Adventures in Odyssey

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. I'm glad you could join us for Adventures in Odyssey, a place of discovery, imagination, and excitement. But don't take my word for it. Find out for yourself on today's Adventure in Odyssey.

Henry: I found it.

Carl: Found what?

Benjamin: You get across the Ohio and you're free.

William: Are you crazy?

Benjamin: I can get there.

Nathan: Boy, you might as well take your place at the whipping block. Willy?

Henry: Run. Go to Cabin Creek. We'll meet you.

John Avery Whittaker: Good morning!

Carl: Morning. Sorry I'm late. Not often I have somebody waiting for me to open up.

Carl: Oh, that's okay.

John Avery Whittaker: Can I get something for you?

Carl: No, I don't need anything. I just like to look around here, if you don't mind.

John Avery Whittaker: I don't mind. Go right ahead.

Carl: Is there a basement?

John Avery Whittaker: Yes, but we don't usually allow customers to go—

Carl: Please, let me explain. My name is Carl. I'm the curator for a museum in Chicago, and I wanted to look around because this structure may have historical significance.

John Avery Whittaker: Really? Do you know the building well?

Carl: I suppose. Are there any tunnels underneath?

John Avery Whittaker: Not many people know this, but yes, as a matter of fact, there are. There's one that connects with the workroom downstairs.

Carl: Where does it lead?

John Avery Whittaker: Out back. It comes up in the middle of the woods. What's wrong? You look as if you're going to faint.

Carl: I found it.

John Avery Whittaker: You found what?

Carl: Will you take me to the tunnel?

John Avery Whittaker: Why?

Carl: Have you ever heard of the Underground Railroad?

John Avery Whittaker: Yes. I don't know that much about it.

Carl: When slavery was legal in the southern United States, the Underground Railroad helped slaves escape to Canada. People secretly set up houses along the road for runaway slaves to stop, rest, and hide from their owners.

John Avery Whittaker: So, what does that have to do with Whit’s End?

Carl: Because your tunnel may have been a hiding place for runaway slaves before the Civil War. This building may have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.

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Carl: Where is it?

John Avery Whittaker: What is it you're looking for again?

Carl: Maybe nothing. It's really just a hunch. But if I'm right, there should be something here that would prove that this tunnel was a part of the Underground Railroad.

John Avery Whittaker: But why here? Why this tunnel?

Carl: It's this.

John Avery Whittaker: A book?

Carl: An original manuscript written before the Civil War. It's about a slave family's run for freedom.

John Avery Whittaker: Incredible.

Carl: Anyway, the landmarks in the cities described in there seem to lead to Odyssey as one of the places this family stopped.

John Avery Whittaker: I'd love to hear the story.

Carl: Okay. It's the story of the Ross family. Henry, his wife Caroline, and William, their 17-year-old son. They had been slaves in Tennessee their entire lives. They knew nothing of freedom or of life outside of Tennessee. They rarely even left the boundaries of the farm. They weren't allowed.

And the only pleasure they had was each other. Every night, William would play his harmonica, his only real possession, and they would sing about heaven, seeing the face of Jesus one day, and the better times ahead.

But the majority of their lives was work. From August through December every year, they picked cotton. And at the beginning of the winter of 1849...

Caroline: It's getting cold. I can't feel my toes.

Henry: We just got a few more bales to go, Caroline.

Caroline: I don't have the strength. Maybe Master will let us finish up tomorrow.

Henry: We got to do it tonight.

Caroline: Why?

Henry: Well, I wasn't going to tell you this, so as not to get your hopes up, but I talked to the master. Told me if we finish up tonight, he'd give us a two-day pass. We can go see Mary and the children.

Caroline: Oh, praise God!

William: What'd you say, Dad?

Henry: We got a two-day pass.

William: You're joking!

Henry: But we got to finish up here first.

William: I can't remember the last time we had a pass.

Caroline: It's been years since I seen my sister or her children.

Henry: Now, we need to stop this talking and get on back to work, or we won't be seeing any of them.

William: Papa, I'd work all night to get a pass.

Henry: Be gone, so you don't have to.

William: I will. I wonder what it's like out there.

Caroline: Where?

William: Any place. Seems like I haven't seen nothing but this field for so long. I'd give anything to see a new tree or a different patch of grass. I can't believe you got us a pass.

Henry: We worked hard. We deserve it.

Carl: The Ross family lived in a one-room shack built for slaves. Another teenage boy, Benjamin, also stayed with them, though he wasn't related.

Caroline: Mary's going to fall over dead when she sees you tomorrow, Willy. You couldn't have been any taller than my shoulders last time she saw you. How come you're not eating your supper?

William: Can't eat. I'm too excited.

Henry: Best you save some of that food for the trip tomorrow, anyway.

Benjamin: So, how'd you folks get these passes so easy?

Henry: I just asked. The master's not such a hard man when his work gets done.

Benjamin: I'm thinking of getting me a pass myself. How do you think I should go about it?

Henry: Oh, Benjamin, the master's no fool. You tried to run away too many times for him to trust you with a pass.

Benjamin: But I've been good.

Henry: That's what scares him the most. Willy, look who's coming.

William: It's the master's son, Nathan, with his friend John.

Henry: Now, what do they want?

Caroline: I better put this bread away. They'll take it for themselves.

Nathan: Hello. Evening, sir. I noticed you finished the rest of the cotton today.

Henry: Yes, sir.

Nathan: Good, especially since we're expecting a frost tonight. Got it in just in time.

Henry: Yes, sir.

Nathan: Gives us plenty of time for all that we got to do tomorrow.

Henry: Tomorrow?

William: Tomorrow, sir?

Nathan: Yeah, we got to patch up the barn. The wind last night blew some of the planks right off.

Henry: Sir, the master told us we could have a pass tomorrow.

Nathan: Did you hear that, John?

John: Yeah, I heard. They think they're getting a pass.

Nathan: But you can't have it.

William: What?

Nathan: William, we got work to do here.

William: It can't wait two days?

Nathan: Yeah, it can. But it won't. I'll see you tomorrow morning to show you what to do.

William: Are we ever going to get the pass?

Nathan: Boy, you need to get something through your head. Nothing says I have to give you any vacations. You're my father's property, and you do what we want you to do.

Henry: Sir, do you think I could just speak to the master about it?

Nathan: Well, when I speak to you, I'm your master. You understand?

Henry: Yes, sir.

Nathan: Good. I'll be here first thing tomorrow. Let's go, John.

John: Y'all have a nice evening now.

William: I don't believe it.

Caroline: Henry, you got to talk to Master.

Henry: You crazy? If that man finds out I've been talking to his father, he will work us to death.

Caroline: I don't care. I want to see Mary.

Henry: Well, forget it. We ain't seeing her now.

William: Why do we have to even ask? The master said we could go.

Henry: Two days away ain't worth getting killed over.

Benjamin: You know, you can get a lot more in two days away.

Henry: Oh, don't start, Benjamin.

Benjamin: You can get away for good.

Henry: I don't want to hear it.

Benjamin: Did you hear about that man in Ripley? He got out.

Caroline: Really?

Henry: Don't listen to him, son.

Benjamin: He got off last week. He got across the Ohio River. That's all it takes. There's a lady up a ways that'll help you find it. I got directions to her house.

William: You got it?

Benjamin: You get across the Ohio, and you're free.

Henry: Now you know that ain't true. Masters can chase you all the way up into the North.

Benjamin: Yeah, but they don't.

Henry: What do you mean?

Benjamin: There's this place in the North called Cabin Creek. It's a town full of people against slavery. Masters won't go in there because they know they might not come out alive.

Caroline: Cabin Creek.

Henry: Caroline, not you too.

Caroline: I heard about it. It sounds wonderful.

Henry: You're not thinking. Do you know what they do to us if we got caught? We'd never see each other again. That's one thing for sure. Though I'm not sure we'd ever want to see each other's faces again with the whipping we'd get.

Besides, what would we do if we got to Cabin Creek? They got cotton there? We don't even know if we can get work. Freedom ain't nothing if you can't eat.

Caroline: You're right, Henry. There ain't no sense in going. We're okay here. Master treats us fine. We got food on the table, and we're together. I guess the Lord is taking good care of us right here.

Benjamin: So that's it? You're staying?

Henry: Yeah.

Benjamin: All right. But if you change your mind, I'm leaving as soon as I get my things ready.

William: You're going?

Caroline: Benjamin!

Benjamin: I'm going.

Henry: Are you crazy?

Benjamin: I can get there. I was waiting to get a pass before I went, get a day's head start on them. But now it don't look like they're ever going to give me one. So I ain't got no reason to put it off.

Henry: Benjamin, you're not my son. I can't tell you what to do. But you got to think.

Benjamin: I did think. I'm going tonight.

Henry: Willy, you better get up. Sun's almost up. He'll be here any time.

William: I don't want to.

Henry: Come on, Willy. We got to act like it's any other day.

Nathan: Morning, everyone. Morning. Hope y'all up and ready to nail some boards. We got plenty to do. I got some hammers and— Wait a minute, Nathan. Something's wrong here. Ain't there supposed to be four slaves in this room?

You're right. Where is he? Somebody better speak up.

Henry: Sometimes he goes out early and prays by the creek. You check there?

Nathan: You're lying. You, boy, tell me where he is.

William: I don't know.

Nathan: Did he run? Speak up! Look at me. You know how bad I can make your life.

Caroline: Please, don't hurt him.

William: I don't know where he is.

Nathan: When'd you last see him?

William: Last night, when I went to sleep.

Nathan: What was he doing?

William: Sleeping.

Nathan: Liar!

William: No! You push me again and—

Henry: Willy!

Nathan: You're going to what?

Henry: Willy, no!

William: No!

Henry: Get off him! Get off! Stop! Get away from him. Go on over there now.

Nathan: You cut my lip, boy. Hope it felt good, because you're going to pay for this busted lip the rest of your life. I got to go tell about this runaway, but I'll be back.

Boy, you might as well take your place at the whipping block. Save you some steps later. See you there. Boy, you just made one serious mistake.

Caroline: Oh, Willy.

William: I know, Mama.

Henry: What made you go and do a dumb thing like that for?

William: I get so mad sometimes.

Caroline: They're going to whip you, Willy, or worse.

Henry: I need some more nails. That's him. You ready, son?

William: I'm ready. I'll take whatever they give me.

Nathan: Whoa! Stay here, John. Hello there.

Henry: Morning.

Nathan: John and me have a little surprise for you. We're not putting the boy on the whipping block.

Henry: Sir?

Nathan: Yeah, see, my father ain't too happy about having a rebel on the farm. So, boy, you're coming with us.

William: What? Where?

Nathan: You're being sold to a plantation down south.

William: No! I'm not going! No!

Henry: Please, don't split up our family. We'll go too.

Nathan: Ain't the way it works. Come on, boy.

Caroline: You can't take him!

Nathan: You know, you people never did quite get it through your head. I can do whatever I want. Now come on.

Henry: He won't do it again.

Caroline: Not my son!

Henry: Give me the whippings. I'll take the whippings.

Nathan: In the cart.

Henry: Wait, stop!

Nathan: Stay away, man, or you'll get it too.

Henry: Can't you even let a man say goodbye to his own son?

Nathan: Well, go ahead and say it.

Henry: Just a minute with him alone. I may never see him again.

Nathan: Make it a fast minute, boy.

Henry: Come on over here, son.

Caroline: They can't take you. They can't.

Henry: I got to talk to him. Willy.

William: Yeah?

Henry: Run. From wherever you are, just run away. Go to Cabin Creek. We'll meet you.

William: How you going to ever—

Henry: No questions. Just do it. We'll meet you there. Got it?

Nathan: Nathan, get them. They look like they're up to something. All right, let's go.

William: Be careful, Papa.

Henry: I will, Mama.

Caroline: I love you.

Henry: Love you too. Work hard, Willy. Do what you're told.

William: I will.

Henry: Goodbye, son.

Guest (Male): In Adventures in Odyssey's Album 76, "Keep It Together," experience the critical choices. So, what's the plan, Emily? Now comes the real test. We were wondering what you'd think about possibly joining us. Are you saying you want me to be a spy?

Crisis moments. We have a show to do. Lori Ridell, you're under arrest. What is it? He's in the bedroom. Hide. Don obviously something very fishy is going on here. You must do what is right. It's time to get to the truth and heartstrings.

Please let me help you. I want us to help each other because I care about you a lot. Like I said, for you, I'd do just about anything. I am very, very proud of you. I love you, brother. I love you too, sis.

It's all in Album 76, "Keep It Together," available now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club, CD, and download. Find out more at adventuresinodyssey.com.

Guest (Male): Missing gold, a haunted mansion, bank robbers? Young Whit is on the case. My dad says I'm clever and resourceful. Read all about his adventures in the Young Whit book series. These five books are filled with exciting tales that are perfect for kids ages 10 and up. It's a long story. Your kids will love these exciting stories, and they'll learn important lessons about God too. Ha! I told you we'd find treasure in here! Learn more at youngwhit.com. That's youngwhit.com.

Guest (Male): Find out what's going on in other parts of Odyssey in the new Elsewhere in Odyssey comic strip. You're serious? Catch up with some long-lost characters with fully illustrated art. What a sight! And original stories. All right, for the good of the theater. They've been here in town all along, but now you can read about what they've been up to. You are not going to believe this! Plus, new surprises wait around every turn. It's nice to see you again. Glossman! The Elsewhere in Odyssey comic strip, a new weekly release only in the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

Guest (Female): Want to contact us about the episode you're hearing? Visit our website at adventuresinodyssey.com or talk to someone at Focus on the Family. Call 1-800-A-FAMILY. With a parent's permission, of course. We always love hearing from you.

Carl: Henry knew that may be the last time he would ever see his son. The chances of him actually meeting up with William in Cabin Creek were slim. But he had to try. The next two months, he asked people how to get to the Ohio River. The information came slowly. But the night came when he would be ready to go.

Henry: Caroline. Caroline.

Caroline: What is it?

Henry: We're going.

Caroline: Where?

Henry: North. I got directions to this woman's house. She'll help us. But we got to go now.

Caroline: Henry, why now? That's a ways. We need to plan. We need to get our things ready.

Henry: We got nothing to plan. We just got to get moving. Get on something warm. I got some bread from supper.

Caroline: Are you sure about this Cabin Creek?

Henry: No.

Caroline: Then what if we make it and nobody there? What are we going to do?

Henry: I don't know.

Caroline: Henry.

Henry: Caroline, I'm not living the rest of my life sitting in this barn wondering if my son's dead or alive. Is that what you want?

Caroline: No.

Henry: Then get on something warm. We're heading off.

Caroline: Henry?

Henry: What?

Caroline: I'm scared.

Henry: I know. I am too.

Carl: And they left. They walked all night following the North Star.

Caroline: I can't go on no more. I got to stop. How much further?

Henry: Don't know. Sun's almost up now. We got to find some place to hide.

Caroline: Here's as good as any.

Henry: No, we need a place to block the wind. There's a cliff over there. Let's head that way.

Carl: That very same morning, Nathan and his father found the slave quarters empty.

Master: I should have seen this coming. But with them losing their son, I told you it wasn't a good idea.

Nathan: I'll go after them.

Master: Nathan, we can hire people to do that.

Nathan: I want to go myself. Besides, I know what they look like. I'll get a posse together.

Master: I hate to lose you for that long.

Nathan: It won't take long. All right then, go on. Do it. And while you're out there, you go looking for that other one too, that Benjamin. And remember, you got to get them before they cross the Ohio. That's where they're headed, no doubt.

Nathan: I'll get them. You want them back dead or alive?

Master: Alive. You know, they'd be an awful good example to other slaves if we was to bring them back dead. Ain't nobody'd think to run again, that's for sure. They're an investment, Nathan. You just don't kill off an investment. Now, you go out and catch them. And you bring them back. Then they can be examples of what happens when slaves run off.

Henry: This is it, Caroline. I know it. This smoke coming out of the chimney, so somebody's there.

Caroline: Henry, what if it's a trick? What if this ain't the place?

Henry: We got to take the chance. We got no choice. They'll find us for sure if we don't trust somebody. You see anybody through that window?

Henry: Let me see. A woman.

Caroline: She look friendly?

Henry: How am I supposed to tell that? Oh, we're about to find out.

Caroline: What?

Henry: She saw me. She's coming to the door.

Caroline: Oh Lord, please let it be a friend.

Woman: Oh my, come on in quickly. Oh, you folks are freezing. Sit down by the fire.

Caroline: Oh, God bless you for this. I don't think I would have made it much further.

Woman: Not with what you got on. Don't you have anything warm?

Henry: No.

Woman: I declare. Here, drink this. It'll warm you up. Where you headed?

Henry: Place called Cabin Creek.

Woman: Oh yes, Cabin Creek. I get so many folks coming through here thinking that place is a promised land.

Henry: Is it?

Woman: Never been there myself. We're meeting our son up there, we hope.

Woman: Oh yeah? Don't want to discourage you, but most everybody comes through here is looking for somebody, and usually it don't work out. I hope it does for you, though.

Henry: Yeah.

Woman: Listen, I got a secret room over there. You can sleep through the day. Then you're on your way tonight. It's probably best if you get out of here as soon as you can. I'll tell you how to get to the river. For now, take your time and rest up. You got a long night ahead of you.

Carl: Meanwhile, their son William was hard at work in the fields on a plantation in Mississippi. The work was much harder there than in Tennessee. He spent several months at this new plantation. But one day, for some strange reason, William received another assignment.

Overseer: Boy!

William: Ma’am?

Overseer: Your master wants you up at the house.

William: Yes, ma’am.

Carl: William had never been to the house before, and it was very strange for most slaves to be invited there. William went reluctantly.

Overseer: The master's daughter is sitting out on the terrace. She needs you to do something.

Emily: Oh, hi. What's your name?

William: William.

Emily: I got a job for you, William.

William: Yes, ma’am.

Emily: Take this fan here and shoo away any of those flies that come near me while I read the newspaper. Now just stand right there. What are you so nervous for? Just watch out for them and wave the fan if they come near. Do you understand?

William: Yes, ma’am.

Emily: Good. I see they're putting together that new slave law. Do you know what I'm talking about?

William: No, ma’am.

Emily: I'm surprised. It's all over. They can arrest people who help slaves up north. Harsh penalties and such. I guess that's bad news for you, huh? Not that you're going to run away or anything.

I guess it'll stop all those anti-slavery folks up north from hiding runaways in their houses. We've had such problems with that. Slow down a little, boy. You're blowing my hair.

William: Sorry, ma’am.

Emily: Do you hate me? I bet you hate me.

William: No, ma’am.

Emily: Why not? If I were you, I'd hate every one of us. I'd hate every minute of my life in this place.

William: Yes, ma’am.

Emily: Did we take you away from your family?

William: Yes, ma’am.

Emily: Hmm. We seem to do that a lot. You miss them?

William: Yes, ma’am.

Emily: I'm sure you do. You ever think about running away, William?

William: No, ma’am.

Emily: Now, I know you're either crazy or a liar. You're out of your mind if you don't think about it every second of the day.

William: You mind if I get back to the fields, ma’am?

Emily: Now, don't be like that. I'm just making conversation. I just want to see if I can trust you.

William: Trust me?

Emily: To run an errand for me. I want you to go to the courier's office down the street. Give this package to a man named George. And if you want to run away, tell him Emily sent you. He'll help you.

William: Ma’am?

Emily: I do what I can for those who are strong enough to handle the journey. And I hate what people like me are doing to people like you. Now go on.

William: Yes, ma’am. I'll go.

Emily: You go all right. And don't stop. Don't stop until you're free.

Chris: It looks like William has a tough decision to make. So, what do you think? Will he try to run away? And will he ever see his family again? The only way to find out is to keep listening.

In the meantime, why don't you write to us and let us know what you think of our program? We'd love to hear from you. Just send your card or letter to Adventures in Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995. Or in Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4G3.

And don't forget to ask how you can get a copy of today's episode. It's called "The Underground Railroad." That address again is Adventures in Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995.

Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. "The Underground Railroad" was written and directed by Marshall Younger. Our production engineer was Bob Luttrell, and music by John Campbell. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.