This is a sample blog created to give an exemplar to grade six students for a book club study of "Underground to Canada" by Barbara Smucker. Their blog entries will follow the main character, Julilly, on her arduous journey to freedom on the Underground Railway.
Last night was one of the worst and one of the best experiences of my life so far. Liza and I were starving and we came across a farm and tried to use the little money we had to buy food from a farmer...
We nearly died from fear! That mean woman accused us of stealing the money and she chased us off her land with a gun!
We had almost been tempted to become the thieves she thought us, but grace had other plans.
Grace delivered us into the arms of a Mennonite village and we have never known such kindness.
I'm so full of joy right now, I'll just have to sing about it:
The grace of those villagers will help us persevere.
I can hardly sleep! Tonight is the night that we break free. All week, Liza and I have kept our heads down and worked like dogs. All week we've tried to sleep too, as Liza says we'll need our strength, but how can a girl sleep when our plans are buzzing in my head like crickets?
When evening fell, a breeze took away the clouds and shined-up my North Star.
Mama would have said that's a good omen.
Oh Mama, I'm following your North Star...
I'm lying here on the floor next to my best friend in the whole world. Her back is to me and I can just make out the lines of scars in the moonlight through the holes in her thread-bare shirt. On any other night, this sight would choke me with pity for my Liza, but not tonight. Tonight, her back will be a star-chart, a map of the heavens that will show us to the North Star and lead us on to the promised land.
To Canada.
To Freedom.
As I drift off to sleep, my excitement fades into a dream. My dream is like a movie trailer. You know, for one of those adventure movies? Liza and I are the stars of our movie, but what will happen? Will we get away unheard? Will they set the dogs on us? Will we make it to Canada?
Watch my trailer, and wonder with me:
I'm waiting so patiently for that Whippoorwill to sound three times. Our movie will begin, and we'll finally have our chance. Our hope. Our dream. Our Canada.
