 | Uncle Tom's Cabin |  |
SCENE III
Snowy landscape. Uncle Tom's Cabin. Snow on roof. Practicable door and win-
dow. Dark stage. Music. Enter Eliza hastily, with Harry in her arms.
My poor boy! they have sold you, but your mother will save you yet!
(Goes to Cabin and taps on window. Aunt Chloe appears at window with a large
white night-cap on.)
Good Lord! what's that? My sakes alive if it ain't Lizy! Get on
your clothes, old man, quick! I'm gwine to open the door.
(The door opens and Chloe enters followed by Uncle Tom in his shirt sleeves
holding a tallow candle.)
(Holding the light towards Eliza.)
Lord bless you! I'm skeered to look at ye,
Lizy! Are ye tuck sick, or what's come over ye?
ELIZA:
I'm running away, Uncle Tom and Aunt Chloe, carrying off my
child! Master sold him!
TOM & CHLOE:
Sold him!
ELIZA:
Yes, sold him! I crept into the closet by mistress' door tonight and
heard master tell mistress that he had sold my Harry and you, Uncle Tom, both,
to a trader, and that the man was to take possession to-morrow.
CHLOE:
The good lord have pity on us! Oh! it don't seem as if it was true.
What has he done that master should sell him?
ELIZA:
He hasn't done anything—it isn't for that. Master don't want to
sell, and mistress—she's always good. I heard her plead and beg for us, but he
told her 'twas no use—that he was in this man's debt, and he had got the power
over him, and that if he did not pay him off clear, it would end in his having to
sell the place and all the people and move off.
CHLOE:
Well, old man, why don't you run away, too? Will you wait to be
toted down the river, where they kill niggers with hard work and starving? I'd a
heap rather die than go there, any day! There's time for ye, be off with
Lizy—you've got a pass to come and go any time. Come, bustle up, and I'll get
your things together.
TOM:
No, no—I ain't going. Let Eliza go—it's her right. I wouldn't be the
one to say no—'tain't in natur' for her to stay; but you heard what she said? If I
must be sold, or all the people on the place, and everything go to rack, why, let
me be sold. I s'pose I can bar it as well as any one. Mas'r always found me on the
spot—he always will. I never have broken trust, nor used my pass no ways con-
trary to my word, and I never will. It's better for me to go alone, than to break
up the place and sell all. Mas'r ain't to blame, and he'll take care of you and the
poor little 'uns! (Overcome.)
[Description: 916EAF. Page 082.]
Now, old man, what is you gwine to cry for? Does you want to
break this old woman's heart? (Crying.)
ELIZA:
I saw my husband only this afternoon, and I little knew then what
was to come. He told me he was going to run away. Do try, if you can, to get
word to him. Tell him how I went and why I went, and tell him I'm going to try
and find Canada. You must give my love to him, and tell him if I never see him
again on earth, I trust we shall meet in heaven!
TOM:
Dat is right, Lizy, trust in the Lord—he is our best friend—our only
comforter.
ELIZA:
You won't go with me, Uncle Tom?
TOM:
No; time was when I would, but the Lord's given me a work among
these yer poor souls, and I'll stay with 'em and bear my cross with 'em till the
end. It's different with you—it's more'n you could stand, and you'd better go if
you can.
ELIZA:
Uncle Tom, I'll try it!
TOM:
Amen! The lord help ye!
(Exit Eliza and Harry.)
What is you gwine to do, old man! What's to become of you?
TOM:
(Solemnly.)
Him that saved Daniel in the den of lions—that saved the
children in the fiery furnace—Him that walked on the sea and bade the winds
be still—He's alive yet! and I've faith to believe he can deliver me.
CHLOE:
You is right, old man.
TOM:
The Lord is good unto all that trust him, Chloe. (Exeunt into cabin.)
| Uncle Tom's Cabin | |