Adventures in Odyssey

Chris (Focus on the Family): Last time on Adventures in Odyssey.

Carl: My name is Carl. I'm the curator for a museum in Chicago, and I wanted to look around because this structure may have historical significance.

Guest (Male): Really?

Carl: This building may have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. I'd love to hear the story. It's the story of the Ross family: Henry, his wife Caroline, and William, their 17-year-old son.

Henry: There's this place in the North called Cabin Creek. It's a town full of people against slavery.

Nathan: You're not thinking. Do you know what they'd do to us if we got caught? We'd never see each other again. That's one thing for sure.

Caroline: We're not putting the boy on the whipping block.

Nathan: Boy, you're coming with us.

William: What? Where?

Nathan: You're being sold.

Caroline: Not my son.

Nathan: Give me the whips in the cart.

Henry: Willie, run. Go to Cabin Creek. We'll meet you.

William: How are you going to ever?

Henry: No questions. Just do it. Caroline, we're going.

Caroline: Where?

Henry: North. I got directions to this woman's house. She'll help us, but we've got to go now.

Nathan: I should have seen this coming, but with them losing their son, I told you it wasn't a good idea. I'll go after them. And while you're out there, you go looking for that other one too, that Benjamin.

Emily: I want you to go to the courier's office downstairs. Give this package to a man there named George. If you want to run away, tell him Emily sent you. He'll help you.

Benjamin: Ma'am?

Emily: I do what I can for those who are strong enough to handle the journey, and I hate what people like me are doing to people like you. Now go on.

Benjamin: Yes, ma'am. I'll go.

Emily: You go all right. And don't stop. Don't stop until you're free.

Guest (Male): So this woman just offered to help him run away out of nowhere?

Carl: That's right.

Guest (Male): Well, did he trust her?

Carl: That's the thing. He knew it could all be a trick. But there was something different about this woman. And the fact was, he missed his family very much, and he was willing to take the chance. So he went to the courier's office.

George: Hello? Yeah. Can I help you?

William: Yeah. I'm supposed to bring you this package.

George: Okay. Yeah, I see it's all paid for, so you're done.

William: Yes, sir.

George: I said you're done. Why are you just standing there?

William: I'll go.

George: Yeah, I guess you'd better. Wait. You sure you got nothing to say to me?

William: Miss Emily sent me.

George: Why didn't you say so in the first place? Didn't trust me, huh?

William: Can't trust nobody.

George: Let me put it to you this way. If I'm on your side, you're going to get a chance to run. If I'm not on your side, you're already in a heap of trouble. It don't matter if you trust me or not. Got it?

William: Yes.

George: I'm sorry I couldn't come right out and tell you who I was. Slave owners around here are always thinking I'm up to something. Always suspect they set me up by telling one of you to come back. It's a test. I've got to be wary. All right. Get in the box.

William: Sir?

George: Get inside this box. I'm going to mail you.

William: Mail me?

George: Unless you'd rather go back now. The courier's going to be here in an hour. You're going to get in here, and I'm going to send you to a man named Thomas Carlin in Cincinnati.

He's a good man. He'll help you. I only got a couple of loaves of bread and some water. Don't eat it all at once. It's got to last you a few days.

Carl: William got inside the box. He barely fit. His knees were pushed up against his chest, and George closed up the box.

Guest (Male): He actually mailed him?

Carl: That's right. He drilled some small holes in the side so William could breathe, and the couriers took him away on the cart.

Guest (Male): Well, were the couriers on William's side too?

Carl: No, they could have caught him at any time and turned him in.

Guest (Male): Didn't they get suspicious hauling this huge box?

Carl: They did it all the time for George. Anyway, back to Henry and Caroline. They continued on for many days, resting each morning in caves or tall weeds. Finally, they could see freedom in the distance.

Henry: The river's got to be here somewhere. Come on, Caroline. We're almost there. I can't believe we're going to make it. Hope we haven't gone the wrong way. She said the Ohio River. It goes all the way across, don't it? We couldn't miss it. Wait.

Caroline: What is it, Henry?

Henry: There it is. I can see it.

Caroline: Oh, praise God.

Henry: The Ohio River. Let's go. All we have to do is get across and we're free.

Caroline: Free. How are we going to get across?

Henry: I figured it'd be iced over. We can just walk across. Oh, please, Lord, let it be iced over. Here it is. Looks like it's solid. Let's go. Wait. Let me test it first. No, it's too thin here.

Caroline: Maybe somewhere else?

Henry: There's got to be a bridge here somewhere. Let's go looking for a bridge.

Caroline: Look. On the other side, there's a house with a light on.

Henry: Sure is. That's where we've got to go.

Caroline: Maybe we can get their attention. Hello!

Henry: Caroline, are you crazy yelling out like that? We're still in slave land.

Nathan: Right there on the riverbank.

Henry: Oh, no. It's Master Nathan. We've got to get out of here.

Caroline: Where?

Henry: Across the river. Now!

Nathan: Stay where you are. Stop.

Henry: Hurry, Caroline.

Chris (Focus on the Family): Now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club, it's another Knox On.

Guest (Male): Hey, look what I got.

Thomas Carlin: Oh, that's a beautiful coin. Is it a stater?

Guest (Male): It is. I found it at the temple.

Thomas Carlin: I am not one to get carried away by emotion, right?

Guest (Male): Yes, but we're being called on to take a leap of faith here. We all rush in together, each one takes something, and then rush out together. Any questions?

Thomas Carlin: Just one. Why are we doing this?

Chris (Focus on the Family): Listen now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

Henry: Take my hand! She fell through the ice. Come on. I see you. Caroline, my hand!

Carl: Somehow Caroline managed to grab Henry's hand, but with the strong current flowing underneath the ice, he didn't have the strength to pull her out. But just then, a helping hand came out of nowhere.

Sydney: I can't hold on. Here, give me your other hand. Got it. Now let's pull on the count of three. One, two, three. Let's go. Over here, it's thicker.

Nathan: Stop! I'll shoot!

Carl: Under the fire from Nathan's gun, they made it safely across to the other side.

Sydney: Up here. Come on, Caroline. In the house. We're safe here. You okay?

Henry: Yeah. Caroline?

Caroline: Yeah, I'm okay.

Sydney: What are your names?

Henry: I'm Henry. This is Caroline.

Sydney: Nice to meet you. I'm Sydney. Why don't you go change in the other room? There's some dry clothes that may fit you in the chest.

Caroline: Thank you, sir.

Henry: Yes. Thank you.

Sydney: You're welcome. After you're done, come on out and sit in front of the stove.

Henry: Here's the clothes. Caroline.

Caroline: Yes?

Henry: You know, I just figured out something.

Caroline: What?

Henry: We're free.

Caroline: You're right. But praise God, we're free.

Carl: Days later, Henry and Caroline made it safely to Cabin Creek and stayed there for several months. There they had the freedom to go wherever they wanted, eat whenever they wanted, laugh and talk loud, and speak their opinions whenever they wanted.

The new life wouldn't be easy. They knew that as well. They would still have to work to put food on the table, but at the same time, they were free.

Henry: Caroline.

Caroline: Over here.

Henry: Close your eyes.

Caroline: I'm washing clothes, Henry. I can't play no games.

Henry: Caroline, please. This will only take a second.

Caroline: All right. They're closed.

Henry: Don't move. Be right back.

Caroline: What you up to, man?

Henry: Okay, I'm back. Open your eyes.

Caroline: A dress.

Henry: I thought you'd look awful pretty in it.

Caroline: Oh, Henry, it's beautiful. How'd you get it?

Henry: I did some extra work for the man at the store.

Caroline: Oh, but there's so many other things we could have gotten, things we need.

Henry: No. I wanted you to have this.

Caroline: Why?

Henry: Because I want you to be in this dress when William gets here.

Caroline: Oh, Henry. I want that too.

Sydney: Mr. Sydney, what you doing here?

I got some news.

Henry: News?

Sydney: Yeah, it's important. In fact, I've got to go around this whole town to tell it.

Henry: By your face, it don't look good.

Sydney: It's not. I just got word from Washington. They've enacted a new law called the Fugitive Slave Law.

Henry: What is it?

Sydney: Anybody helping slaves can get arrested.

Caroline: What's it mean?

Sydney: It means there may not be so many people up here willing to help you. And your master may not be so hesitant about coming up to get you. I imagine he's already loaded up his horses and is on his way. You two have to keep running.

Henry: What? But they can't do that. We're free now.

Sydney: No, you're not.

Caroline: What are we going to do, Henry?

Henry: I don't know.

Sydney: You're going to Canada. It's not safe anywhere in the states anymore.

Henry: Canada? That's far away, isn't it?

Caroline: How are we going to get there?

Sydney: It's called the Underground Railroad.

Henry: Is it a railroad?

Sydney: No, it's people that open up their houses along the road and let you rest and hide. There's people from here all the way to Canada to help you. They'll give you food, shelter, and a bed to sleep on.

Henry: How do we know where to find these people?

Sydney: They'll tell you where to go. I'll give you directions to the first stop.

Caroline: But what about our son? He was meeting us here.

Sydney: You've just got to hope he makes it too. If you try to stay here and wait for him, you'll never see him. Your owners will probably be on top of this place in a matter of days. Lord help us. Listen, I've got to get around to tell everyone else. If you need anything before you leave, just ask, okay?

Henry: Okay. Thank you. Caroline, what are we going to do? We're going to go.

Carl: So how was William doing? He was okay. Not comfortable, but alive and still moving. That box he was in seemed to get smaller and smaller every mile he went. After four days, he had only a little bread left.

He nibbled on it, a crumb at a time. Long before this, he lost all feeling in his legs, and no matter which way he squirmed, he couldn't seem to regain it. His clothes were drenched with sweat. His lungs felt clogged from breathing the same air for four days, and he could barely hold his senses together from being enclosed in darkness.

Then the next day, William's worst nightmare came true when the box dropped off the wagon.

Courier (Male): I knew this was going to happen. I told you to tie it down. It's so heavy, I didn't think we'd need it. Come on, let's get it back on up there. All right, I'm on the count of three. One, two, three. What's in this thing?

Now, you want to tie that thing down? Or should I just push it farther on the cart? Oh, all right. I guess that'll work.

Guest (Male): And they didn't find him?

Carl: No.

Guest (Male): But I thought you said it would be his worst nightmare.

Carl: It was. The courier didn't pay much attention to the arrows on the side of the box. They put William back upside down.

Guest (Male): Oh, my.

Carl: All the blood started rushing to his head. Eventually, he was able to move himself around so that all the weight wasn't directly on his head. But by then, it was too late. He passed out and didn't recover until the box reached Cincinnati.

Thomas Carlin: Yes?

Courier (Male): Mr. Carlin?

Thomas Carlin: Yes.

Courier (Male): We got a crate for you.

Thomas Carlin: Oh, thank you. You all want us to bring it on in?

Courier (Male): Yes, please. All right. Get that side. Okay. One, two, three.

Thomas Carlin: Right over there is fine. Douglas, come in here for a moment. Put it down carefully, please.

Courier (Male): Thank you. You're welcome, sir. All right, let's get out of here.

Thomas Carlin: Goodbye. Douglas.

Douglas: Yes, what is it, Thomas?

Thomas Carlin: Quickly. Let's get this open.

Douglas: What is it?

Thomas Carlin: A package.

Douglas: You mean it's?

Thomas Carlin: Yes. Hand me that hammer. I'll try to pry it open. Hello in there. Hope he's not dead. Help me open it.

Douglas: I think he is dead.

Thomas Carlin: Let's get him out of there. Lay him down.

Douglas: The poor man's soaked from head to toe.

Thomas Carlin: Sweat. Thank God he's still breathing. Go get him some cold damp cloths. Then we'll take him into my room and lay him on the bed. Well, how is he?

Douglas: Still no response. Seem to be breathing a little more easily.

Thomas Carlin: Good. So how long do you think he was in there?

Douglas: I don't know. Four, five days, maybe a week. Wait. He's coming to.

William: Hello. Get away from me! I'll kill you! I swear! Get your hands off!

Thomas Carlin: Hold on. It's okay. It's okay. We're your friends. Calm down. It's okay. I'm your friend. I'm here to help you.

William: I don't need help.

Thomas Carlin: It's okay. I know why you're here. The box you were in was sent to me.

William: Where am I?

Thomas Carlin: My name is Thomas Carlin. You're in Cincinnati, Ohio.

William: Cincinnati? Yes. That's in the North, ain't it?

Thomas Carlin: Yes.

William: You mean I'm free?

Thomas Carlin: Well, no. I'm afraid you're not.

William: What are you talking about?

Thomas Carlin: Unfortunately, a few days ago, probably while you were on your way here, Congress enacted a new law. Your owners are probably going to come and get you.

William: What?

Thomas Carlin: You'll have to go on to Canada.

William: No. No, I can't go to Canada.

Thomas Carlin: Why not?

William: I've got to go to Cabin Creek. See my folks.

Thomas Carlin: You can't go there.

William: Oh, yes I can. I don't care.

Thomas Carlin: Your parents aren't there.

William: How do you know? They told me they would.

Thomas Carlin: There is no Cabin Creek anymore. It's practically a deserted town. Everyone moved north after this law went into effect.

William: But how am I going to find them?

Thomas Carlin: I don't know, but you're not going to find them there. You might as well head to Canada. We've got something to help you. It's called the Underground Railroad. It's the only way. Yeah, I have a map for you. I wrote it out on leather because it's durable. It's a rough road. This will lead you all the way to Canada. Will you take it?

William: Okay. Show me the map.

Chris (Focus on the Family): The stories we hear help shape who we are. The right stories teach us to be brave, to be kind to others, to be godly people. These are the kinds of stories your children hear with each episode of Adventures in Odyssey audio dramas.

And your kids can hear as many great stories as they want with an Adventures in Odyssey Club membership. When you join the club, you'll get access to over 1,000 faith-building episodes, including episodes you can only hear as a member.

You'll get access to devotionals, games, comics, and other fun activities. Keep giving them stories that will live in their hearts forever. Teach them to be wise like Whit, to be compassionate like Connie, to hold on to the biblical values they learn even when you're not there to remind them.

Try a membership for 14 days to see if it's right for your family. Go to adventuresinodyssey.com to start your free trial. That's adventuresinodyssey.com. Now in the Adventures in Odyssey Club, Wyatt and Sophie take an Imagination Station adventure to meet some American patriots.

Sophie: That's Ben Franklin, Wyatt. That's Ben Franklin!

Wyatt: I know!

Chris (Focus on the Family): But they find there's more to their heroes' stories than they remember from their history class.

Sophie: Why were they fighting?

Guest (Male): Mr. Franklin, would you like to tell her?

Ben Franklin: They were fighting over the letters I sent out.

Guest (Male): Because of those letters, there are riots across half of Massachusetts.

Chris (Focus on the Family): Little-known American history is revealed now in the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

Sophie: That was the Boston Massacre!

Chris (Focus on the Family): And the race to cast the deciding vote for American independence.

Sophie: Are you still on your way to Philadelphia?

Guest (Male): Yes. We could be walking for hours in the rain. Then we walk for hours in the rain. Independence is at stake.

Chris (Focus on the Family): The story behind the birth of America, now in the Adventures in Odyssey Club. Want to be part of something awesome? Then join the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

You'll get access to over 1,000 episodes, behind-the-scenes content, devotionals, games, and a free subscription to Focus on the Family's Clubhouse Magazine. Discover all the perks at adventuresinodyssey.com.

Want to contact us about the episode you're hearing? Visit our website at adventuresinodyssey.com or talk to someone at Focus on the Family. Call 1-800-A-FAMILY, with a parent's permission, of course. We always love hearing from you.

Because of the new slave law, slaves in the North were being captured and taken back south. The Underground Railroad safely hid most of the slaves, but sometimes it didn't.

Nathan: Where is he?

Guest (Male): Who?

Nathan: You know who I'm talking about. You've got a runaway in here by the name of Benjamin.

Guest (Male): You can't just bust my door down and come crashing in here like that. This is my house.

Nathan: Guess you hadn't caught up with the latest laws. You got a runaway in here, you're going to jail. Now where is he?

Guest (Male): You've got the wrong house.

Nathan: Get his arms, John. Yeah. Get your hands off me! I'll just have a look around. You know, I bet that closet would be a nice place to hide somebody. There he is! He's trying to get away! Come here, boy! Gotcha! Get off me!

Boy, you sure got brave since the last time I saw you. You never would have said that to me back in Tennessee. Hello, Benjamin. Bet you never thought you'd see me again after you ran off that night. You did good. Almost made it to Canada. I think you're going to be a big help.

Benjamin: What are you talking about?

Nathan: Your friends. The ones you lived with.

Benjamin: Henry?

Nathan: That's the one. Him and his wife left. And I just heard their boy William took off for Mississippi too.

Benjamin: What's that got to do with me?

Nathan: You are going to help me find them.

Benjamin: Why would I do a thing like that?

Nathan: You're not going to have a choice. I want to know every place you stopped at on this Underground Railroad from here all the way to the Ohio River. We are going to look at every stop until we find your friends. And then we all going back like one happy family.

Benjamin: I'm not telling you nothing.

Nathan: You're not, huh? John, you got my gun? Yeah, here it is.

Benjamin: I'd die before I tell you anything.

Nathan: Then let me offer you something else. I hear you got a sister in Birmingham. You don't have to tell me. I already know you do. My friend owns her. And I know you don't care what happens to yourself, but what about her?

Benjamin: What'd you do to her?

Nathan: I haven't done nothing yet. And I won't if you help me, that is.

Benjamin: You better not lay a hand on her.

Nathan: I think that's up to you now, isn't it? What'll it be, boy? You going to help us?

Benjamin: Yeah. I'll help you.

Guest (Male): So did Henry and Caroline make it to Canada by this time?

Carl: No, but they were well on their way thanks to the Underground Railroad. They walked on, stopping to eat and sleep at safe houses along the way. They spent several months on the road. It was a slow trip.

The people helping them would not let them leave until they were certain it was safe. But as soon as it was time, they would be given directions to the next stop and they were sent on their way in darkness.

Guest (Female): Eat all that up now. You've got to have your strength.

Henry: We sure do thank you.

Guest (Female): That's what I'm here for. We know the chance you're taking even talking to us. It's worth the chance. Who is it? I don't know. Come here. Bring all your things. This here's a fake wall. Get inside. You okay?

Henry: Yes, ma'am.

Guest (Female): Hello, ma'am. May we come in? What do you want? I just want to take a look around. Why? Well, you see, we've been hearing that there's been some slaves hiding out in this area.

Guest (Female): I haven't seen any.

Nathan: Miss Holly, that is your name, right?

Guest (Female): Yes.

Nathan: I got permission from the sheriff of this town to search your house.

Guest (Female): You what?

Nathan: I also got permission to arrest you.

Guest (Female): Arrest me?

Nathan: That's right. You've been hiding out slaves, Miss Holly.

Guest (Female): That's not true.

Nathan: I got some people who say something different. One sitting out on a horse. You remember Benjamin, Miss Holly?

Guest (Female): I don't know who you're talking about.

Nathan: Take her outside. All right. Come on. Get your hands off me! No, you can't do this! Let's go now. Hello. Anybody in here? If you're in here, we're going to find you. There's no doubt about that.

Come on out. I ain't going to hurt you. I ain't allowed. If it was up to me, I'd shoot you on sight, but my father wants you back in one piece. Where are you? Come on now, don't make me wait. You find them? No, I looked all around. They ain't here. Let's go then. Okay.

Caroline: You hear that, Henry? They just up and took her.

Henry: I heard.

Caroline: What if she tells them we've been here? We've got to get going now.

Henry: We've got a problem with that though.

Caroline: What?

Henry: We don't know where to go next.

Chris (Focus on the Family): It looks like we haven't seen the last of Nathan and his posse. Will Henry, Caroline, and William ever find each other? There's only one way to find out. Keep listening.

Until then, why don't you send us a letter to let us know you're listening? We'd love to hear from you. Just send your card or letter to Adventures in Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995.

Or in Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4G3. And don't forget to ask how you can get a copy of today's episode. It's called The Underground Railroad. That address again is Adventures in Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995.

Adventures in Odyssey's a presentation of Focus on the Family. The Underground Railroad was written and directed by Marshall Younger. Our production engineer was Dave Arnold, and our executive producer is Chuck Bolte. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.