Transcription
Uncle Tom's cabin. I'm thinking of poor Uncle Tom, So generous, kind, and brave; The white man came when he was young. And claim'd him as his slave. Accursed he those sordid knaves Across th' Atlantic sea. Who traffic thus in human flesh, In a land they boast as free ! Oh. poor Tom. poor Uncle Tom. For thee kind pity's tear we crave ; Oh, poor Tom. poor Uncle Tom, The good old negro slave ! Awhile amid his lot so drear. Some joy 'twas his to find : His wife and little ones were dear, His master, too. was kind. His cabin it was clean and neat. He'd all he wished to crave ; And thus with a contented mind, Forgot he was a slave. But fortune on his master frown'd. When years thus on had roll'd ; And Uncle Tom, his faithful slave, Was to another sold. In vain lor mercy he did pray? Oh, what a scene was there ! Tom from his wife and little ones, The bondsman's chain to bear. Alas ! who changed was poor Tom's fate, How heavy were his cares ; Doom'd to endure the galling lash. In fain were all his tears. How scant his meal, his dwelling too, A wretched, filthy shed ; And after many hours of toil, A heap of straw his bed. And thus for many a weary year Did Uncle Tom remain ; When heaven, in mercy. to his home Restored him once again. The poor old negro's toil was o'er. At length repose was nigh : He saw his wise and little ones, he saw them?but to die! And shall the sordid, brutal wretch, Of human souls the ban ? Shall he who is but man himself, Enslave his fellow man ? Oh, are we not kith and kin? Then all united be, To give to each other a brother's hand, And set the black man free.
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Probable period of publication:
1852-1859 shelfmark: L.C.Fol.178.A.2(052)
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