Felsheim

Category: Residence

As a free citizen of Kentucky you know the punishments of helping escaped slaves. You are not a member of the underground railway and can't help thinking about a reward when two escaped slaves show up at your door asking to buy food. Write about what is going through your mind and reach a decision on what to do.

I head to the candle to blow it out when I hear a quick knock on my door. When I open my door there standing in front of me are two black children. In this low light I can't tell they are boys or girls but I can tell that they are run away slaves. I freeze with my hand on the door. I don't know whether to slam my door in their face or invite them in as they look cold. I am torn. My neighbour last week was caught helping a escpaed slave and was sentenced to 6 years in prision. I can't go to prision. Who would look after my wife and children? But on the other hand these two standing in front of me are children and are alone, and cold and hungry. I wouldn't want my children to not know freedom or kindness and would want strangers to help them if they were in trouble. All this passes through my mind in the blink of an eye. One of the black children looks up at me, but doesn't look into my eye, and holds out some money asking for some food. I am torn but when I finally meet the child's eye and see the fear and hunger in their face I have made my decision. I quickly usher them into my house and begin to make a hearty meal for them.