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or, The Death of Little Eva By John S. Adams Adapted to a Favorite Melody. Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1852.  Harry Birdoff Collection Harriet Beecher Stowe Center [Dedication:] Written and inscribed to the readers of Uncle Tom's Cabin. [Caption:] "O, if she would only wake and speak once more!" he said; and stooping over her, he spoke in her ear, "Eva darling." The large, blue eyes unclosed, a smile passed over her face; she tried to raise her head and to speak. "Do you know me Eva." "Dear papa," said the child, with a last effort, throwing her arms about his neck. In a moment they dropped again. |
[Epigraph:] "Uncle Tom," said Eva, "I am going there." "Where, Miss Eva!" The child rose and pointed her little hand to the sky; the glow of evening lit her golden hair and flush'd cheek with a kind of unearthly radiance, and her eyes were bent earnestly on the skies. [Song:] "I am going there, I am going there," She said in a voice so gently sweet, That Uncle Tom smooth'd her golden hair, And mused like a child at Eva's feet. Then he thought that her hands had thinner grown, Her skin more clear, her breath more short, That he, poor Tom, would be left alone With the lessons fair Eva to him had taught. And weaker she grew as the months flew past, And calling her father she sweetly said:-- "O Father, my strength it is failing fast, Do let me speak ere it all hath fled!" Then she spake to her friends--"forever love All that is holy, and good, and fair"; And to Uncle Tom--"we shall meet above-- Above--with the holy angels there." "Sweet Eva, my darling," the father said, "Do you know me dear Eva, say, oh say!" Then the child sprang up from its dying bed, But fell again, for its strength gave way. In a breathless silence her friends came round; While her large clear eyes so fix'd and fair, Look'd up to heaven--and a whispering sound Said gently and sweetly--"I'm going there." A glorious smile o'er her features played, Seldom seen in a changing world like this, Then the gentlest of earth--sweet Eva--strayed Forth to a world of endless bliss. Good bye to thee Eva, the tomb hath not A treasure more dear in its close embrace. Good bye, but thou never shalt be forgot, Thy mem'ry in many a heart hath place. |
PERFORMED BY GLIMPSE OF GLORY LEAD VOCALS & CHORUS: David Tate, James Stewart, Constance Harrington PIANO: Lynne Mackey Recorded by Bill Dudley Produced by Bill Wellington Harrisonburg, Virginia Audio encoding at the Digital Media Center, Clemons Library, University of Virginia |