UTC
The Christian Slave
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Boston: Phillips, Sampson, 1855

SCENE IX.—An Arbor, looking out on Lake Ponchartrain. -- UNCLE TOM and -- EVA.


Eva.

  O, Uncle Tom, I 'm going to read you some such beautiful places!—now, this: "Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne; and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four-and-twenty seats; and upon the seats I saw four-and-twenty elders sitting clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold." Only think of it! [She turns to another place.] And, now, this: "And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass, mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beast stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God, and they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb; saying, Great and marvel-


43

lous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." [Pointing to the lake.] There 't is, Uncle Tom! see! there 't is—a sea of glass mingled with fire!


Uncle Tom.

  What, Miss Eva?


Eva.

  Don't you see—there, that water? There 's a "sea of glass mingled with fire."


Uncle T.

  True enough, Miss Eva. [Sings.]

"O, had I the wings of the morning,
I'd fly away to Canaan's shore!
Bright angels should convey me home,
To the new Jerusalem."

Eva.

  Where do you suppose new Jerusalem is, Uncle Tom?


Uncle T.

  O, 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 way, way beyond them—far, far off—it 's all gold. Tom, sing about "spirits bright!"


Uncle T. [Sings.]
"O, what hath Jesus bought for me!
Before my wondering eyes
Rivers of pure delight I see,
And streams of Paradise.
"I see a band of spirits bright,
That taste the glories there;
They all are robed in spotless white,
And conquering palms they bear."

Eva.

  Uncle Tom, I 've seen them! They come to me sometimes in my sleep, those spirits. [Sings.]

"They are all robed in spotless white,
And conquering palms they bear."

  Uncle Tom, I 'm going there.


Uncle T.

  Where, Miss Eva?


Eva. [Rising and pointing up.]

  I 'm going there, to the spirits bright, Tom; I 'm going before long.


Oph. [Calling from a distance.]

  Eva! Eva! child—come in; the dew is falling! you must not be out there!