11 March 1854
Sat. 11. Pleasant—Reading & walking A.M. Reading, writing & walking P.M. at Theatre 7 P.M. last night of the Richings—fine house. An amusing incident occurred at the Lyceum last night during the representation of Uncle Tom's Cabin. H. Chapman's daughter, a child of three years and four months age, was engaged to personate "Little Eva" having, for some, time, been under the instruction of its grandmother, Mrs Drake, who had taken a great deal of trouble to drill the child into the performance of the part. The first night the play went off, very well, as far as the child was concerned, until the last scene—in which—Uncle Tom, St Clair and Eva are represented as as ascending to Heaven on a cloud—when the time arrived, Blanche (the girl's name) who had been allowed to go sleep for an hour, being suddenly awoke therefrom, positively refused to g finish her part, declaring that "she wouldn't go to heaven on a board", nor could and neither threats nor entreaties could could change her determination. As the audience were unconscious of what was to have been done Blanche's refusal to finish her part did not mar the effect of the play, but the next night, at the end of the third act, where Eva is supposed to die, Blanch , who seemed to have a dread horror of the ascension which she knew