Daisy's Search for Freedom

by Bertha Schwartz

  “And you have just fulfilled my heart’s deepest desire. You have safely brought my whole family out of slavery.”

  “And I mean to see you safely home.” Michael rose. “I’ll go get tickets for all of us. Then, maybe we should find a department store to get some clothes and whatever else we need for the journey.”

  “I have clothes and food a-plenty,” said Mama. “I found a lady that agreed to help me in exchange for some sewing and cooking. The only thing is I didn’t get clothes for you.”

  “Great! I’ll just buy some clothes for myself and get the tickets, and we can be on our way.” He hurried away.

  “Mama, you said everyone . . .” Daisy was almost afraid to ask.

  “Yes, my darling!” said Mama, pulling both Daisy and David close. “You two are the last ones. Papa, Rose, Holly, Petunia, and Wes are all waiting for us in a little home that is our very own in the Minnesota Territory.”

  “But, Mama, how did you get here so quickly? An’ how did you get to Six Oaks Plantation? An’ how did you know I was there? An’ where was David? An’ how did you help us leave at the same time?”

  Mama smiled. “One thing at a time, dear. Baby David was taken from me before I was sold to Michael’s family. Michael’s family, especially Michael, helped me to locate all of you. Then Michael would sell me to the family as a cook, housekeeper, seamstress, or whatever. After we helped them escape, and sometimes also some others, Michael would return an’ say he made a mistake an’ sold a free slave, show them the papers, an’ offer to pay more for me than what they paid. If they wanted to argue, he’d threaten to turn them in for holding a free slave. By then, I had usually made some beautiful gowns, that he also offered to the mistress, if they would let me go. Usually they were able to persuade their husbands. But it always scared me to send any of you on the Underground Railroad, not knowing if I would ever see you again. I had to put it all in God’s hands again and again. I knew there were many people involved that could easily slip up. But I also knew there were many praying for us.”

  “Why didn’t they figure out you were helping us escape?”

  “Rose an’ Wes were on the same plantation. They went together like you an’ David. David was on the plantation just west of Six Oaks. Everyone else was far enough apart that they didn’t realize what was happening. Also, we helped slaves from neighboring plantations escape, too. The doctor helped us a lot, because he traveled so much. Most doctors refused to treat slaves.”

  Michael returned shortly in a hired carriage. “Perhaps you can tell us where to get the rest of your belongings,” he told Mama, hurriedly. “If we move quickly, we can leave on the five o’clock train tonight. The quicker we get out of this city, the better.” He did not tell them that he saw Mr. Turner, craning his neck to search the crowds.

  Michael hurried them inside the carriage and told them to stay away from the windows. After a brief stop at the back of a big house where Mama ran inside and soon returned carrying two large bundles, the carriage turned back toward the train station.

  Daisy longed to press her nose against the window and look at all the wonderful sights rushing past, but didn’t dare. This time they were put in a car with wooden seats, but Michael was not allowed to remain with them. In the days that followed, Michael came back to check up on them many times.

  Finally, late one night, they stopped at a little town where Mama told them they had to get off. “We go by wagon the rest of the way,” she told them.

  When they got off the train, everything seemed deserted. Mama told them, “We need to walk two blocks to the left.” Michael looked a little doubtful, but picked up David, who still clung to Smoky the not-so-little kitten, and set off.

  When they got there, Mama went ahead and knocked on the back door. After a few minutes, the door opened, and she motioned them inside. Daisy was dimly aware of a small, clean kitchen and Mama handing the woman one of the bundles. The woman opened it and exclaimed over the beautiful dresses inside. Suddenly, understanding dawned on Daisy. Mama was trading the dresses for something. The thought had barely registered when Michael opened the door.

  “The wagon is ready for you,” he said. “I’ll stay in town a few days to give you a chance to get adjusted to your family again. Then I’ll come out to see you.”

  Mama climbed in the wagon, which was filled with several large trunks, except for a corner where Mama, David, and Daisy sat. “We might as well try to sleep,” said Mama. “It will be daylight before we get home. Home! What a beautiful sound!”

  “Mama, those dresses you gave to that lady were to pay for this wagon ride, weren’t they?”

  “Smart girl!” said Mama, smiling. “That talent God gave me in sewing beautiful gowns for the ladies helped open many doors. An’ my pies usually made the men more pleasant, too.”

  Daisy remembered the other runaways they had met and asked Mama about them. “What happened to them?”

  Mama’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Daisy! When I met them at the train station instead of you, I was so scared. I was sure something happened to you. You left several days before they did. But they told me they met you an’ how you helped them. You were so brave.”

  “Where are they now?”

  “They live in a little house beside us. They told me they are praying for you every day.”

  Daisy relaxed against the soft bundles beside her.

  It was daylight when Daisy’s eyes popped open again. Someone was lifting her! She stared into the kind, dark eyes she hadn’t seen for years! “Papa!” she cried. “Oh, Papa!”

  Papa’s dark eyes filled with tears as he held her close. “God has given us a mighty miracle. I was afraid I would never see my wife or children again. Now here we are, all together again.”

  Daisy looked around and saw her three smiling sisters and one brother. No, two brothers, she corrected herself. I didn’t even know about David.

  She also noticed the snug log cabin in the clearing, the barn, and some smaller buildings—one that probably housed her friends. Suddenly, she realized she was really home . . . safe . . . and free.

  Discussion Questions

  CHAPTER 1

  Annabelle and Daisy are around the same age, but there are many differences between them. What are some of the ways that Daisy is different from Annabelle?

  What do you think about the way that Annabelle is treating Daisy? Why is Daisy allowing Annabelle to treat her that way?

  Many slave children were separated from their families. How do you think Daisy felt to not be able to see her mother for five-and-a-half years?

  Slaves were treated as though they weren’t as special as other people. Do you think that it’s ever okay to treat someone like they are less important than you? Why or why not?

  CHAPTER 2

  Even though the slaves had a hard life, they still found ways to enjoy themselves. The Bible tells us to “rejoice always” (1 Thess. 5:16). How can you rejoice when things get hard?

  Cook gave Daisy some advice before she left. What happened when she didn’t listen to her wisdom?

  Daisy meets a stranger at the plantation. How does she handle herself? What should you do when you’re in danger?

  Daisy called out to Jesus when she was afraid. What do you do when you’re afraid?

  CHAPTER 3

  When Daisy was in trouble, she received help from strangers. Have you ever had a stranger help you out? Have you ever helped a stranger?

  Why do you think it was so unusual to find a slave who could read?

  What do you know about the Underground Railroad?

  Daisy was falsely accused of stealing. What would you do if someone falsely accused you of something?

  CHAPTER 4

  Daisy is the slave of the Clemmons’ family, but each member seems to treat her differently. What are the differences between her master and Miss Annabelle?

  Annabelle is a bully in her treatment of Daisy. Do you think she should be punished for how she treated Daisy? Why
or why not?

  What would you do if someone is bullying you?

  Cook has received a message through Daisy. What do you think the message is about?

  CHAPTER 5

  Daisy spends a lot of her time worrying about what will happen to her and her mama. What does she do when she’s afraid? What should you do?

  Cook tells Daisy, “Always learn everything you can. You’ll never be sorry.” What do you think she means by this?

  Cook spends a lot of time teaching Daisy many different things. What are some things that you want to learn to do?

  When Daisy receives her own message, she has a choice to make. What do you think she should do? Why?

  CHAPTER 6

  Daisy remembers and misses her father, but she has no idea if he had been caught on the last night she saw him. What do you think happened to him?

  Daisy’s mama comes to her in the middle of the night and urges her to leave. What kind of danger do you think Daisy is in? What would you do?

  Doc is obviously a kind man. Why do you think he couldn’t stop to pick up Daisy?

  Daisy shows the little boy kindness when she sees he is afraid. What is something you would do to make someone feel better?

  CHAPTER 7

  Daisy has been put in charge of someone younger than her. That means she is the one responsible for what happens to them. What would you do if you had to be responsible for someone else?

  When Daisy felt overwhelmed, what did she do? What should you do when you are feeling overwhelmed?

  Doc told Daisy to lie if anyone stopped her. But the Bible says that “lying lips are an abomination to the Lord” (Prov. 12:22). Do you think it was okay for Daisy to lie? Why or why not?

  When Daisy starts to miss her mama, she is reassured by the memory that her mama is praying for her. Why do you think that gives her peace? Would it help you to know someone was praying for you?

  CHAPTER 8

  The lady in the carriage asks Daisy if she knows Jesus. Why do you think she wanted to know that? How did it make Daisy feel?

  The Bible says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). How did Daisy follow this verse in her situation? How can you use this verse?

  What did the lady and her family do to help Daisy and Simon? What would you have done?

  “Negroes” was the word used to describe people of color. Do you think that this was a good word to use? Do you think we should identify people by the color of their skin? Why or why not?

  CHAPTER 9

  The lady declared that God had surely answered their prayers. What did she mean by that?

  What do you think is meant by, “We will help God and His angels keep watch over you”? How were Daisy and Simon being “watched over”?

  Even in a terrifying situation, Daisy and Simon were able to have some fun. When you are going through a scary time, what are some things you could do to cheer yourself up?

  When the man called them down, the children obeyed immediately. Their immediate obedience meant the difference between safety and danger. When your parents tell you to obey immediately, what do you do? What should you do?

  CHAPTER 10

  Daisy has determined that the man helping them is a blacksmith. This was a very common job back then and is still done by a few people today. What do you think a blacksmith does based on what Daisy has observed?

  How were Daisy and Simon almost found out? What did she do to stay hidden?

  Daisy and Simon have to spend a lot of time traveling from place to place. Why do you think they can’t stay anywhere for very long? What would you do if you had to travel all the time and never know where you would sleep next?

  This chapter ends with Daisy and Simon alone in the dark, cold woods with nowhere to go. What would you do in their situation? Where would you go?

  CHAPTER 11

  In Ecclesiastes 4, the Bible says that “two are better than one” because if one of them falls down, the other can help him up. How does Simon help Daisy when she “falls down” in despair, not knowing what to do?

  When Daisy and Simon look for a place to sleep, they come across a cave that would make a good shelter. But there is danger lurking there. How does God use Smoky the Cat to keep them safe? If you pay close attention to God’s creatures, they will give you clues about the environment. What are some examples of how they do that?

  Where did Daisy and Simon find a place to sleep? Would you have slept there?

  What did Daisy and Simon do when they found a place to sleep? Do you remember to thank Jesus for even little things in your life?

  CHAPTER 12

  When Daisy and Simon heard someone approaching them at the edge of the woods, what did they do? Do you think that was smart thinking?

  What did the white man tell Daisy? Do you think he was a friend or enemy?

  What scared Daisy and Simon when they were back in the woods? How did they handle it? What would you have done?

  Why is Mr. Turner so determined to find Daisy? What does he want to do with her?

  CHAPTER 13

  Daisy and Simon meet a woman in the house who is willing to help them. What does she do for the children?

  How does Simon describe the tree that their house is in? What are some ways you can describe the trees in your yard?

  How did the children keep finding their way back to the tree house? When you’re lost, what are some ways you can find your way back?

  What were in the bundles that the lady packed for the children? What would you have packed?

  CHAPTER 14

  Who joined Daisy and Simon in their treehouse? Would you have been brave enough to invite strangers into your hiding place?

  What does “jump the broom” mean? What type of ceremony do you think that is?

  Why do you think James and Dorie were afraid for anyone to find out they were married? Do you think that was fair?

  Dorie and James are hiding out with a baby. What do you think are some of the challenges they face as they try to escape their masters?

  CHAPTER 15

  What are Daisy’s words of wisdom when they hear the dogs come hunting for them? Do you think she was brave to stay or foolish? What would you have done?

  Why couldn’t the dogs find them? If you were being chased by dogs, how would you keep them from smelling where you were?

  What did Daisy do to keep the cat and baby quiet? What would you have done to make them be still?

  Why can’t they stay in the little tree house? What danger do they face?

  CHAPTER 16

  How did Daisy know which way to go to find the river? Why do you think it was important for them to stay near the river?

  How did the large group “move as one shadow”? Why do you think it was important for them to do that?

  The woods were no longer safe. Where did Daisy and her friends hide when the lady blew out the lantern?

  Who found Daisy and her friends?

  CHAPTER 17

  What did the man do to them when he found them? Was he a friend or enemy?

  Why do you think the man didn’t want anyone (including his own wife, who was helping them) to know that he had given them food? Do you think there were white people just as afraid as the black people?

  Why can’t the two groups stay together? What are they supposed to do?

  How did Daisy know they were in the right wagon? Do you think Jesus was helping them find their way?

  CHAPTER 18

  Daisy is really good at figuring out ways to get out of difficult situations—like getting out of the stream without letting the dogs find them. Have you ever figured out a way to get yourself out of a difficult situation? What did you do?

  Simon and Daisy don’t even know each other’s real names, but they say they love each other. What has caused two strangers to love each other like this?

  Simon and Daisy have slept in many different plac
es. Can you think of all of them? Have you ever slept in a strange place?

  Daisy had a choice to make—stay in the safety of the tree but remain cold and hungry or take a chance and jump out of the tree to find food. Which way would you have chosen?

  CHAPTER 19

  Who was waiting for Daisy when she jumped out of the tree? By this point, the children have run into a lot of people—some trustworthy and some not. How do you know if you can trust someone?

  The man takes the children to an outhouse. Do you know what they used that for?

  The children had the opportunity to travel on a train. Have you ever ridden on a train? What do you think about traveling that way?

  Why did the man tie them up and then treat them so well? Why do you think he had trick people into thinking he was a slave hunter?