Uncle Tom's Cabin Chapter 24

After Alfred and Henrique leave, Eva's condition rapidly deteriorates until she is soon bedridden. Marie becomes insufferable, at first telling St. Clare that the child could not possibly be in as ill health as she. Later, when Eva's condition becomes pronounced, she changes her tune, loudly proclaiming that she saw it coming all along and insisting that no one could feel as bad as she, seeing her only daughter going "to the grave" before her very eyes. St. Clare tells her not to be so rash, that the physician says there is room for hope, and Marie tells him he only feels that way because he could not possibly be as concerned and aggrieved as she. Eva overhears her mother and cries, feeling bad that she should be the cause of her mother's distress. Eva's symptoms begin to improve, but she knows that it is only for a short time. She is at peace with death, knowing that she will end up in Heaven, but she is sad for her father, knowing what grief her passing will cause. One day, she tells Tom that she understands why Jesus wanted to die for their sins, as she has felt the same way.

Topic Tracking: Redemption 6

He asks her what she means, and she tells him that what she has seen--the slaves on the boat, Prue--has caused her such grief that she would die for them if she could. Later, Tom says to Mammy:

"'It's jest no use tryin' to keep Miss Eva here. She's got the Lord's mark on her forehead.'" Chapter 24, pg. 274

Eva tells her father that she knows she is going to leave him soon and bursts into tears. He tells her not to cry, that she will soon be better, but she tells him not to deceive himself or try to shield her from the truth:

"'O, that's what troubles me, papa. You want me to live so happy, and never have any pain,--never suffer anything,--not even hear a sad story, when other poor creatures have nothing but pain and sorrow, all their lives;--it seems selfish. I ought to know such things, I ought to feel about them! Such things always sunk into my heart; they went down deep; I've thought and thought about them. Papa, isn't there any way to have all slaves made free?'" Chapter 24, pg. 275

She tells him that if not for him, she would want to go. He asks her why, and she tells him that her heart aches for their servants, and she wants them all to be free. She asks him if there is any way to have all slaves freed, and he tells her that while he agrees that slavery is bad, he does not know what to do about it. She begs him to try to persuade people that slavery is wrong and to do something about it after she dies. He asks her not to say such things, remarking that she is all he has. She asks him to give Tom his freedom after she dies, and he tells her that he will do anything she asks. She tells him she wishes he could go with her. He hugs her tight and takes her up to her room, where he rocks her to sleep.