The Journey Through the Underground Railroad
It was the year 1851. I was only 14 years old. Everyday I worked the fields, everyday I starved, and everyday I wanted freedom. Being born into slavery was hard, I never truly knew what freedom was. While I was still young, I still had a chance to be free. Wanting to be free was a wish that I thought could never become true, something that may never happen,something that would always be in the back of my heart, something that would always be inside of me.
One day, I heard about a lady named Harriet Tubman , also known as “Moses”[1], who was coming, to help free slaves. A once in a lifetime chance this was and I knew if I truly wanted to be free, I could. Then I began to think about my parents, who never had a chance, all they know is how to work the fields. They’d be proud to have me live the life I have always wanted to. This was such a great opportunity for me; it was hard to pass down. Harriet would be taking many slaves; following the North Star, we would make our way to freedom. Leaving on a Saturday meant that we’d have plenty of time to get away to the North, since runaway notices couldn’t be placed in the newspapers until Monday[2].
Dark skies began to creep over the fields, and it was time for my departure to the North, to freedom. We met Harriett off the plantation although she had a horse and buggy, which would be used at the beginning of our journey[3]. The wagon had a trap door on the bottom[4], where we would have to hide and be exceptionally silent. Everyone had to rush; this would be a treacherous, gruesome, and back braking adventure to freedom. It was only a few hours in when we encountered our first slave hunter. He was along the side of the road, looking, staring, and thinking if he should consider checking the buggy. At that moment, I began to worry, I wanted to go back, and I wanted no more of this journey. Getting caught was too much to bear, but the idea of freedom was greater. As the night began to drift away, we made our way to our first station. Immediately after our arrival, we were quickly taken to the cellar, where it was damp, bitter, and miserable, although there were blankets to help keep us toasty. After only a few hours a nice lady brought down breakfast, it was so delicious. She was cheery and beautiful, her eyes were as blue as the sky on a summer day, her hair was as fine as silk, and her smile was as bright as the sun. Being wealthy, she had a lot of money to help support the slaves. Sitting in that basement for hours, we gathered all the rest we could get, since there was another tedious night ahead of us.
Finally, night fell; it was now time for us to travel again. These stations could be anywhere from ten to twenty miles apart[5]. Although I thought the beginning was frightening, it was nothing like what would happen next. We lay in the compartment silent as could be, but after a while, a baby that was traveling with us became very ornery, so Harriet had to give him a drug to stop the bawling. This came just in time, because only a few minutes after, our buggy stopped so suddenly that we all went flying in the compartment. No one made a sound, we listened carefully to the men speaking outside, and they were requesting to check the wagon, suspecting that we were hidden inside. Moments later there was a bang of the doors as they swung open. You could see their flashlights shining luminously up above, but the trap doors were so well hidden that they couldn’t tell we were hiding underneath. At that same exact moment, everyone stopped breathing and waited until the men were gone. It was a close one, but we were lucky. Leaving these tight quarters, were what we wished for, after such a long time being cramped, but we knew we had to be getting close to the next station. Stomachs were beginning to growl, and everyone was getting grouchy, no one wanted to stay any longer, it was just miserable. Once we reached our next station, some people didn’t want to go any further, but Harriet forced us along, by threatening to kill those who didn’t follow[6].
Days went by; we traveled every night in that little buggy. After who knows how many days, we could no longer take the buggy; we had to walk the rest of the way on foot. This would take even longer, I was starting to wish that I had stayed on the plantation, although I kept pushing myself to keep going, I knew that the reward would be magnificent. Walking and walking, we went through the woods, nothing was paved, and we just had to walk. Harriet was a pro, so this was nothing for her, but my feet were growing sore and blistered, my arms and legs were scratched from the branches, every single muscle in my body ached, from my head to my toes. It is nearly impossible to explain such a dreadful feeling. No one could expect something so difficult, but I just kept thinking of what was waiting for me in the North. The station seemed miles and miles away, and never wanted to come closer. Once we finally got there, a nice elderly man was awaiting us. He had food made, to help the growling noise coming from our stomachs. Food had never tasted so delicious in my life. Although we were in a barn, there were places to sit and just relax. The time passed swiftly and, before we knew it, we were on our way once more.
Every day passed along with agony and the time seemed to be slugging along, like a snail. Then finally, we were told by Harriet that it would be our last night of walking, and we would be free into the land of Canada. Walking faster than normal, everyone’s spirits hung high, unlike the other times, there was not one person without a smile the size of the world on their face. My dream would come true, the one that I could never imagine. Morning was arriving and we only had a few miles left till Canada, but we had to hurry, so we wouldn’t be caught. The last steps to freedom were sprinted, they were embraced with joy, and the free land was welcoming us, pulling us closer and closer. As I took those steps I thought of my parents, worrying about me, wondering if I had made it. For some reason, I knew they were proud, even though they had no way of telling if I was free.
Although we had made it to freedom, the challenge wasn’t over; we still had to support ourselves, by making money and finding places to live. This is what I had wanted, to have a job and to do what I enjoyed, without the boundaries and restrictions of my old plantation. All that I had dreamed for came true, even though it was impossible for me to imagine this desire succeeding. Waiting for this moment to happen took forever, but it was all worth it. From this day on I would enjoy my freedom, I would do good deeds, I would help every person I could.
Bibliography
Harriet Tubman. 12 April 2011 <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1535.html>.
Haskins, Jim. Get On Board The Story of the Underground Railroad. Scholastic Inc. : New York, NY, 1993.
"The Underground Railroad." Judgement Day. 29 March 2011 <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html>.
[1] (Harriet Tubman)
[2] (Harriet Tubman)
[3] (Harriet Tubman)
[4] (Haskins)
[5] (The Underground Railroad)
[6] (Harriet Tubman)
Decisions
In life you have many decisions. Allowing other people to make your life altering decisions will be regretted in the end. Your life is yours, not friends, not parents, not anyone’s but yours. There should be no one who tries to change it to what they desire. One decision can change your life forever, so follow your heart, not what is above it.
During Jane Yolen's, "The Hundredth Dove", a man struggles to realize that his decisions should come from the heart, not his king. Once that choice is made, you can’t take it back. Hugh served the high king, every decision he made was because of his motto. ““Servo,” he cried out, his voice shaking. “Servo.” He closed his eyes and twisted the dove’s neck. Then he touched the motto on his tunic. He could feel the word servo impress itself coldly on his fingertips. One quick rip and the motto was torn from his breast he flung it to the meadow floor, put the limp dove in his pouch, and went through the forest to his home.” This decision changed him, “The fowler gave up hunting and lived on berries and fruit the rest of his life. Every day he made his way to the clearing to throw out grain for the birds. Around his neck, from a chain, a gold ring glittered. And occasionally he would touch the spot on his tunic, above his heart, which was shredded and torn.” Even though he had followed the king’s orders to get him one hundred doves, in the end his decision to kill the hundredth dove was wrong, since it was the king’s princess. The whole reason was for him to obey orders, but the choice wouldn’t matter since there wouldn’t be a wedding.
The story “The Hundredth Dove” shows you how you must follow your heart; in real life you must do the same. Getting older means you must decide what career path you want to take, but you don’t want to let someone else influence you to choose a career that you don’t enjoy. Instead you must follow your heart and pick a career that you know would be pleasurable. That is not the only choice that you should make while following your heart, there are smaller ones, such as classes. Who wants to take a class that they have no interest in whatsoever? You want to choose something that you like, not just what your friends and your family like. Not every person is the same and we all have different things that are important to us.
Throughout life there are decisions that can change you, so make sure that you follow your heart. When making a life changing decision, do you follow your heart? Was your choice important to you, or was it influenced? These choices, if not thought through, could destroy you, could change you, and could ruin your life, keeping you from your full potential. Your decision may be small or large, but make sure it comes from the heart, from what is inside you, from who you are, not just the people around you.
Spring to Summer
Melting away the snow, the sun grows warmer. Listening, I hear birds begin to chirp with great happiness. Showing are the first signs of summer; all are awaiting its arrival from those little tastes of warmth and happiness. One day it’s warm and cheery; another it is cold and miserable. No one wants the gloomy weather any longer, no one wants the snow, and no one wants any signs of winter to show. Those days with the summer weather, are welcomed in, while the reminder of winter lurking around is pushed away. Everyone wants to enjoy the days at the beach, the picnics at the park, and the outdoor fun in the evening with the family. Being cooped up inside the house is not an option any longer; listening to the birds outside is. Nothing else can stop this summer from making its full appearance.
