Lost Treasures

By Evonne Randolph

Lost Treasures is a suspense, historical, fiction story based on a historical event of the 1900 storm that came ashore and destroyed Galveston Island, located on the Texas Gulf coast. It is an inspirational story about the men and women of great fortitude although they lived in another time in history. These men and women makes us question what makes up a family, and what really makes parental devotion. Lost Treasures asks the reader what they might treasure and risk their lives to save if everything they had were taken from them in a moment notice. How their lives would be transformed by fear, doubt, horror, of a storms fury. Lost Treasures is also about new beginnings, and how all goods things come for a price. The first leap of wellness begins with the desire for healing and hope. Treasures is about the human spirit and each us are Lost Treasures to someone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667869681

Book preview

This is a fictional story based on inspirational women that have lived in another place and another time. It is a simple story about what really makes a family. What really makes up parental devotion and raising a child to become a healthy, happy, and complete adult.

It also questions what would we treasure most if everything is taken from us in a moment notice. Where would our treasures be, and what would we risk to save them. How would each of us be transformed by the fear, doubt, emptiness that one storm could do to us.

This story is also about hope and the new beginnings that all of us are blessed by, but the new beginning comes with a price. Our spirits must first desire it, or it will not happen.

I hope this book brings you food for thought, and when you finish it, you might look around your own life and find all the hidden treasures in your own life.

A CALL FOR HELP

Spring of 1900 in Paris, France, meant that the city was preparing for the Paris Exposition and the second annual summer Olympic competitions that would bring millions to France. Some that had never visited Europe before much less the beautiful romantic city of Paris. Paris citizens were excited the Olympic committee chose them. Paris was like a pretty woman that preparing for a royal affair; the details of appeal became important with manicured lawns and beautiful flower beds that were groomed and cared for carefully because their city would be master of ceremonies of the world. The new, fast transatlantic steamships that were bound for Paris introduced millions of visitors to an opportunity of travel, and to take the adventure to Paris. Middle-class Americans could now afford what was once only available to the rich and famous. Now they could relax and explore the awesome lakeside resorts and spas, and Paris’s scenic hillsides that were an inspiration to artist.

The Paris Exposition would educate and marvel guest with the latest in technology and progress that signified 1900: moving sidewalks, wireless telegraphy, the most powerful telescope ever built, and the first escalator. The genius minds of inventions seem to have no limits now and made anyone wonder what could possibly be next. It was almost like a parlor game to wonder about the wonderful inventions that would make life easier for the 1900s.

Father John had traveled all the way from America to France, but it wasn’t for the games or for the Exposition. He had come to this particular convent to recruit help for the orphanage in Texas. The number of children had grown to near a hundred, and Mother Superior only had eight sisters to take care of them. That was a lot to ask of the staff because the children’s needs most of the time out-weighed the time and energy of the sisters. He recognized that God had guided him here to ask for volunteers from the community of nuns and knew that someone would answer the call for help, or least he hoped someone would. He had thought intensely about just the right words to say, and then decided to just speak from his heart.

First of all, thank you very much for letting me speak to you today. It has been a long trip from Galleon Island to this wonderful country of France, but now looking around at all of you, remark able audience, I know that it was the right decision to come here. I am here to talk about my duty that I know. God has bestowed on me and my sponsors to accomplish. ‘The Galleon Island Orphan Association’ that was organized in 1889 to furnish funding to help in supporting these children that were left without parents because of the great epidemic that took so many lives. My assignment is to find additional sisters that love children, and love to teach, sisters who believe that they can make differences to these ninety children that are in our care. He had no hidden agenda, and wanted them to understand his motives. He continued, I would like to take time to explain why we need you.

He shifted his weight to his other foot.

The results of epidemics that have ravished the Southwest United States from the mid-1800s until now this year, 1900! This disease has had no mercy upon Texas. It has been one wave of yellow fever after another! In addition to the suffering of losing love ones, there are destitute children left without anyone but us. I have no doubt that God is showing us that we are the answer for the parents’ prayers if you be of the opinion that in your heart we have something in common in this outcry. Please let me know because we need you in Galleon, Texas! Father John was a man that loved to get right to the bottom line.

As hard as the doctors have worked to save those they can, and find out what is causing these people to die, there is no answer as of yet. There are so many of these young couples I have given last rites to in the last few years. Father John stood leaning slightly forward at the podium with the room full of nuns. He was so intense in what he was saying he never seems to shift his tall lanky body. His chocolate brown eyes made contact with each and every sister at one time or another as he talked. Knowing that these rites will release them from the pain and agony of this awful affliction, yet feeling so sad that they didn’t get to live a long and happy life. The only thing I can do is to remain devoted to their last appeal for me to reassure them that God will provide for their children after they are gone. I have seen them solicit me with all their hearts for their children’s future that it would touch even the most Herculean heart.

He talked unafraid of his favorite cause and call on his life. Can you imagine the fright! A dying mother or father knowing death is near, and feeling so helpless, yet having so much love and devotion to their children must somehow now be convinced that someone will take care of them. He knew he was repeating himself sometimes, but he wanted them to understand!

I concur that we must help these parents go to him in peace knowing that we are there to take care of these little ones.

Father John continued, Galleon Island has been a great summons on my life as well as many others that have tirelessly labored with the results of this terrifying epidemic. I have seen people that were healthy one day, and three days later, they died. The suffering of debility, fever, and extreme pain in their extremities that we, as their caretakers, can only watch and feel so helpless to help them. I have seen mothers vomiting blood clots and knowing they were dying as their bodies are turning jaundice, yet are begging me with their last breaths to please take responsibility of their children. They were more afraid of their children being homeless and alone than the demise they were facing themselves.

As he looked out into his audience, he took a deep breath and ran his hand through is dark brown hair. He could feel the sweat on his palm, but he had to go on talking. Under the arms of his black suit, he could feel the dampness, and his white roman collar seemed tight as he swallowed. The orphanage needs these women’s help. He was silently praying that he was using the right words to find the help for the orphanage he had traveled so far to find.

Galleon Island, as well as many other cities in Texas, have experienced at least nine yellow fever epidemics in the last fifteen years. We have had outbreaks of cholera, smallpox, measles, influenza, diphtheria, and even whooping cough, but yellow fever or ‘the yellow jack’ has been the main killer of our citizens. We have worked as a community to clean our streets of any unsanitary conditions or garbage heaps. The wonderful nurses can do little but to try and cool their fever until the patient dies or recovers. The doctors quarantine residences to their homes. There have been blockades to some of the shipping, and yet this awful killer still leaves death in its wake. He paused to take a sip of the water that was on the table near the podium.

The largest victims of this scourge are the children that were left orphans. As Father John talked, the sisters knew this was an emotional plea, and his tears of remembrance slowly wept from his eyes. The parents who are dying are trusting us to take care of these innocent and beautiful children. A promise that I never take carelessly and never take thoughtlessly because they are entrusting me with the most precious thing they have left on earth.

Father John paused and swallowed deep, choking back the emotions. As the children increase in numbers, the orphanage have become more devoted and more committed as I have to care for the orphans. A wonderful member of our congregation has donated land and buildings to help the sisters to house nearly a hundred of these children.

Father John continued, "Mother Superior Crenels is the administrator of the orphanage, and she is blessed with one of the kindest hearts I have ever known. Her tireless dedication makes sure that the sisters and children’s needs are financially met. She is constantly out in the community gathering donations of food, clothing, school supplies, and even Christmas gifts for the children, and working with the ‘The Galleon Orphan Association’ to keep reminding all of us in the community the unlimited needs of the orphans.

She is always there to listen to the sisters because a hundred children can be a heavy responsibility at times, and even with God’s blessings can be tiring. I don’t know how she does it all, but you will love working with her. She puts the children first, but she knows the importance of the great works that each sister contributes.

He remembered Mother Superior in his mind as he talked about her, and truthfully, he respected and admired her more than his words were verbalizing.

Father John looked out over his audience. But we need more sisters to come forward and join us. The sisters work hard at the orphanage, but the rewards they talk to me about are unbelievable. Each one of these sisters brings their talents, gifts, and abilities to their calling of taking care of the children. They come from all over the world. Ireland, Mexico, Canada, Germany, but they all have one thing in common, the kids. The personality of each sister is different sometimes because of the different cultures, but they work like a fine piece of machinery when it comes to their commitment and love of what they are doing as caretakers of the children. I know that working with children takes a lot of tolerance, compassion, and love, but I also believe that God always gives us enough power to generate those things to do what needs to be done. There have been young boys and girls that have grown up and left the orphanage, and because of the influences and godly guidance have gone on to, become doctors, nurses, teachers, and an asset to the community they choose to live in. It’s one of the serviceable calls that I believe God can give us to do.

Father John looked down to his notes as he continued, Before I close, let me tell you a little bit about Galleon, Texas. We call our city ‘Royal Island of the Gulf’ for which we take great pride of our founding fathers hard work and accomplishments that made the city what it is today. This beautiful island has hosted Indians, outlaws, and even infamous pirates in the island’s history. There are people today that come to the island to search for all the precious gold and jewels that was believed to be buried somewhere on the island still to this day. No one has found anything that I know of, but if there is a treasure hunter among any of you, please feel free to grab a shovel and dig.

Father John’s eyes sparkled, and as he joked he chuckled. He continued and became serious again.

"If you decide to join us, you might be surprised about how prosperous and kindhearted the people of Galleon Island really are. From the men who have made their fortunes in the cotton mercantile house, banks, flour and grain mills, to financial genius in shipping and railroads. It is a blessing because the children that come from parents with yellow fever lose even the clothes on their backs. Being careful not to spread the fever to anyone else, everything must be destroyed