Written by Bella McDonald

Created with StoryJumper

Published 2016



Dear Anna,

It feels as if my whole word is falling apart right now. At supper, my parents said that we are moving to Kansas soon. The other kids refuse to talk to me now, because they suspect that we're going to Kansas to try to get slavery abolished. Mama says it's true, but I mustn't tell anyone. If the people here in the South find out that we are Union supporters, they might disown us.

Dear Anna,

Our journey to Kanas has been quite boring. The scenery is just miles of swamps, marshes, and corn fields. Once in a while, I can see a glimpse of the river, but that is as interesting as it gets. I hope we are out of the South soon. I don't think I will miss it very much.

Dear Anna,

My family is still traveling in the wagon. When we stopped to let the horses rest, I started asking about slavery. Father explained to me that slaves are not allowed in California, and that slave trade is banned in Washington D.C. I was happy to finally hear some good news! Anna, since Utah is able to be either free or slave, I really hope your home state will become a free state. I know it would mean the world to you.

Dear Anna,

My family has just heard of a horrible incident. Our good friend, James Carlson, was falsely accused of being a runaway slave. He was dragged away to the South to work on a plantation, and we may never see him again. Abbott blames it all on the Fugitive Slave Act. Mama said it was just ol' fashioned greed. Make sure to warn the workers at your family's shoe factory!

Dear Anna,

We have finally arrived in Kansas! It will take almost a week to build the log cabin and unpack the wagon. I won't be writing another letter until we are settled in.

Dear Anna,

As you have probably heard, the violence here is becoming worse and worse. It is worse than I have ever seen in my life. Every waking second, my older brother, Abbott, begs Mama to let him go outside and fight the slave owners. This is when she realized that it's not safe to stay here, and that it would be best if we lived in the North. We are moving to Pennsylvania soon.

Dear Anna,

The ride to Pennsylvania is much more exciting than the one to Kansas! There are factories and stores everywhere I look. The people look more alive, and they're always large crowds of them strolling through the streets. You can see the adults working hard to cut down trees and haul the lumber to shops. There's farmland here as well, but the plants are more colorful in this part of the country. I hope Pennsylvania is just the same.

Dear Anna,

We have been living in Pennsylvania for two weeks now. Luckily, we got here just in time for the election! Mama and Father are very happy that Abraham Lincoln is our new President.