What Once Was Lost

Christina Willems is the director of the poor farm in Brambleville, Kansas. She oversees an elderly couple, a widowed mother with two children, orphaned twins, two widowed sisters-in-law, a blind boy, and a few others. Her world falls apart when Tommy, the blind boy, smells fire and gets everyone out of the house--the kitchen is on fire. She spends a good part of a day finding people to take in the residents of the poor farm and then finding a place for herself.

Christina makes a deal with the owner of the local boarding house to do the kitchen work for room and board for Cora and her, hoping to have time to see after her charges. Tommy has been placed with the reclusive mill owner, Levi Jonnson, who has decided not to coddle the boy, but make him do for himself. Tommy blossoms under Levi's care but when he is placed with another family, tries to run away because he gets mistreated by that family. Tommy heads in the direction of Levi's mill and home because there he feels safe and cared for.

As Christina works to get the poor farm home rebuilt, the missions board decides not to reopen it. They place the orphaned twins in an orphanage in Kansas City, the elderly couple in another poor farm in another town, and make arrangements to sell the farm. Christina sells her father's watch in order to go to Kansas City and get the twins back only to find they have been placed with adoptive parents who will provide the children with a loving home with many advantages. Rose, one of the sisters-in-law, accompanies Christina on the trip only to be hired as the governess for the twins.

Meanwhile, back in Brambleville, Hamilton Dresden, a former poor farm resident, has decided to create trouble for Christina. He steals the watch she sold to the mercantile along with the cash in the mercantile. Hamilton has also created fear in Tommy by threatening him if he tells what he knows.

How Christina recoups What Once Was Lost is a satisfying story that leaves the reader ready for something more.

With excitement, mystery, and caring, Kim Vogel Sawyer has put together a novel that can't be put down. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and an old-fashioned pocket watch.