Follow the Drinking Gourd (3 page)

Then they climbed the last hill.

Down below was Peg Leg Joe

waiting at the wide Ohio River

to carry them across.

Their spirits rose when they saw the old man.

Molly and James and Isaiah, old Hattie and George,

ran to the shore.

Under a starry sky

Joe rowed them across the wide Ohio River.

He told them of hiding places

where they would be safe.

A path of houses stretched like a train

on a secret track leading north to Canada.

He called it the Underground Railroad.

It carried riders to freedom.

The first safe house stood on the hill.

The lamp was lit,

which meant it was safe to come.

Ragged and weary, they waited

while Joe signaled low, with a hoot like an owl.

Then the door opened wide

to welcome the freedom travelers.

They were rushed through the house

to the barn,

for the farmers knew

there were slave catchers near.

A trapdoor in the floor

took them under the barn,

to hide till it was safe to move on.

Then Peg Leg Joe went back to the river

to meet others who followed the drinking gourd.

With danger still near, too close for ease,

the farmer sent the five travelers on.

He drew a map that showed the way north

on the midnight road

to the next safe house, just over two hills.

This time James called the signal,

a hoot like an owl,

that opened the door to a Quaker farm.

The travelers were led to a secret room

hidden behind shelves.

They rested here for many days

and healed their wounds.

Soft beds, full meals, new clothes, hot baths,

washed away some fear and pain.

Isaiah smiled.

When they were strong, they traveled again

from house to house on the underground trail,

still following the drinking gourd north.

Sometimes they traveled on foot,

sometimes by cart.

The wagon they rode near their journey’s end

carried fruit to market

and the runaways to freedom.