Once Upon the Prairie

 The Conductors

Daniel was the runaway’s name.

His life filled with misery and pain.

Maddie and Owen, their families, too,

Knew what they needed to do,

Help Daniel travel that “underground train.”

The two became part of the plan.

Together they spied on the mean old man.

Kansas, bleeding at the time,

Saw good men fight across the line.

Could slavery be stopped with a ban?

Dressed as a girl, Daniel sought to be free.

He was hid in an old, cottonwood tree.

They could not know how effective the train became.

         Each worked in secret, with only conductor as a name.

Risking all so free others might be.

PLEASE NOTE THIS BLOG CHANGES FIRST AND THIRD WEEKS OF THE MONTH.
Be sure to check out The Story Teller's Corner and Up the Family Tree.

                  

Maddie

My name is Madeleine Ann Clark, and I am a ten-year-old girl who moved to Kansas Territory in 1855 from New York. Papa, Mama, Uncle Paul and my cousins, Owen and James, and I traveled by train, steamer and wagon to reach the new town of Lawrence. While living in New York, Papa and Mama took me to hear Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman speak. Their speeches helped convince my family to move to Kansas. We wanted to help Kansas enter the Union as a free state. We are abolitionists.
 

Papa says I am stubborn some of the time, but it is all right to be stubborn if it is for a good reason. My family believes abolishing slavery is a good reason. I am determined to help. I will tell you more about my life in Kansas Territory later. 

A Melt Down

Since my family lived in the country and there were no young children, I imported kids to play with mine. An event I held annually was an Easter egg hunt complete with the usual bunny head cake. One year a friend of mine dressed in a bunny suit and delivered eggs to the wide-eyed three and four-year-olds. Some years were better than others, but I could count on at least one or two youngsters crying before the hunt was over.

The most memorable year was the time I struggled with too much to do, so I purchased “prepared baskets” containing packaged eggs and a big chocolate bunny. I set the alarm for six on Easter morning so I could place the baskets outside. I noted the sun was up, and it was going to be a beautiful sunrise service. My sons burst into the kitchen an hour later ready to see what the bunny brought. I sent them out the front door, and then heard them crying. In one hour the big chocolate bunnies were now chocolate puddles melting all over the rest of the basket.

Thank goodness grandma also purchased chocolate bunnies; she saved the day. I am pretty sure my boys remember that Easter.