Harriet Tubman (Story)

**Harriet Tubman** is a story told in the Adventures from the Book of Virtues episode Faith. It is based on the true life story of Harriet Tubman.

## Plot

Harriet Tubman has approached the house of a man named Henry, who tells her that she is not a minute too soon, because he was slated to be sent far South to a plantation, and that he didn't know if he'd ever see his wife Bessie or his two babies ever again. However, this time, they're all shipping out to Canada and to freedom, though Bessie points out that their master will post a reward that would be looking for them, then asks Harriet if they can make it. Harriet points out that the children of Israel made it to their promised land, and that their children will too. Soon, the group are on their way as they travel through the forest, but after a while, Bessie gets tired while saying that she can't make it another step, complaining that she's tired, cold, and hungry, telling Harriet that she doesn't know how she keeps going. Harriet then points out the North Star, while explaining that years ago, she set out for freedom by the light of that star, all without a human guide or companion, yet she had her faith and she followed that star and her faith kept her going, keeping her going ever since. Harriet then lets Henry and Bessie know that the next station of the Underground Railroad is just up ahead, and that they have to get undercover by daybreak because the master will be on their trail. The trio continue onward, passing by a wanted poster that has pictures of Henry and Bessie.

Meanwhile, a bounty hunter has been looking at another poster while remarking that he'd make a pretty piece of change if he'd capture those slaves, and if they're somewhere in these parts, he'd know where they'll go, as he rides off on his horse. Meanwhile, the group still continues traveling, just as it has started raining, while the babies start crying, before Harriet lets them know that she'll have them dried and fed in no time, telling them to wait while she gives the signal. Harriet then comes up to one house and knocks on the door, but nobody answers, which confuses her. Henry and Bessie are still waiting, while Bessie notices that something is wrong, but Henry thinks that whoever lives in the house is just sleeping hard. The door then opens, revealing an old man who asks Harriet if she knows that it's five o'clock in the morning before asking what she wants. Confused, Harriet answers that she was looking for someone named Willy, but the old man lets her know that Willy's gone because he got run out of town for hiding escaped slaves then asks Harriet who she is. Harriet meekly answers that she's just an old friend then apologizes to the old man for bothering her then leaves, just as the old man closes the door, but opens the door again upon seeing that he was talking to a slave. Soon, Harriet, Henry, and Bessie have come up to another house, before Henry asks what they do now. Bessie is worried that they'll get caught, because it'll be light soon and they haven't got a place to hide, but Harriet is still certain that the Lord will guide them.

This time, the group then travels through a swamp, while Henry asks Harriet if she's sure that she didn't her directions mixed up. Harriet is certain that this swamp is the last place that the bounty hunters will look for them, before telling Henry and Bessie to lie down, which Bessie thinks Harriet is kidding about. Meanwhile, the same bounty hunter from earlier has met with the same old man, showing him the poster of the runaway slaves. The old man confirms the slaves as the same ones that he saw the previous night, while the bounty hunter recognizes that their leader must be Harriet Tubman and that there's 40,000 dollars in reward for her capture alone. The old man laments not capturing Harriet when he had the chance then suggests to the bounty hunter that they team up, because he knows every hiding place in every part, before the two then shake hands as a symbol of their joining forces. Back in the swamp, Harriet, Henry, and Bessie are still laying down while Bessie complains that she can't lie down in the muck any longer. However, the bounty hunter is heard asking about the swamp that the group is hiding in, before he and the old man come up to it, while the old man answers that no one has ever set foot in there, especially not a fugitive slave. Despite this, the bounty hunter still wants to check out the swamp, but as the two men enter the swamp, the horses refuse to go any further, while the old man states that the horses have more sense to go in there and that they should forget about going in there. The bounty hunter refuses to give up, because he's going in anyway, and when he finds the fugitives, the reward will be all his, which convinces the old man to begrudgingly follow the bounty hunter into the swamp.

The two men start searching the swamp, but Harriet, Henry, and Bessie still continue hiding. The two men continue searching until they slip and fall in the swamp. This prompts the two men to run out of the swamp, while Henry praises Harriet for eluding the two men. Bessie complains that they can't stay in the swamp forever, and that if they don't catch their death of cold, they'll starve and that it's hopeless, but Harriet tells her that nothing is hopeless. Bessie then complains about being half-starved on foot with babies and the two men watching for them and that they need help, while Henry agrees that no help is coming because no one knows where they are. Harriet answers that the Lord knows, before Bessie sarcastically asks if the Lord will send a chariot from Heaven. However, footsteps are heard, before the trio look to see a man enter the swamp, while the man lets them know that his wagon is at the next farmyard with a horse and harness, before he leaves. After the man has left, Harriet lets Henry and Bessie know that they're Canada-bound, while Bessie worries that they're headed for a trap. Soon, the three have entered the farmyard, while Bessie thinks that the bounty hunters suspected that they were in the swamp after all and are trying to smoke them out, because the second they get near the wagon, they'll get caught. Harriet proves her wrong by coming up to the wagon and removing the cover from the wagon, revealing several baskets of food, referring to it as "a chariot and a banquet table". As Henry takes a loaf of bread, he hears a horse whinnying, which causes him to think that the bounty hunters found them, before a farm horse comes up to him from behind and eats the loaf of bread he was holding. Harriet lets Henry know that as long as they feed the horse, she thanks him, before telling them to come on.

The bounty hunter and the old man still continue looking for the fugitives, while the old man complains that they could be halfway to Canada by now, though the bounty hunter is certain that they're hiding in some farmhouse, before noticing Harriet, Henry, and Bessie trying to escape in the wagon. Because of that, the two men then ride forward on their horses towards the farmhouse, but the same man from earlier manages to thwart them by sending out two chickens that flap out in front of the two men's horses, which causes the horses to buck them off onto a stack of hay bales that fall on top of them, while the horses run away. When the two men get out of the hay bales, they quickly run off after their horses, never to be seen again, while the man laughs at their misfortune, while Harriet is able to ride the wagon with her, Henry, and Bessie in it to safety. Soon, the group have managed to board a train, while Harriet remarks on the sight of Niagara Falls, because they have crossed the middle outer bridge and shook the lion's paw, which Henry is confused about, before Harriet adds that they're in the British dominions. Bessie is delighted that her babies are free, and that they're all free, while Henry thanks Harriet for being so faithful. Because of that, Harriet's faith inspired her to make nineteen trips South and guide over 300 slaves to new hope and freedom. She was able to travel by night and hid by day while bravely overcoming any obstacles that stood in her way, and encouraging others while never losing her faith, no matter how great the danger, shown when despite struggling to cross a raging river, she manages to make it to the other side, which inspires the three slaves that were with her at the time to cross the river after her as well. It is also explained that in-between trips, she worked hard to earn money for her efforts, and when the Civil War broke out, she was there to help without pay, serving the Union army without pay and working as a cook, nurse, scout, and spy. Harriet kept on working to improve the lives of slaves, up until her death.

## Characters

* Harriet Tubman
* Henry
* Bessie