Mission U.S.

: #2 - Flight to
Freedom
*Im writing in first person, Lucy Kings perspective
I am a 14 year old black slave in Kentucky. It is the year 1848. On Master
Kings plantation there are 15 slaves. On Sundays we get to listen to the
preacher. We have a lot of work to do each day, such as collecting the eggs
or doing the laundry.
-Late August, Chapter 1I wake up and I hear my mother talking to another slave outside. Henry says
hell definitely make it free this time. My mother says hell definitely get sold
south. I decide to keep listening. Henry says he is tired of being treated badly
and my mother tells him running away is foolish. I keep listening. Mother
realizes Ive woken up and calls me, so I go outside. I decide to talk to my
mother, who is tending to Henry. I ask what I can do to help, and mother tells
me to go to the creek to get comfrey root. I ask why. She says it will help heal
Henrys back. The bell rings and mother has to get to the field. She says
shell put it on him when she gets back and I go get the comfrey root. As I
make my way to the creek, Mr. Otis shouts at me. He asks me what I am
doing and I say I am doing nothing. He yells at me and I say I understand. He
gives me three tasks and I go to feed the pigs. I take my time and watch the
pigs play. Then I go the the chicken coop and collect the eggs. After that I go
to the yard to talk to Jonah, my brother. He shoves something behind his
back as I approach and I ask him what he is doing. He tells me hes tending
the garden and I reprimand him for taking Sarahs school book. He says he
wants to learn how to read and I ask him why. He says Master King, Sarah,
and Mr. Otis all learned how to read. I tell him hell be in trouble and he asks
if Mr. Otis will whip him. I tell him probably not, but hell make Jonah do
something like work in the fields. I tell him to hide it after he asks what hell
do, and he says hell do one more word. I disagree and tell him to hide it now.
He says yes. The Mr. Otis asks me if Im done with my work. I tell him I have
one more thing to do, and he calls me lazy and makes me take care of the
smokehouse. He tells me what to do and I say yes. He gives me the key and
tells me to lock the door because he doesnt want slaves stealing meat. I say
yes. Then I go do the laundry. I go down to the creek and take some extra
time to collect comfrey root, then go back and do the laundry. After that I go
get wood from the woodshed to take to the smokehouse. I do a poor job and
disobey Mr. Otis, then bring the wood to the smokehouse. I obey Mr. Otis and
carefully build a fire, then I do some extra work and clean it up a little. I lock
the door as I leave. Esther tells me I need to see Sarah at the Big House, so I
go. I find her in the kitchen. She says Sarahs upstairs waiting and that she

needs me for something. I say Ill go straight up and Esther tells me to talk to
her when Im done because she has something for me to give to Henry. I say
Ill try. Then I go to Ms. Sarahs chambers. She tells me she needs something
from me and I ask what. She tells me she needs me to fix up a new dress
before she leaves. I ask what she wants me to do. She tells me she is
attending a wedding in Ohio and she gives me a picture, which I look at. She
asks if I can make her dress look like that and I tell her Ill do my best. She
says I can do a good job if I pay attention, like when I learned my letters. I
tell her shes a good teacher and I wish I could still practice them. She says
teaching slaves only causes trouble and that it doesnt help me wash
better. I agree with her and Sarah says she expects the dress to be finished
by the time she is done dining. I tell her Ill start now. She leaves and I make
the alternations as she requested, doing the best I can. I spend all my time
on the dress, then I hear the Kings finishing up and I lay Sarahs dress out so
she can see. She opens the door and asks if her dress is ready. I say yes and
ask if she wants to try it on. She leaves for her trip and I go downstairs to
talk to Esther. She tells me she has something to show me and I ask what.
She says she saw Master King and Mr. Otis talking and looking at a poster,
and I look at it. Its about a slave auction and Esther thinks they want to sell
some of the slaves. I ask who and Esther thinks Henry might be the first and
I ask should we warn him. Esther says he already knows and that hes going
to run. She says she hopes hell make it and I agree. Then she asks if I can
give Henry something, and I ask what. She gives me the comfrey and she
says she needs me to tell him something. I ask what and she says she heard
theres a black church in Lexington and I say I will tell him. She tells me to
take care of myself and I thank her. Then I walk outside and finish the
laundry as fast as I could, checked on Jonah, then I go the Big House and
help Esther scrub all the pots and dishes, and then I brought water to those
working at the harvest. When I got back to the quarters it was dark and I
gave Mother the comfrey roots. Then I rested for a moment, but I fell asleep.
I wake to someone yelling Fire! and I find out the smokehouse caught on
fire. Mr. Otis blames me and I let Henry speak. He says that its his fault and I
stay silent. Mr. Otis tells Henry to shut his mouth and I stay silent. Mr. Otis
says hell get the truth tomorrow and I stay silent. Mr. Otis storms off and
when hes gone Henry turns towards me. He says hell run and I ask him
about his food and plans. He says hes been saving food and has made a
plan. I ask him what and he says hell stay off the road. He says he knows a
cave where he can rest, then hell keep going. I ask him what happens next
and he asks what I mean. I say I have a better idea and he says hed like to
hear it. I tell him about what Esther said about Lexington and the black
church. He says going south is going the wrong way, but he trusts Esther and
I say Ill go with him. He tells me to meet him by the creek and bring as
much food as I can. I say Ill meet him there. I go get some food, then go talk
to mom. She asks me what Mr. Otis said and I say hes blaming Henry and I
for the fire and that he wants to sell us down south. She tells me its trouble,
and I ask what I should do. She tells me I had to run and I tell her that Henry

and I are running together. She says she wont let me go without trying to
help me and I ask her what she means. My mother gives me a blanket, which
I take and I thank her. She gives me a pass and I tell her about the church
and asks what she thinks. She says Esther knows a lot of things, but she
knows my father will help me. I ask what I should do. She says she cant tell
me that and I say I better get started. She tells me to find a way across the
river and I say I will, then bid her goodbye. She says goodbye then I leave. I
go to talk to Jonah and he asks me whats happening. I tell him Ill be running
away and he asks if it is because of the smokehouse. I explain the situation
to him and he says he wont let Mr. Otis hurt me. I ask him to calm down and
listen to me. He says yes and I tell him he can help me. He asks me what is it
and I tell him to keep Henrys and Is escape secret. He says yes and I thank
him and leave. Then I take some food and take an axe from the woodshed.
Then I set off with Henry and we run.
-Chapter 2We go to Lexington. We follow Esthers advice and go to the church. They
give us food and we leave. Then we go to the Preston Plantation. On our way
we meet some men. We show them our pass and they believe us. We arrive
there but need to move on immediately. We set off for a cave. We meet a
woman along the road who is carrying a basket of apples. We ask for help
and she takes pity on us and gives us help. We thank her and keep going. We
reach the cave and light a fire before going to sleep. We go to the river
crossing and float across a log. We go into the woods and see a dead wolf,
but sleep here anyway. We go to Dover, Kentucky. We wait until night, steal a
boat, and get across. Then a man spots Henry and I. We split up and some
people chase after Henry. One person sends me to his fathers house. I get
there and knock on the door. The man asks me to come in and asks if I were
followed. I tell him I came alone. He says that is good and introduces himself
as John Rankin the Reverend and I say I am Lucy. He says he is pleased to
meet me and asks his wife to fix me some tea. I thank him and he says that
since Im a fugitive I am still in danger. I ask him what I should be scared of
and he tells me about slave catchers. I tell him Im not going back since I
made it this far. He lets me rest for the night and I thank him.
-1849 (About a year later), Chapter 3Some people take me in and they pay me. I have saved $37 over the last
year, and the story is that Im their niece. One morning she tells me I need
to take the wagon into town to pick up some customers laundry. I ask her
where I should go. She says some households around Ripley and then the
Ripley hotel and I ask what is the danger. She says they have many
customers, including slave catchers. I ask if they will take me back. She says
not if Im careful and that Ill be safe as long as they dont have a reason to
doubt that. I ask if there are other customers I should be careful of. She says

that although I am here, slavery is not abolished yet. Until that happens, I
still belong to Mr. King. I ask if theres anyone we can trust. She says people
who are abolitionists are people I can trust, but the fewer I tell my past the
better. I say that I am ready to start. She says theres still one more thing
and I ask what. She says the handkerchiefs weve been making were for antislavery fundraising and tells me to drop them off with Ms. Hatcher. I start my
work. I go deliver the handkerchiefs first and collect Ms. Hatchers laundry. I
see Reverend Rankin and he asks me what brings me to the church. I say
that Aunt Abigail asked me to give the church our contribution to the
fundraiser. He asks if I have a moment to talk and I say yes. He asks about if
I came to them from the King Plantation and I say yes. He tells me that Mr.
King is auctioning off slaves and I ask about my family. I tell him I have been
saving up money but he tells me it could take a lot of money. I ask what we
can do to help and he suggests that I come to the abolitionist meeting that
night. I tell him Aunt Abigail has already invited me there and he says hell
see me tonight. I thank him and continue to do my tasks. Then I meet Ms.
Hatcher and give her the handkerchiefs. She thanks me and asks if I made
them. I say that I made some of them and ask about what she does with the
money she raises. She says most of it will help slaves go to Canada while
some of it will help with the school. I ask her if I can take lessons and she
agrees. Then I ask for her laundry and she tells me its in the back room, so I
go there to get it. I look around the room, then take a look at a letter. She
comes in and I apologize for looking at the letter. She says its alright and
asks if I can read it, and I say I can read a bit of it here and there. She asks
me if I would be interested to hear her read it and I say yes. She begins to
read and finishes. I ask her if shes moved here just to help fight slavery and
she says yes. She says that Harriet Beecher Stowe helped her realize that
fighting slavery was her calling. I say that I want to fight it too and she tells
me that the handkerchiefs were the first step and that I should come to the
abolitionist meeting. I tell her Aunt Abigail already invited me and I get back
to work, collecting the laundry. Next I go to Mr. Coburn and he gives me his
laundry. Finally I head to Ripley and go to Mr. Parkers house to pick up his
laundry. I see a white man watching me and Mr. Parker tells me to step
inside, so I do. He tells me the man might be dangerous and I say I dont
know why he was watching me. Mr. Parker says he thinks the man was
watching him because he thinks that Mr. Parker was hiding a slave and I ask
if hes hiding someone. He asks wheres my mother and I tell him shes at
Kings Plantation. Mr. Parker asks if I know a slave named Henry. I say yes,
we escaped together, but I dont know what happened to him. Mr. Parker
says he is hiding Henry and I ask if I can see him. Mr. Parker says its too
dangerous and I ask if I can do anything to help. He says maybe and I say I
hope I can see him soon. He then says I should continue with my work and I
leave. I go into the hotel. Someone asks if Im here for the laundry and I say
yes. The lady asks wheres Morgan and I tell her that Mr. Wright is sick and
that I am his niece. She thought he didnt have a relative like that and I tell
her Im from Aunt Abigails side of the family. She says shell have to ask

Morgan and I ask whether I should start now. She says yes and says shell me
watching me and I get to work. I go upstairs and someone send my wash
flying after tripping over the basket. He tells me to watch where Im going.
He asks if Im new and I say yes. He asks if Im new at visiting John Parker
and I tell him we do his wash too. He asked why I had to go inside and close
the door and I lie and say Mr. Parker asked me to come inside to collect his
wash. He said Mr. Parkers a very private man and hes never seen my uncle
get invited. I lie and say I dont know why Mr. Parker invited me in. He says
well continue this another time and I pick up the sheets. I find a piece of
paper and look at it, then put it away. Then the door opens behind me and I
stand up. Someone asks me if Im okay and I say I think I am and I ask who is
he. He introduces himself as Benjamin Harrison and he tells me hes running
as a Free Soil at the election. I ask him who that man was. He says that the
man was TC Bercham and that hes a ruthless slave catcher. He says Im
lucky and I ask why. Mr. Harrison says that even though that is true, it
doesnt stop Mr. Bercham from dragging blacks to jail. I ask whether he can
take me to jail and he Mr. Harrison says that he could, but the sheriff here is
sympathetic towards my side and makes sure that Mr. Bercham has proof. I
ask how can he prove that and Mr. Harrison said Mr. Bercham would get an
affidavit from a plantation owner that states youre really an escaped
slave. I say that I better get back to my work and finish it up. The
abolitionist meeting starts soon, so I head for the meeting place.
-Chapter 4At Red Oak Church, the abolitionist meeting starts. Reverend Rankin
welcomes me as someone new to the cause and I thank him. He gives the
group some background information from my cover story and I say I am
pleased to be invited here. Reverend Rankin says that well start with slave
catchers and asks John Parker to talk for a bit. He says that it is getting more
dangerous to move the cargo because of slave catchers. I wait for him to
continue speaking. Mr. Parker continues and says well have to take some
precautions, then he speaks for a while about what he thinks. Then Reverend
Rankin comes back up and tells the group the Ms. Hatcher will talk about the
fundraiser. She talks about how we have everything ready for next week
and how I gave her the handkerchiefs the Wrights have donated for the
cause. She closes off by saying the school is doing well, although we could
use more supplies and Reverend Rankin invites Benjamin Harrison up on
stage to speak to those at the meeting. Mr. Harrison says, Someday slavery
will be ended. We all want that. But what then? How do whites and Negroes
live together? Then he says that the home of the blacks is Africa, so we
need to help them home. I look around and notice that many abolitionists
look uncomfortable. I wait for him to continue speaking and he talks about
the idea of Colonization and speaks for a while. When the meeting is over,
Reverend Rankin asks me to stay and speak to him for a few minutes. He
says we need a plan for moving Henry, then prompts Mr. Parker to speak. I
wait and Mr. Parker begins to speak, but then I show him the piece of paper I

found with Henrys name on it. I ask what it means and Mr. Parker says that I
may have solved the problem, so I say I have? He says thats what we
need to get Henry moved and give Bercham a lesson and I ask if Bercham
can take Henry without the paper. He says that although Bercham probably
could, the sheriff is friendly to our cause and can demand Berchams proof
before he takes Henry and that now we have his proof. I ask how we can
move Henry with his leg and Mr. Parker suggests to me that I can move
Henry with the laundry cart. He proceeds to say that we have set Bercham
up by making him think hes caught us red-handed but he wont be able to
do a thing. I ask if we let him catch us moving Henry and Mr. Parker says
Exactly, and I say, I like that plan. Ms. Hatcher jumps in and says it
sounds dangerous and Mr. Parker agrees with her. He continues to speak,
only this time he talks about caution and the group discusses a little bit more
on the issue. Finally Reverend Rankin tells the group to talk about my family
and I ask Reverend Rankin what he thinks we should do. He says he will help
any way he can and I ask Mr. Parker about the issue next. He says that its
too dangerous for us to travel that far south. We must get the word to your
family and be ready here to help them across the river, and I ask how we
can get word to them. Aunt Abigail says she knows a neighbor who works on
the river boats and says that neighbor can get word to them by telling a
cartman traveling to Lexington. I ask whether we can trust him and Aunt
Abigail says hes taken messages from her before. She says she trusts him
and I ask what the message will be. Aunt Abigail talks about the
Underground Railroad and I say, I didnt see anything like that when I ran
away. She explains it to me and I ask how they can get the slaves across
the Ohio River. Mr. Parker says he will row them across the river and I ask if I
can come too. He says not yet because he needs to teach me many things
and I say that I will be a willing student. He says that hope is a powerful
weapon and I thank him. Later on I drove the cart to Henrys and hid Henry.
Mr. Bercham came running and demanded we hand over Henry. We ask
him for proof and he couldnt find any, but says hell be taking Henry
anyway and he and his men point their guns at us. Luckily the Sheriff came
over then and says that Bercham wont be taking Henry anywhere. Bercham
leaves with his men and Henry says I am a sight to see and that my
mother was right. I ask him what happened and he says that although he got
dragged back, he was determined to escape. I ask him how he escaped and
he says that he took his chance when Mr. Otiss horse got spooked and
threw him off. I ask if he had something to do with that and he says
sometimes that hemp break makes an awful loud sound. I ask him how he
broke his leg and he says, About a week in I fell out of a tree trying to see
the way ahead. Got found by a woodcutter. A white man. Thought I was done
for sure. I ask him what happened and he says the man helped him, then he
hid out around Dover for a week and that a free black family helped him.
He says, They told their preacher about me, and he found someone from
Ohio to help me across and I ask what happened. He says John Parker was
waiting for him and rowed him across at night. I ask about mother and Jonah

and Henry says, Jonah, hes getting by. Esthers been keeping a good eye on
him since... since... and I ask him since what. He says mother was sold and I
ask where. Henry says he thinks shes in New Orleans and I ask who bought
her. He says a slave trader had been looking for women slaves and bought
her when he came by the plantation. I say, And he wouldnt buy Jonah, too?
Henry says my mother begged but the slave trader didnt want a boy. I say
that I must save Jonah before he also gets sold and Henry says I cant go
back. I say that the abolitionists (Mr. Parker and everyone else) are helping
me find another way. Henry says Mr. Parker is also going to find him a way,
too, and I ask what he means. Henry says that the abolitionists think it is too
dangerous because of the slave catchers and I ask him where hell go. Henry
says he has to go to Canada and hopes Ill come too. I say I dont know what
to say and he apologizes and says he should go. I tell him I have to save
Jonah and Henry says he understands and asks maybe if I get him back. I say
Ill think about it. The next morning, Aunt Abigail sent off our message to
Jonah. She says her neighbor passed word to a cartman. He delivered the
message to a preacher at a black church. Then Jonah says the preacher says
he will help Jonah get up north. Esther gave Jonah food and he started out
that night. After that he traveled to Lexington and hid in the church. He then
traveled with a white woman, who pretended she was his master, and
delivered him to a black steward. He hid below deck for days and the
steward brought him food and water. Jonah was scared, but they finally
reached his destination. That night, Jonah snuck off the boat. Someone
shouldve met him and helped him get to Ripley, but they didnt show up.
Jonah didnt know what to do. He went to town and found a Negro church.
The ministers wife helped him get to Ripley and he found me. When I see
him again, I say, Jonah! Thank the Lord! You made it! He said he knew if I
made it, then he could too, and I say Im proud of him. We discuss mother
and he asks when I think well see her again. I say I dont know. All we can
do is hope and pray now. Jonah says hes been doing that every day, but he
wishes he could do more. I tell him mother would have been proud of him
and I tell him to come home to get food.

-Ohio, 1850 (About a year later), Chapter 5A group of slave catchers find a free man (I believe its Mr. Wright) and they
accuse him of being a runaway slave. He claims he is a free man and they
demand him to show them his free papers, which he does. Later, Aunt Abigail
tells me to get the cart ready because Mr. Wright is in real trouble and I
ask what happened. She says some men grabbed him and lied, saying hes a
runaway. She says theyre trying to take him south and I say that he has free
papers, so they cant take him south. She says that since the Fugitive Slave
Act, slave catchers have been really aggressive. I say that Ms. Hatcher has
talked to me about that law and Aunt Abigail says its worse than that

because everything depends on a federal commissioner who doesnt know

any of the free Negroes if you get arrested. I ask about the sheriff and she
says hes on deaths door because he got cholera. I ask if hell recover and
she says we cant tell. I ask if theres a new sheriff and she says no, a
government official comes to decide now. I say that we better go and we go
to Ripley. We meet Ms. Hatcher and Mr. Parker there and I talk to Ms. Hatcher.
She says shes glad Im here since Mr. Wright will need all our help and
support in this dark time and I ask what can I do to help. She says we must
find witnesses and I say But everyone knows. That shouldnt be hard.
However, she says Unfortunately, the commissioner will likely consider the
testimony of abolitionists biased. And he wont even listen to Negroes and I
ask what that means. She says he thinks we might lie and I ask about who
can be our witnesses. She says the best will be those who dont appear to
take sides and I say I will go find as many good witnesses as I can. She says
we dont have a lot of time, so I should hurry. I leave and talk to Mr. Parker,
who says hes glad Im helping them solve this problem. I tell him about Ms.
Hatchers plan and he says that although its a good idea, we also a backup
plan. I say The commissioner doesnt have to listen to us? and he says no. I
ask Mr. Parker if he has a plan and he says he does because he found out
those men ripped up his free papers and I ask how we can prove this. He
says hes hoping I do and I say Me? What can I do? and Mr. Parker says he
knows the spot where Mr. Wright was ambushed. I ask if I can bring Jonah
and he says yes. He tells us to be cautious and to hide if we see strangers
approaching and I say we will. I decide to look for witnesses first and I pick
Jayden Devore, Alexander Espey, and Jackson Reed. Then I go to the place
Mr. Wright was grabbed and look for some evidence. I look on the ground and
Jonah finds some pieces of free papers. Then I look in bushes and find a
piece of the free papers. I look back on the ground, find a piece of the free
papers, and a man comes up to us and asks what were looking for. I lie and
say some laundry fell off here and Im trying to find it. He says this has to do
with the trouble Mr. Wright is in and I say nothing. He asks who is Jonah and I
say nothing. He says hell be seeing me again and leaves. I wait, then send a
telegraph to Morgans family about Mr. Wrights capture. I go back to the
commissioner and we succeed in freeing Mr. Wright due to the strong
witnesses, the piece of evidence, and the telegraph message. Later on, Mr.
Parker says he had to burn the list of runaways he had helped because he
had to be careful. Aunt Abigail thanks me for my help and I say I owe her for
what she and Mr. Wright has done for Jonah and I. She says she has to tell
me something and I ask what. She says that she and Mr. Wright have
decided its too dangerous for them to stay, and I ask her what she means
and where shell go. She says theyre going to Canada and invites Jonah and
I to come. I tell them to take Jonah along, but since I still want to do more
things here I will join them later. She agrees, but says I shouldnt wait too
long because Ripley is dangerous. I say, I do not know how long I will be yet.
But I am happy that Jonah will be safe with you. Jonah tells me hes glad Mr.
Wright is okay and I tell him that because of this the Wrights are moving to

Canada. He asks me what are we going to do and I tell him to go with them
while I stay here for a little because I want him to be safe. He says that he
doesnt want to leave me and I say Jonah, this is how it has to be. I promise
Ill come find you soon and he asks whats so important. I say that I have to
help the abolitionists and he says he can help too, so I let him stay if he
promises me something. He asks what and I say he must always be with me
or somebody we trust. He promises and says mother would be happy were
together. I agree and say I should help Aunt Abigail pack. I started helping
Ms. Hatcher at school and Jonah and I began learning. One day while I was
walking to school, I see Mr. Bercham walking up to me and he says that he
knows I am Lucy of the King Plantation. I say he mustve mistaken me and he
says Ms. Porter of the hotel has already figured it out and has sent word to
Mr. King. I run, but one of his men trip me. Bercham kicks me and I see
someone coming down the road, so I decide to call out for help. The man
doesnt help and Mr. Bercham says no one will help me. I go with Bercham
and Sarah comes to visit. She asks if I have missed her and I play dumb. She
says she owns me and I ask if I can live free. She says she can get money
from selling me. I say she already has a lot of nice things and she says her
father died and left a lot of debt. I say Im sorry to hear that and she says I
have a good heart. I tell her she has a good heart too and asks if she can
consider not selling Jonah. She asks about that and I suggest that he could
be her servant and earn his freedom in a few years. Someone says thats not
a good idea and she pauses to think. She says she will take him as a servant
for ten years and I thank her. Someone tries to argue and Ms. Sarah says
shell be paid the same. She says to take me to the auction and shell take
Jonah. He takes me across the river. The auction starts and I am put it in a
place where there are a lot of slaves to be sold. I pray and someone grabs
me to the auction block. I get sold.
-EpilogueI get Mr. Parkers help and run away, then I say I want to stay in Ripley. He
says its too dangerous and helps me get to Oberlin, Ohio, where I joined the
Underground Railroad. I rescued my dad and I am now free, hoping that
slavery will end someday.