one of them yourself. You are the brightest spirit I ever saw. Eva. They come to me sometimes in my sleep—those spirits bright— They are all robed in spotless white, Uncle Tom, I'm going there. Tom. Where, Miss Eva? Eva. [Pointing to the sky.] I'm going there, to the spirits bright, Tom; I'm going before long. Tom. It's jest no use tryin' to keep Miss Eva here; I've allays said so. She's got the Lord's mark in her forehead. She wasn't never like a child that's to live—there was always something deep in her eyes.
St. C. Ah! my little pussy, you look as blooming as a rose! You are better now-a-days, are you not? Eva. Papa, I've had things I wanted to say to you a great while. I want to say them now, before I get weaker. St. C. Nay, this is an idle fear, Eva; you know you grow stronger every day. Eva. It's all no use, papa, to keep it to myself any longer. The time is coming that I am going to leave you, I am going, and never to come back. St. C. Oh, now, my dear little Eva! you've got nervous and low spirited; you mustn't indulge such gloomy thoughts. Eva. No, papa, don't deceive yourself, I am not any better; I know it perfectly well, and I am going before long. I am not nervous—I am not low spirited. If it were not for you, papa, and my friends, I should be perfectly happy. I want to go—I long to go! St. C. Why, dear child, what has made your poor little heart so sad? You have everything to make you happy that could be given you. Eva. I had rather be in heaven! There are a great many things here that make me sad—that seem dreadful to me; I had rather be there; but I don't want to leave you—it almost breaks my heart! St. C. What makes you sad, and what seems dreadful, Eva? Eva. I feel sad for our poor people; they love me dearly, and they are all good and kind to me. I wish, papa, they were all free! St. C. Why, Eva, child, don't you think they are well enough off now? Eva. [Not heeding the question.] Papa, isn't there a way to have slaves made free? When I am dead, papa, then you will think of me and do it for my sake? St. C. When you are dead, Eva? Oh, child, don't talk to me so. You are all I have on earth! Eva. Papa, these poor creatures love their children as much as you do me. Tom loves his children. Oh, do something for them! St. C. There, there, darling; only don't distress yourself, and don't talk of dying, and I will do anything you wish. Eva. And promise me, dear father, that Tom shall have his freedom as soon as—[Hesitating.]—I am gone! St. C. Yes, dear, I will do anything in the world—anything you could ask me to. There, Tom, take her to her chamber, this evening air is too chill for her. TOM takes EVA in his arms, and exits R. U. E. St. C.[Gazing mournfully after EVA.] Has there ever been a child like Eva? Yes, there has been; but their names are always on grave-stones, and their sweet smiles, their heavenly eyes, their singular words and ways, are among the buried treasures of yearning hearts. It is as if heaven had an especial band of angels, whose office it is to sojourn for a season here, and endear to them the wayward human heart, that they might bear it upward with them in their homeward flight. When you see that deep, spiritual light in the eye, when the little soul reveals itself in words sweeter and wiser than the ordinary words of children, hope not to retain that child; for the seal of heaven is on it, and the light of immortality looks out from its eyes! [Music.—Exit R. U. E.] |