مکالمه ی فعالانه قسمت ب

Active Speaking - Part B

There was just one problem though. At that time in American history, it would also be unheard of for a female to be traveling accompanied only by her slave.

At that time would it be strange for a woman to be traveling with a slave? Yes, it would be strange for a woman to be traveling with a slave. Was this a problem? Yes, this was a big problem.

So instead of pretending to be a white woman, Ellen needed to pretend to be a white man.

Did Ellen pretend to be a white man? Yes, Ellen pretended to be a white man.

William helped Ellen cut her hair to neck length, to make her appear more like a man.

How did William help Ellen look more like a man? William helped Ellen look more like a man by cutting her hair short.

Ellen also put her arm in a sling, hoping that people would not ask her to sign any documents along their journey. Back then, slaves weren’t allowed to learn how to read or write. If Ellen couldn’t make a signature, it would expose them instantly.

Could Ellen write? No, Ellen couldn’t write. Why did Ellen put her arm in a sling? Ellen put her arm in a sling to stop people from asking her sign documents.

They decided to make their escape over Christmas. Ellen and William were favorites of their masters, so they didn’t have much trouble getting time off for the holidays. This was important, because their masters wouldn’t be suspicious about them being missing until they made it to the North.

When did they decide to escape? They decided to escape over Christmas. Was it difficult to get time off for the holidays? No, it wasn’t difficult because both Ellen and William were favorites of their masters.

Right before they left, William also helped Ellen put bandages on her face. Bandages meant she wouldn’t have to talk with too many people, as every person she spoke with could possibly expose them.

What did William put on Ellen’s face? William put bandages on Ellen’s face. Why did William put bandages on Ellen’s face? William put bandages on Ellen’s face to try to stop people from talking to her.

She wore a pair of men’s pants which she sewed herself, and wore a pair of green spectacles and a top hat.

What kind of clothes did Ellen where? Ellen wore a pair of men’s pants, a pair of green spectacles and a top hat.

Once the outfit was convincing enough, they headed for the Macon train station. Ellen used the little money they had to buy train tickets.

What train station did they go to first? They went to the Macon train station.

They had a couple of close calls on that train.

Was the train trip trouble free? No, the train trip wasn’t trouble free. They had a couple close calls on the train.

William boarded the “negro train” where he spotted the owner of the cabinetmaking shop where he worked looking into the window of his train car.

Who did William see looking through the window of his train car? William saw the owner of the cabinetmaking shop where he worked looking through the window of his car.

He turned his head the other way and sat lower in his seat to avoid the owner’s stare. Thankfully, the train started and the two never met.

Did the shop owner see William? No, thankfully he didn’t see him.

Ellen was sitting looking out the window in the white people’s train until she turned around and saw that the person sitting next to her was a good friend of her master.

Who sat next to Ellen in the white people’s train? A good friend of her master sat next to Ellen in the white people’s train.

This person had known Ellen for years. He didn’t recognize her in her disguise, but Ellen’s heart was leaping out of her chest for the entire ride.

Did this person know Ellen well? Yes, this person knew Ellen for years. Did he recognize her?

No, he didn’t recognize her in her disguise. Was Ellen nervous? Yes, her heart was leaping out of her chest.

On the next train to Charleston, South Carolina, many people warned Ellen about abolitionists in the North.

What did people warn Ellen about? They warned Ellen about abolitionists in the North.

They said abolitionists would try and encourage William to run away from her.

What did they say abolitionists in the North would do? They said abolitionists in the North would encourage William to run away.

A slave trader on board even offered to buy William on the spot and take him back to the Deep South.

Did the cabinet shop owner offer to buy William on the spot? No, the slave trader offered to buy William on the spot.