The Life Of Maggie Johson by
Alannah Caldwell
Chapter1
"I'm tried of washing this white people clothes," I
said.
"You best to stop it or I'll give you a whopping, then the
master will."
Then it was a scream, a child scream. I was about to run to the
scream, but Mama pulled me down.
"That's none of your business," she snapped and kept on
cleaning up the mess.
"Aren't you worry that a child might be in danger," I
said.
"It doesn't matter," said Mama,"the master all
ready taught the child how to treat us black Flokes."
"It doesn't matter, it's a child. A child can't think for
it's self,"
"So we must be children to the master then,"said
Mama,"Now finsh the rest will I start the dinner."
"Yes Mama,"
Then she walked in to the kicthen I started cleaning again then
stopped because I heard the scream again. I ran upstairs and I
open the door. My master had his hand close to his own 5 year old
daughter.I sat there still looking it to this poor child face.
Then for some reason I ran toward her and took her away . My
master just sat there suprise. Then I close the door with the
baby and ran out. My master snapped out of it and start sceaming
out in front of the door. But it was to late for him to get me I
was like a wolf in the night chasing its prey but I was actually
looking for the river. I notice the girl in my arms was just
looking at me.I finally got to the river in crossed it. I didn't
know where I was going or doing.
Chapter 2
I woke up. You know your alive when you wake up but I felt really
alive when I woke up, like freedom woke up. Then I looked to my
right and saw the master child sitting there looking at me. Then
I remember why I'm here.
"Where is my father?"She said so gently and kind.
"He's at home."I said trying to pick my words
carefully.
"Do we have to go back?"said master daugther.
"Do you want to?"
"No"
"O.k"
"What's your name?" I said. Then I thought I didn't
even know her name and I took her away from her father. Am I sick
or what.
"My name Caroline Wilson,"she said.
"Will my name is Maggie Johson"
"Do you what some breakfeast?"
"Yes Ma'ma"
I sat there know one in my entire life called me Ma'ma before.
So, she must not know the rules of life then.Wait till I tell
mamma.
"Just wait right here o.k"
So I went a seaching. I find a bird nest full of eggs,abuch of
cheeries,and my luck honey nectors.So I came back and made the
eggs and but everything on a big leaf. Caroline ate it right up.
"Were are we going next?" Caroline said.
"To Phildephia!" I said happy. I know there is know
slaverly in those parts of the country.
"But were in North Carolina,"
How did she know where we are and she is only 5 years old? I'm 18
and I don't know how to count.
"Well were going to do are best O.K"Shaking my head
like I know were going to make it.
***************
The place we left behind was trouble for my master. Which I find
out was Therodore Wilson. He went though it.People making fun of
him because he just let a slave take his only child. A women
slave at that not a big stong black man but a skinny black women.
Any way alot of people was looking for us. I mean the whole state
of North Carolina because the ransom money was so high it seem
like they whould paint there sister black just to get the money.
I didn't belive they didn't catch us yet. I heard alot of stories
about slaves geting catch before. Sometimes I think I could have
smelled a dog coming and hurried Caroline up washing up in the
lake so we can leave.
"It's time to wake up ," I said in a hurry looking
around. I heard a dog.
"Do I have to Mag?" said Caroline. Right now she is 10
years old.
"Yes you do.now hurry up."
"O.k"
Then I heard someone say I saw something. My heart stopped. Then
it came back. Ohh Lord please let it be someone black so we don't
I mean/ I don't get kill. Because sometimes we see some slaves
running away. I heard them again it sound like they were geting
closer.Then I had a feeling they were white the smell of them
that smell. It's like a feel of it. I head in the bushes.
Caroline does this routine she does like this.......
"Hello, Gentleman may I help you with anything." She
said with a smile.
"Why are you here in the middle of the night didn't you hear
about that black lady that take little girls like you away from
your parents." He said.
"I did hear of her but my boyfriend is with me."she
said with a smile.
"A girl like you would have a boyfriend.Well just don't tell
him not to leave you in the night o.k."
"Yes Sir."
In so they left and it was quite again. I walked out the bushes
and hugged Caroline.
"Thank you so much." I said.
"No problem Mag."
In we kept on walking. I notice we were close to Richmond,Vigina
because my master use to talk about it all the time. She was
twelve by now and seeing more slaves. They looked at us and know
who we are some took it like my mom who I was missing alot. And
others took it mean but they respect want I'm doing. Caroline
would walk past some of the black boys and they would stare.Even
though she was with me. They would l not talk to her because she
white. Exept one day..................
It was a sunny day and luckey for Caroline and me we went with a
crowd. There were at least 20 black people there. She was walking
and this little boy tap her shoulder. She turned around. He
looked in to her big green eyes and sat there she smiled. Then
she spoke.
"How are you today Sir." She said in her Carolina
accent.
"Good mournig." He said.
I was seating with his mother because it was sunny and hot that
day now that I think about it.
"What's your name." Caroline said.
" Donuld!'' He said with a smile.
She laughed. Then hold his hand.
"I like that name."
"Can I call you Green." Donuld said with a grin.
"Why would you call me that?"
"Because you have beautifull Green eyes."
She stood there for a few mintues.He waited for her to talk. I
walked over.
"Wants wrong Caroline."
"I'm different,''
"Everybody different child." I said
"But I'm the only white person here. I see how people look
at me. I don't even remember what white people look like."
I stood there surpised.
Chapter 3
Well we kind of seprated the group because they started to argue.
So we were by are selfes. We were walking in a town and saw a
paper. Caroline read it out loud. It read:
Fugitive Slave Laws
Laws provided for return of runway slaves who escaped from one
state to another.
"This is not good." said Caroline.
"What kind of law would not want freedom for someone."
"I hate the United States of America. The freedom of who?
The white man freedom." I started to yell it out
loud."That isn't right for the land of the free can be right
down upsetting. But one day boy the blacks well rise up and be a
doctor and own land.Yes one day we will rule this coutry. I will
be waiting that day."
Caroline just sat there with a tear coming down on her check.
"I can't wait tell that day come to." Said Caroline.
Chapter 4
"I'm so happy we got out of that place" I said to
Caroline.
"Me too," Caroline said.
I was about to scream at her. Then I saw her smile. I smiled
back. I kind of surprised they didn't find us all this time.I
think it was 11 years that passed. I always thougt this everyday
of my life. It seem like know was looking for us.
***************
"This isn't right for some slave to be gone for some 10
years!" said the Mayor. "The other states are making
fun of us because we couldn't find this dumb nigger. It's
actually starting to get on my nerves!"
"You know that Therodore Wilson died too this morning. So
now we don't even know want the nigger look like ," said his
wife.
"I think you can find her she's the nigger with a white
girl!" said Mayor.
"I don't understand why she didn't get help or
anything?"
"The nigger might have poisened her mind or some
short!"
"Well she was young when that thing kippnapped her,"
"It's time for the United States to be on alerated!"
So all around the Untied States.Masters beat there slaves twice
as much to keep them from looking at there children and not to
run away from terrible uncondition shack of houses. I thouht of
all this children being beat to deaf because I have to get in
someone business.
Chapter 5
We were in New Jersey about 10 miles away from Philadelphia.
Caroline was happy,but I wasn't. It was a slience cheer when we
saw the Phialadelphia sign.
" I have to tell you something," I said. I was about to
leave it only, but I had to tell her.
"What do you want to tell me?" said Caroline. This time
she is 21 years old.
" I," I just burst out crying.
"Don't tell me you turn yourself in, Mag!" said
Caroline.
"You were so close. I mean your here. don't you dare leave
me like this. You took me all the way to Philadephia for nothing.
Was it for your amusment or something?" said Caroline.
"My amunsment! Have you lost your mine? I was almost killed
so many times just to keep you alive so many hardships I had to
go through. So ,it's my amusment to see you happy and laughing it
was my amusment to see you live with someone to love you and for
someone to love you back. It was very amusmening," I said
tears where flowing down my cheeks.
Carolina start crying.
"If you leave me where whould I go? Who whould I love and
who whould love me back. Who whould give me eggs, cherries,and
honey nectors? Who?" She said it so kind and gently. I just
had to hug her.So I did hug her for a long time. The police came
and arrested me, but something amazing happen they didn't put me
in jail instead they let me go because Caroline said I was her
mother.
***************
Later, I find out my mamma died when I left because Therodore
Wilson killed her. I also find out more slaves are getting away
from the mastors and also find out that Therdore gave money to
Caroline because he felt so sad beating up on her when she was
young and told her he loved her. So Caroline has her own child
and live with Doulnd and named her child Doully. For me I have a
lot of money so I don't have to wash clothes ever again .
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