Lucy and her brother Albert are left behind when their parents are sold off the plantation where they live and toil. Then one day Albert brings home a sack of old quilts, each with a pattern giving information to slaves planning to escape via the Underground Railroad. Over the next several months, at night, Albert leads the runaways to begin their journey to freedom. Lucy finally convinces Albert to escape, but she has to stay behind because of her lame leg. After the Civil War ends, Lucy, who is now a schoolteacher, receives a letter from Canada - it's from Albert!