Follow the Drinking Gourd (4 page)
Read Follow the Drinking Gourd Online
Authors: Jeanette Winter
At last they came to the shores of Lake Erie.
Molly and James and Isaiah,
old Hattie and young George,
climbed aboard the steamship
that would carry them across to Canada, to freedom.
“Five more souls are safe!”
old Hattie cried.
The sun shone bright when they stepped on land.
They had followed the drinking gourd.
(Repeat chorus)
The riverbank makes a very good road,
The dead trees will show you the way.
Left foot, peg foot, traveling on,
Follow the drinking gourd.
(Repeat chorus)
The river ends between two hills,
Follow the drinking gourd.
There’s another river on the other side,
Follow the drinking gourd.
(Repeat chorus)
When the great big river meets the little river,
Follow the drinking gourd.
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd.
Jeanette Winter
is one of the most acclaimed author-illustrators working in children’s literature today. She has written and illustrated almost fifty books for young readers, including
Diego,
a
New York Times
Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year;
My Name Is Georgia,
an ALA Notable Book;
The Librarian of Basra,
winner of the Bank Street College of Education Flora Stieglitz Straus Award for Nonfiction; and
Mama,
winner of the Society of Illustrators Original Art Silver Medal.
