AN ADVENTURE OF MOSES (Harriet Tubman) by Sandy Streit During the time of the Civil War and before, slavery was a big issue in the southern states. Slaves lived in hope of being set free or else escaping to the north and into Canada. One lady made this dream possible for over 300 people. She was called the Moses of her people, her name was Harriet Tubman. During the time when she was helping slaves escape, Harriet became worried about her brothers. She felt as if something bad was going to happen to them. She wanted to find out how they were, but she knew she couldn't write directly to them or else she would put them and herself in danger. Instead she wrote to a man named Jacob Jackson, who lived near her brother's plantation. She coded her letter, disguising the message and signed it William Henry, the name of Jackson's adopted son. All of Jacob Jackson's mail was read over, examined and scrutinized for secret meanings and messages, censored and then it was given to Jacob to read.
The inspectors became suspicious of Jacob's letter that he received from William Henry. In the letter, 'William Henry' wrote, "Read my letter to the old folks, and give my love to them, and tell my brothers to be always watching unto prayer and when the good old ship of Zion comes along, to be ready to step on board." The inspectors knew that Jacob had no other children, that William Henry was his only child, so they called Jacob in to question him about the letter. Jacob read the letter and realized that it was really from Harriet Tubman warning her brothers. Jacob said that he didn't understand the letter either and that it wasn't his. He left immediately to tell Harriet's brothers of her coming. She would need to come soon because her brothers were to be sent further south in a few days. Harriet arrived the day before Christmas, two days before her brothers were to be sent south. They were to meet at "Old Ben's" cabin. Old Ben was their father. Everyone was there except for their youngest brother, John. As John was leaving, his wife went into labor. He did not want to leave until the child was born. After his wife gave birth, John crept out of the house and met the rest at his father's house, leaving his wife and children behind.
Old Ben always left food for them outside the door. They would have to go up and get it on their own for Old Ben had taken a vow not to see his children. He knew what could happen if he saw them. Their mother didn't even know they were there. In the ears of corn lay their children and one of them they hadn't seen in six years. The next day, Christmas Day, it rained all day. They had to stay in the corn until nightfall. All day, the Tubman siblings watched their mother come to the door and look up the road to see if her boys were coming. Sad and disappointed, she would turn around and go back into the house. The time came to go and Old Ben walked with them as far as he could. He had a handkerchief tied around his eyes so he couldn't see them.
Before they left, Harriet and her brothers crept up to the window to say a silent good-bye to their mother. She was sitting by the fire, her head on her hand, rocking back and forth, praying and wondering what had happened to her children. Through their steady streams of tears, they bid a silent farewell to their mother and hurried on their way to the next underground station. When Christmas was over and the Tubman brothers did not return, a riot started on their former plantation. Their master went and questioned their parents. Old Ben said that he hadn't 'seen' any of them this Christmas. The master knew that he was telling the truth. Their mother told him that not one of them came that Christmas. She had looked for her children all day and her heart was almost broken by their absence. If she knew what really happened that day, in her heart she would have been rejoicing. 1. To whom did Harriet write the letter and how did she sign it? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Why were the letter inspectors suspicious? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Why did Harriet's father not want to see his children? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 4. How would you have felt if you were Harriet or one of her brothers? If you were their parents? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ "An Adventure of Moses" Outline I. Introduction A. Slavery B. Harriet Tubman II. Letter Writing A. Sense of danger for brothers B. Jacob Jackson and William Henry C. Inspectors D. Need for speed III. Leaving Town A. Harriet's arrival B. Meeting place C. John Tubman D. Parents IV. Sadness A. Handkerchief B. Silent Good-bye V. End A. Riot on plantation B. Questions 1. Father 2. Mother C. Joy Answers 1. Jacob Jackson, William Henry 2. The letter talked about William Henry's brother and they knew that he was an only child. 3. He knew that if he saw them, Old Ben would get in trouble for helping them escape. 4. answers will vary Source Bradford, Sarah. Harriet Tubman: The Moses of Her People. Corinth Books: New York, 1961. Extension Have students research others who helped with the Underground Railroad. Trace some of the stations on a map showing how the slaves traveled from the South into Canada.