The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-08-04
Letter from Kansas.
LANE, Ottawa Greek, K. T.,
June ID, 1855.

4 - AOON' ]
Ed. SENTINEL, SIR Il am sorry tc
learn that certain returned emigrants
were not content with excusing theil
retrograde movement by fearful obserya.
tions of their own; but must also repre-
sent me as disappointed, and less pleased
with the country than last fall.
| was disappointed in not finding 8
home or house enclosed for US at Law
renee, according to previous arrange
ment. Our logs in the mill yard were
yet unsawn. This was severe disap-
pointment, as we had intended to rest
and arrange our household goods, and
then take. our time to see the country
more extensively, and select claims
But "the mill' disappointed US, as it had
many others, and we were forced to suf-
fer pioneer privations and hardships
which we would and might otherwise
have avoided.
confess that am disappointed as to
our individual prospects and location,
happily disappointed, for l felt that it
would be too much to expect so many
advantages in one location and in one
body of land.
Every day have spent in the Terri
tory-from first to last-has increased
my estimate of its value for homes, for
farms, for an ''area of freedom" And,
while l do not blame, nor would ridicule
those who have returned, and yet had all
the intelligenee-if applied-to secure
them homes here, l cannot help feeling
that they are wanting in something very
necessary to the highest enjoyment and
usefulness any where. ''The country
was parehed, and springs dried up, and
all was desolate." Well, are we not
promised "seed time and harvest?"-.
Shall we say it is to continue so, in face
of the fact that the like had not been
within the memory of the Oldest inhabit-
ant-21 years?
He trusted Providence for rain, and
went to work to be ready for it. The
rains came, the earth is in fine order, one
forty acre lot ali planted, and corn. po-
tatoes, squashes, pumpkins, DC, grow
ing faster than we have been accustomed
to see them East. The cattle have fine
pastures, everybody is at work, aud those
who are through with planting are break
ing up for the fall sowing of wheat
There is no sickness that can learn in
any of the settlements. Lawrence has
had some cases of what has been i'm
termed cholera, probably from
the fact that emigration eenters there;
many stopping there who get i'll on their
journey. Provisions are very high
-four S16 per barrel, corn meal 80,
butter and lard cheaper than at home by
Wild fruits are beginning
to ripen, and cost but the picking.
Probably emigration for the spring is
ended. All who have not come already
had better wait till fall. Still, l say TO
those East who want homes and have the
will to work for them, this is most no
Bile field for their exertions.
Missouri will let US alone hereafter.
There is determination here, such as our
revolutionary fathers exercised, and |
have no fears about the result. Time is
allowing opportunities for better ac-
quaintance between us and our pro-sla-
very opponents than furnished at the
ballot box. Neighborhood intercourse
will allay most of the bitterness which
false preiudices engendered. The set
tiers are generally content and hopeful,
and seldom any collision. We are ali at
peace in this region.
But l must close, as I send this to
Lawrence Post Office by chance oppor-
tunity. A friend sent us one mail from
Lawrence by some one coming this way
last week, and neighbor found it-eight
letters and two papers-in vacant cabin
All the seals were broken before we got
them, and l hear that l have more pa
pers of the same package around the
neighborhood where they were found.
I hope they will do good, and get to me
some time. So you see it is possible to
miss some of the letters, as | have of pa
pers. Only two numbers of your paper
received yet. We hope to have post
Office arrangements soon.
Yours for Kansas as ever,
c. l. H. NICHOLS.