GLOSSARY

ashcake (ASH-kayk)—

cake made out of cornmeal that is cooked in hot ashes

conductor (kuhn-DUHK-tur)—

people who guided runaway slaves and led them to the free states in the North

embers (EM-burz)—

hot, glowing remains of a fire

grits (GRITS)—

coarsely ground grain, especially white corn, boiled and eaten as a cereal or side dish

hog jowls (HOG JOULS)—

a cured and smoked cut of meat from the cheeks of a hog

Mason-Dixon Line (MAY-suhn DIK-suhn LINE)—

boundary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland; was in part boundary between free and slave states

mouth harp (MOUTH HARP)—

an instrument consisting of a flexible metal or bamboo tongue or reed attached to a frame

overseer (OH-ver-see-er)—

person who directed the daily work of slaves

rations (RASH-uhns)—

limited amounts or shares, especially of food

slavery (SLAY-vuh-ree)—

the practice of owning people and thinking of them as property

Underground Railroad (UHN-dur-ground RAYL-rohd)—

a network of people who secretly helped slaves from the South escape to free states in the North or to Canada before the American Civil War