Freedom Bound

Freedom Bound

“Hey! Catch him!” A tall, rough overseer rushed across the cotton fields. Josie picked up her mud-covered skirts and leapt back. Her back ached and her mouth was filled with grit from the plants and dirt. Sweat trickled down her face. She shaded the sun from her dark brown eyes. She wiped her dusky brow. The overseer sprinted over, followed by many more, to catch a young teenage boy who was trying to run away. Because of this, the overseers were dashing, leaping, and pursuing him. The boy was nimble, but he was soon outnumbered. He was suppressed by the overseers. A whip cracked, a scream broke out, and Josie turned her pretty head away from the sight. She almost stumbled over her little sister, Amy. Amy cried, “What’s the matter, Josie?” Josie’s dark-haired little sister looked at her with mournful brown eyes twitching with emotion. Josie sighed. She put her gentle, dirty and under her sister’s chin and looked tenderly into her eyes. Amy’s arms reach out, and Josie picked her up. They embraced each other for just a moment, when suddenly Amy remembered her errand and cried,

“Oh! Josie! You are wanted in the kitchen! Fly now! Fly! Missus is in a mighty bad mood.”

“Alright dearest. Goodbye!” Josie smiled.

“Bye!” Amy waved till Josie was out of sight. Josie strode back to the kitchen. She was a tall, fourteen year old girl, living with her Momma and Poppa and sisters on a Kentucky farm. Their Master and Mistress were strict and worked their slaves constantly. Josie labored in the fields from dawn till suppertime. She got no lunch, only a sip of water and sometimes an extra biscuit sent by one of her five little sisters. Amy, Carrie, Kelly, Sarah, and Nellie were their names. Josie’s brothers, John and Samuel, had been sold South last month. Josie was soon to have the same fate. She hoped and prayed and believed that someday she and her family would be freed by the wonderful people who were a part of the Underground Railroad. She had heard murmurings from the slaves that a quail would call in the spring and they would have to follow the Drinkin’ Gourd. The song that gave people like Josie hope went something like this:

“When the sun comes back and the first quail calls, follow the Drinking Gourd. For the old man’s a-waitin’ for to carry you to freedom if you follow the Drinkin’ Gourd.”

Josie hummed this tune and washed on the porch just outside the kitchen. She splashed the icy water on her face and then, smoothing her apron, went speedily into the house.

~~~

“My, Josie gal’! Where’ve ye been? Missis us anxious dat di ‘ere meal be jest right. Comp’ny is comin’ tonight!”

“Well, I’m here now, Lizzy! Where’s my Momma?”

“She’s asettin’ de table. Now, here, mix up a batch of yer Momma’s fine biscuits. I’s had a real compee’tition with yer Momma’s biscuits. She’s a’most as good a cook as me,” Lizzy bragged and gossiped while Josie went around helping Lizzie. Lizzie paused as Momma came in.

“Hello, Momma!” Josie smiled, never pausing from her work.

“Dear me, Josie! Missus is having you serve tonight. You best get dressed real quick!”

“Oh my, nobody told me!” Josie flew to get her uniform.

Lizzie looked sheepish as she blundered, “Guess I’s forgot to mention it.” Josie brought in heaping trays full of food to the dining room, where the Master, Mistress, and their guest were seated.

“My, my, Josie! We’re a little late today, aren’t we?”

“Sorry, Master.” Josie placed the silver trays that heaped with food on the table and stepped back into a far corner.

“She’s a handsome ‘un.” The guest observed. He was a fat man, with a gold tooth and a double chin. His bulky frame shifted to get a closer look at Josie. She blushed and sighed.

“Ah, but I know what yee’re going to pree’pose, and let’s just dispose of it now. Josie is a fine gal, and you’da have to pay a preety penny for ‘er.” Josie’s master cut into the fat pork.

“Aye? I’m a willin’! Come ‘ere gal.” Josie went obediently forward. “Open yer mouth, gal.” Josie blushed more deeply than ever and gazed helplessly at her master.

“Come on, now Josie! Do as yer told.” He kept slicing pork without looking up. At that, Josie’s rosy lips widened.

“Wider!” The trader put a grimy finger to his lips as he thought. He commanded Josie to spring and placed his grimy hands on her shoulders as he finally exclaimed, “Well!”

“Well?” Josie’s master sighed. “Can we PLEASE just move on with our supper?”

The man, who was anxious to obtain his prize shook his head thoughtfully, “Ah, but we have not talked business.”

“Business, Fredrich? Ah, well, what’ll ye give for her?”

“Daniel!” The mistress had been quiet, but she now almost shouted, horrified at her husband’s hasty actions. She sprang out of her chair, and her husband looked up at her. Her blonde hair was in its usual touching bun; her hazel eyes flashed with rage, her pale face flushed a deep pink and she clicked her heels under her long, lacy, elegant dress. Her husband looked down and dabbed a handkerchief to his face as he blunderingly replied, “My wife. I’ll get ye a new gal. For now I just want me supper! What’ll ye give?” With that the mistress flew out of the room. Her husband shook timidly as he gazed at Fredrich.

“I’ll be a’willin’ to a two thousand dollar sum.” The man’s gold tooth glittered.

“Three thousand and two hundred.”

“Three thousand.

“Done.” Josie’s master signed his name on Josie’s paper with a flourish. He then dug into his potatoes.

“Return to your cabin, Josie. Get yer things ready by tomorrow morning, 6:00 A.M. sharp!” The trader’s evil grin terrified her. Because of the tone in her master’s voice, Josie knew that struggling was worthless. She curtsied with an expression of total despair. Reaching the outdoors she was sobbing. In her gloom she forgot to shut the door.

Lizzie exclaimed, “What’s de matter, Josie, gal?” Josie ignored her as she fled. On she ran, on towards home, on she capered. She reached the cabin. She slowed her sobs, washed, and stood at the window. Inside she espied her father, lounging in a rocker with little, giggling girls climbing all over him. Her sisters pulled his beard, felt his whiskers and played with his pipe. He smiled and stroked their black curls tenderly. Her mother was bent over the stove with a spoon, carefully stirring the soup she was painstakingly simmering for her family. Josie’s heart ached. She felt a lump rising in her throat, and no matter how hard she swallowed, it just came up again. It burst forth into tears, but she wiped them hurriedly away and stepped inside the cabin.

“Josie’s home!” Five little dusky figures swarmed over to her. Five little skirts swished, five little beings hugged her, kissed her, pulled at her skirts and romped merrily.

“Oh, you girls! Leave your poor sister alone a minute!” Momma laughed.

“Oh, no, Momma! They mean no harm!” Josie bent to caress each. She sighed inwardly, but she tried to be brave on the outside. At supper she was solemn and spoke only when spoken to. She tucked her little sisters in bed and met her parents, where, by the crackling fire, her father put a log on. Her momma’s knitting needles click-clacked. The needles stopped their rhythmic click-clacking as Momma exclaimed,

“Josie! Something is troubling you! What dear? Tell me, please?”

“Oh, Momma!” In a broken voice, her breast heaving with emotion, Josie threw herself into her momma’s lap. “Master sold me, Momma!”

~~~

Josie lay in bed, miserable. She rolled over and slipped out of bed. The moonlight shone peacefully through her window. The little cabin was divided into mini rooms by curtains. In the moonlight she gazed outside. The moonlight calmed her. It shone on her, yellow and beautiful. The stars sang, sparkling in the heavens. Her face lifted upward.

“Oh, Lord! I need you, now! Please help me!” A spark of light shone from the forest. The Drinkin’ Gourd’ (or the Big Dipper), shone down. A mournful sound filled Josie’s ears and heart. Her lamentation left her mind. She listened. There it was again! A lone quail call sounded. She rose up hastily.

“Momma, Poppa! The quail! The Drinkin’ Gourd! Oh Momma! Poppa! Amy, Carrie! Kelly, Sarah! Little Nellie! We’re free!” Josie’s cries woke everyone. Everything happened in a blur. Josie’s heart pounded and her arms shook as she helped her sisters. They had no idea of what was going on, except for Amy, but their parents and older sisters seemed to know what was happening, so they were quietly submissive. Momma, who had her arms full of bundles, nodded to Poppa. Then their trek began. A lantern flashed suddenly, as they slipped cautiously through the fields.

“Halt! Who goes there?” A guard called out sharply. Josie’s heart jumped to her mouth.

Despair filled her as she screamed, “Run! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!” Her heart was now pounding like a jack hammer. Her legs were rubbery, and her two youngest sisters were in her arms, with a satchel on her throbbing back. Her aching chest pounded. She stumbled. Her feet were bare, cut, and blistered from the constant pounding of her feet on the earth. She tripped on rocks, stones, cut her feet up with thorns, but she didn’t feel it. Her arms grew tired and weak, but she pressed on with her parents. Then she heard a dreaded sound: HOUNDS! The deep baying and barking was followed by a, “Track ‘em boy!” She could just picture the hounds, with their long, ugly noses pressed to the ground. Hounds, who could rip their prey to pieces in an instant. Josie clutched her sisters closer to her. Momma stumbled and fell. Poppa helped her up. Then she fell again. Because of their hasty retreat and the cumbersome packages, she had sprained her ankle. Poppa lifted her gently with his strong arms. They went on and on until finally they came to a dead end.

“We’re stuck!” Amy shrieked.

“What are we going to do?” Momma groaned. Poppa’s face was dead white. Josie looked up. She had a premonition. The Drinkin’ Gourd was up in the sky, looking down on them. It seemed to pierce right into Josie’s heart. A little bird flitted to the right.

“Momma! Poppa! This way!” She pushed back some of the brush and came to a river. Its waters soared and gushed mercilessly. She gasped. Then she bravely dipped her foot in. The raging waters swirled around her angrily. They tried to suck her in. She tramped through the rocks and with her sisters in her arms, she crossed that river. Amy clung trustingly to her dress, holding Carrie’s hand. Kelly tripped beside her. Nellie and Sarah were in her arms and on her back. She felt a feeling of courage well up in her.

“My little sisters are depending on me,” she thought to herself. “I can’t let them or Momma or Poppa down.” After they had crossed, they rose on the bank. They sighed with relief and braced themselves for the next leg of the journey. Running, dashing, hurrying, and tripping along, they made their way forward. A week passed. They were all weary, sore and terribly hungry. A constant gnawing was always at the pit of their stomachs. Josie had found a patch of strawberries and they had filled buckets with them, but that was long ago. They hadn’t had any food at all for two days and barely any at all for the five previous days. Momma still couldn’t walk and the girls stumbled. Then, in the brush ahead, Josie saw a sliver of blue.

A man called, “Welcome to the Underground Railroad!”

“Oh! We made it!” Momma sobbed. Poppa cheered. The girls giggled, without knowing why, and Josie stood there, mud-caked, dirty, sweaty and exhausted. Tears of joy flowed freely down her cheeks, and a feeling of accomplishment surged through her. They got in a rowboat. In the twilight, the rest of the family slept; the strange man rowed, and Josie wiped a tear away. They had made it. There were rivers to cross and mountains to climb, but Josie didn’t care. Somehow, someway they would make it North-to FREEDOM!