CometoNICODEMUS - A story about Aunt Sally in Nicodemus, Kansas

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Rowan

Aunt Sally writes to her nephew Benjamin from Nicodemus, Kansas, describing her arrival, the town’s promise, and her first days in the community. Her letters recount dependence on early settlers and local support, the realities of harsh winters, and the settlement’s growth into a thriving all-Black farming town. She also explains her teaching work in a one-room schoolhouse, including routines, classroom materials, and students’ behavior.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time31 min

AccessFree to download

Letters from Aunt Sally

Arrival and first impressions

Early settlement hardships

Life in town and daily routines

Teaching in the one-room schoolhouse

# CometoNICODEMUS by Barbara Tillmanillustrated by Craig Spearing HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT # Cometo_IYICODEMUS by Barbara Tillmanillustrated by Craig Spearing 心 HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURTSchool Publishers Copyright O by Houghton Miflin Harcourt Publishing Company All rights reserved.No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic ormechanical,including photocopying or recording,or by any information storage and retrieval system,without the priorwritten permission of the copyright owner unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal copyright law.Requestsfor permission to make copies of any part of the work should be addressed to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers,Attn:Permissions,6277 Sea Harbor Drive,Orlando,Florida 32887-6777 Printed in China ISBN-10:0-547-25327-3 ISBN-13:978-0-547-25327-5 56780940181716151413121110 If you have received these materials as examination copies free of charge,Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishersretains title to the materials and they may not be resold.Resale of examination copies is strictly prohibited. Possession of this publication in print format does not entitle users to convert this publication,or any portion of it,intoelectronic format. ” August 3,1887而Greetings,Nephew Benjamin! I am travel weary but feel triumphant.I am writ-ing to let you know that I have reached my destination:Nicodemus,Kansas!I arrived last night and wanted towaste no time sending news of my safe arrival.There islittle daylight left,so this first letter must be brief. Although the letters we received from Hannah andIsaiah spoke of nothing but the wonders of Kansas andtheir new lives here,my stomach was still churning withnervousness as Isaiah's wagon carried me to Nicodemusfrom the train depot,or station,in Ellis.Can you believethe first settlers walked the entire 55-mile distance?Howfortunate I felt to be arriving in a wagon. I wonder if Nicodemus is truly worthy of thename proclaimed in church meetings and announcedin advertisements—the Promised Land.So far,the townappears to be as prosperous and thriving as any fine cityin Tennessee.I think that life here will be wonderful. Please write when you can,as I already miss you andyour family.I will try to write often to share news of mynew life and adventures on the great plains of Kansas. Love,Aunt Sally August 9,1887而Dear Benjamin, Now that almost a week has passed,I can share a bitmore about my new home.In addition to their other generosities,Hannah and Isaiah have offered me lodging.(As you know,unmarried schoolteachers generally boardwith one or more families during the school year.)I am sograteful I can live with my brother and his family! It is hard to believe that the first settlers inNicodemus lived in dugouts—shelters dug into theground along the river.Life was so hard in those days.Had it not been for the Osage Indians,on whom Hannahand Isaiah relied for food and other staples,they mighthave perished during that first harsh winter. Early settlers who moved west often had to live in dugoutsmade of sod. How grand Nicodemus looks!Its reputation as asuccessful farming community is well founded.Ourall-black settlement has survived and prospered despitelittle seed,few tools,and harsh weather.I am sure to behappy here. I counted one bank,four general stores,a newspaper,two barber shops,a surgeon's office,two pharmacies,a blacksmith to shoe our horses,a millinery(I hope topurchase a new hat soon!),and lodging for both humansand animals(no fewer than four hotels and two liveries)! The citizens of Nicodemus have erected a sturdyone-room schoolhouse in which I will teach reading,arithmetic,penmanship,and good manners to childrenof all ages.Teaching in Nicodemus is an especially excit-ing prospect.As former slaves,our citizens'commitmentto schooling their children is outstanding.There is not aperson here who does not believe that our children needand

FAQs

Who is Aunt Sally writing to, and what location does she describe?

Aunt Sally writes to her nephew Benjamin and describes her life in Nicodemus, Kansas.

What challenges did early settlers face in Nicodemus?

Early settlers lived in dugouts or sod shelters and endured a harsh first winter that required help from the Osage Indians for food and supplies.

What does Aunt Sally do in Nicodemus?

She teaches children in a sturdy one-room schoolhouse, teaching reading, arithmetic, penmanship, and manners.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Rowan