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In North America slavery existed in the southern states until 1865, while in the northern states there was no slavery at that time. Negro slaves who lived in the South often wanted to escape to the North. To do so¹, they had to have conductors. These conductors usually were other slaves, who had escaped.

They organized a system called the Underground Railroad. It was not really a railroad, as the slaves had to walk all the way. It was not even a road, but a system under which the Negroes were able to escape across the Mason and Dɪxon line² into the free states. There were "stations" on the "underground", often in the homes of white people who were helping the slaves.

In 1850, however, a cruel law was passed³ under which escaped slaves were to be returned to their former owners.

You will now read an article about one of these courageous conductors. It is a life story of a remarkable woman called Harriet ['hærɪət] Tubman ['tʌbmən].

Harriet Tubman was the most courageous and best conductor on the dangerous Underground Railroad. She never lost a "passenger". As long as the North Star shone,she said she could lead any party of slaves to the northern states.

The Underground Railroad, as you know, was a wonderfully connected secret road by which slaves escaped to freedom. In many places, good friends, both Negro and white, gave them food and money and helped them on their way.

To be a conductor was the most dangerous job of all, because in leading other slaves to freedom the conductors might lose their own lives⁴. Harriet Tubman went back nineteen times and led hundreds of people to freedom.

When Harriet was only five years old, she already had to work hard in the fields under the hot sun of the South, and was beaten cruelly, as all the slaves were.

One night she ran away and slowly made her way up North⁵. This is how she felt when she reached the Mason and Dixon line: "When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything. The sun came like gold through the trees, and I felt as if I was in heaven. "

Harriet Tubman decided to help as many of her brothers and sisters to freedom6 as she could. So she worked hard to earn money and every time she had saved up a little, she went back and brought some more slaves out of the South.

Many times she was in great danger and was nearly caught. Once she came face to face with her former owner. She had two chickens in her arms. Quickly she dropped the chickens, and as they ran about, Harriet bent her head and ran after them, as if she wanted to catch them.

The owner could not see her face and she got away safely.

Such a loved leader was Harriet Tubman that she was called "General Tubman".

Harriet Tubman worked all her life to help win full freedom for the Negro people. This small, very courageous woman died at 937. Her name is known all over the world as one of the greatest of American women.