Come Run with Me: A Story of the Underground Railroad

By Kathleen Olson

Polly was used to people coming and going at her house at all times of the night because her family ran an Underground Railroad station. Strangely, tonight there was more noise than usual, and Mother said noise was the enemy. That night in June 1857, Mother called urgently for Polly to get down to the secret room and bring water with her. When Polly was able to get the heavy sloshing bucket down the narrow stairs, she saw Mother kneeling by a young girl who was about Polly's age. Her name was Hattie, and her forehead was beaded with sweat, and she was shaking uncontrollably. Polly knew they would be friends with all the dangers and adventures that go with running the Underground Railroad.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098050153

Kathleen Olson

Kathleen Olson always had a great interest in history, and when it came to writing "Shadow Journeys", she was able to incorporate so many periods of the past into a fascinating story. Kathleen lives in northeast Illinois with her husband of fifty-five years, and two cats, Goober and Piper who, she says really run the house. 4/21/2021: Kathleen Olson always had a great interest in history, and when it came to writing "Shadow Journeys', she was able to incorporate so many periods of the past into a fascinating story. World traveler and animal lover, she visited a hypnotherapist many years ago to get help in quitting smoking. A friendship developed and together they explored the concept of past lives thus opening a pathway into other realms. Kathleen lives in northeast Illinois with her husband of fifty-five years and their two cats, Goober and Piper. According to Kathleen, it's the cats that actually run the house.

Book preview

cover.jpg

Come Run with Me

A Story of the Underground Railroad

Kathleen Olson

Copyright © 2020 by Kathleen Olson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Hattie Arrives

The Sheriff Comes to Supper

Moving On

Mr. Kirby Returns

Polly’s Idea

The Plan

Flight

Summer Storm

A Change of Plans

Prairie Night

On to Winterset

Time Out

The River

Crossing the Mississippi

The Illinois Side

Chicago

Angel on Her Shoulder

Comings and Goings

Hello

Twenty Years Later

For Mom, Because She Read to Me

Chapter 1

Hattie Arrives

Polly was used to people coming and going in her house in the middle of the night, but during the early morning hours on that day in June of 1857, there was more noise than people usually made. Noise was the enemy Mother had often said. Tonight, however, it was Mother who called urgently to her to wake up and please come down to the cellar at once and fetch some water on the way.

Sleepily, she slipped her shawl over her shoulders and went down to the kitchen. Grabbing the wooden bucket that hung outside the back door, she went to the edge of the porch, dipped it into the cistern, and tugged as she brought the heavy bucket up.

Polly, be quick about it! We need the water! Polly hurried her pace as much as the sloshing bucket would allow.

Bring it into the secret room, Polly. One of our guests is ill and has need of it. Mother took the bucket and set it down just inside the door to the room. When Polly’s eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw a girl about her own age lying on one of the mattresses, eyes closed, and her face dotted with perspiration. Mother dipped a cloth into the water, knelt by the girl’s side, and began to wipe the feverish face.

What is her name? Mother asked into the darkness.

Hattie, a voice answered. Polly looked and saw four other people standing just at the other end of the secret room.

Polly, Mother directed, stir up the fire. There is a pot of stew upstairs in the kitchen. Fetch it and bring it downstairs for our guests. They must be very hungry after their journey.

Like the water bucket, the pot of stew was heavy and hard to control, but Polly got it downstairs without spilling a drop. Within a few minutes, she had the fire crackling and the stew bubbling its delicious, meaty aroma.

Father came down the stairs. He was a large man with a mustache that tickled Polly when he hugged her.

Where is your mother, Polly?

In the secret room, Father. One of our guests is ill.

Father hurried past her and asked, Bridget, is it serious?

I’m not sure, but I think she has the ague. There is a high temperature, and she’s shivering very hard.

Any sign of the blackwater fever?

Not yet, thank the Lord.

William and I will gather the willow bark at the break of day, Father offered.

Mother smiled. "I would be grateful if you would. It always seems to help if they drink the broth of the bark. It’s almost daybreak now. Polly, would you please fix some breakfast for your father and brother so they can be on their way as quickly as possible?

As she cooked, Polly couldn’t get the face of the girl downstairs out of her mind. There had been many, many people who had come through their house to be hidden in the secret room in the cellar. This Hattie looked just like any other runaway slave they helped to freedom, but Polly felt she was different somehow.

After Father and William left, Polly started breakfast for her other brothers, Loyal who was sixteen, Virgil who was eight, and Luther who was seven. Her sister Laura was married and had moved to Kansas. Abby, her other sister, was eighteen and had just been married, so that meant Polly was the only girl left at home.

Polly Wellington was eleven years old, and she lived with her family in western Iowa. Her father was a circuit-riding preacher who was known for his exciting sermons and loving nature. Her mother was the kindest person Polly knew, and she was especially skilled in healing.

The Wellington family was involved with the Underground Railroad. This meant Polly had to be very, very secretive. No one must ever know they were helping slaves from Missouri escape to freedom in the North. Polly was very good at keeping secrets. Polly and her family hid the runaways in the secret room in the cellar, fed them, and, as soon as it was safe, sent them on to the next station.

Ebenezer and Bridget Wellington were very hospitable people who loved to entertain, and all were welcome. Sometimes even the sheriff or slave catchers came to the front door, but they were welcomed as any friend or traveler might be, sitting down to supper in the dining room that was right over the heads of the runaways in the secret room. Polly was terrified that one of their downstairs guests would sneeze or cough and be heard by the law.

As Mother knelt by the side of the girl, she asked Polly to fetch some fresh water. Suddenly, Hattie began to struggle and thrash, trying to kick off the covers.

Polly, run, get the water. She will be very thirsty now. Scoot!

When Polly got back to the secret room, Mother said, Hold her head still while I try to give her a drink. She’s just too active for me to handle all by myself.

Mother, I don’t think I have ever felt such a fever in anyone before. Is she going to be all right?

With the Lord’s help, she will. We must keep her as cool as possible inside and out. She must drink all the water we can get into her, and then we must bathe her. I have to have your help. Do you think you’re up to that? Polly nodded. All right. Let’s get busy.

In the next hour, Polly refilled the bucket twice and brought Mother all the rags she could find.

Curious, Polly asked the other guests, Is she related to any of you?

No, ma’am, said the tall man. Hattie’s all alone. She was going to live with Sarie here when we got to Canada. Don’t look now like she’s going to get there the same time we do.

She’s exhausted, Mother said when Hattie had finally fallen asleep. We best leave her alone to rest. The worst is over, at least for now. More than likely there will be more flare-ups of the fever, but as soon as your father and brother get back with the bark, I’ll make the soup that will help make her well again.

Polly followed Mother upstairs and quietly closed the door to the cellar.

You did a good job this morning, Polly. Thank you. I don’t think either of your sisters could have done better.

Polly glowed inside.

What’s wrong with Hattie, Mother?

She has the ague. I have seen it only a couple of times, but I think the worst is over for now. It comes back, occasionally as blackwater fever, and that is very dangerous.

Can we catch this ague from her?

No, darling, it comes from breathing bad air. She probably caught it on her way here from some place she traveled through.

Will she be able to go with the others when they leave tomorrow?

Oh no! She’s much too weak for that. She’ll need to stay with us for a few days at least to get her strength back and to be sure she doesn’t have another attack.

Can I take care of her too? I’ll sit with her so she won’t be lonely.

You’re a good girl, Polly. I’m sure Hattie would like that. Your father and brother should be back soon with the bark, and I need to get some water boiling for it. Would you please get the fire going for me? And put on a pot of porridge for us.

By the time William and Father returned, the large kettle for the bark broth was merrily boiling and next to it was the hot cereal almost cooked.

"’Tis