Role: Summarizer

Summary of Section Read:

During a ride in the wagon on the ‘Underground Railroad’, Tommy learns about what the ‘Underground Railroad’ really means. He learned about stations, conductors, passengers and the ‘underground’. He also learns about keeping secrets, making promises, and bravery.

While sitting in the wagon alone, with the hidden passengers in the back, a search party came about. They told Tommy that they were looking for runaways and that they wanted to search the wagon. Tommy had to lie to keep them from searching the wagon. He told them that he had runaway after the incident in church that day because he wanted to avoid a spanking. With this small tale he helped the slaves avoid being discovered.

With his father’s praise, Tommy set off for home as his father stayed behind to further assist the runaways. Tommy waited for his father to return home. Deacon Fuller explained to Tommy that they had broken the law but, hopefully one day that law would be changed. He also explained to Tommy that the runaways were seen as ‘property’ and that people should not be viewed in this way. That was his reasoning for breaking the law.

Key Points:

The Underground Railroad is not a real railroad.
People like Jeff and Vinnie are hidden by the ‘railroad’ with the help of stations and conductors.
Tommy assisted in the escape of the runaways.
Big Jeff, Little Jeff, Vinnie and Baby Pearl made it to their next destination.
Tommy and his father did break the law by helping the slaves escape; however, it was a law that should be changed.
Deacon Fuller believed that the law should be changed because people (like Vinnie and Jeff) were viewed as another man’s property. People should not be treated like property. That is why he hated the law.
If the slaves could make it to the North (to Canada), they could be free.