follow the drinking gourd

Dear, Brothers and Sisters

I’m sorry to disappoint you but I don’t have a choice because our crazy owner wants to sell me to his brother who is a meaner person than I ever saw. That’s I run away.

Do you remember the song Peg Leg Joe taught us a song named Follow the drinking gourd. This song well bring me to my freedom. I stayed at night. I heard the quail called in the threes. Peg Leg Joe sad it is a great time to run away.

I Love you so much but I have to go. I wish one day we will see each other again. It’s getting late I have to go good Bye.

Sincerely,

We crossed a stream at night and in the morning. We reached a cemetery were we hide from the people the bounty hunters that were following us. We hide in the cemetery because sometimes they are afraid to go there. Some nights we see stars in the sky and on those nights we didn’t travel at all. Some nights we sing Joe’s song and look for sings of his markings on the trail. The rivers bank is a very good road and the dead trees are also a guide because Joe has left foot his mark on the trees: a left foot and a peg foot. For food in the forest we ate berries or corn from farms we passed. Sometimes we meet nice people--- black and Whites---who give us something good to eat. When Ashley and I cross the river I think the song is almost finished because when we get to the big river they say there is an old man is Peg Leg Joe and was waiting with his boat to take us across the big Ohio river. We are now on that boat. Joe is telling us how to find hiding, places, nice people’s homes, where we will be safe. They call these homes the underground rail road. Ok, bye

05-15-1852

Dear, Brothers and Sisters

It’s been a long time and you probably think I am dead. But don’t worry, Bounteous a live and well and now on a boat going to Canada. Let me explain how we got here. I met a girl name Ashley. She was on the plantation of the brother of my owner. Together we followed the drinking gourd in the forest; it brought us to Peg Leg Joe. Our travels were difficult but we arrived safe and sound.

Sincerely,

Binetou Fall