The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-11-14
Written for the MONITOR.
LOST AND FOUND.

rejoiced in the name of Renfew. He own
lage, besides the mandatory which he,
thirty years before, established.
1t was the generally accepted belief that
Mr.. Branson was very wealthy, but wheth-
er he was or was not, he judiciously kept
| it to himself but, from the promptness
with which he was on hand to collect his
rents when they became due, one might
think he possessed barely sufficient to
maintain him from one month to another
| He was known as esquire" Branson, by
everyone in the village-from the oldest
man to the youngest school-boy = and
seemed to be pleased with any title or def
erence that gave him pre-eminence over
his tenants and employees, over whom he
tyrannized with consequential autocracy.
In his household he was but little more
gracious. His servants Che kept but two)
were always prepared to receive their dis
missal for the most trivial domestic offense;
and in return for their labor, they received
but poor remuneration.
He had one daughter, Edith, whose
mother died when she was very young.
This daughter was radically his opposite,
in all points of disposition; she was affect
tionate, charitable and pretty withal
If you were to enquire among the villagers
for recommendations of her, the enconiums
which many a destitute and suffering fami-
ly to whose wants she had administered
with her own hands and means, would be-
stow upon her, would be amply sufficient,
| think, to satisfy you.
Widow Howard would have lengthy
and glowing account to give you of how
Miss Edith" when her husband was
hurt in the mill, brought many deicacy
to tempt the poor souls appetite; and
how, when at last he died from his injuries,
and the Squire did not even call to see the
remains of the man who had lost his life in
his service, she it was who quietly slipped
into her hand "a little towards paying the
expenses and who, with her own hands.
helped to prepare the husband for his final
rest.
But Widow Howard was not the only
person who could speak favorably Of
Edith's beneficence; indeed, there Were
very few in the village who had not at
some time been the recipients of practical
demonstrations of it, in one way or an
other
But little knew any of them how deep
xubi ta ha1
often to pass Little did they know how
many severe, uncalled-for wounds were in
flicted upon her heart by her all-grasping,
souliess father.
But, silently, she bore them all; and,
''dutiful though chastised," she continued
her work of mercy among the people, and
endeavored to anticipate the slightest wish
of the heartless sire, and sought to please
him with her utmost power, even though
in return she received nought but unmiti-
gated abuse.
One day lady came to Rentew, and en-
quired for the Squire.
She had applied to that parsonage for
the position of teacher in the school, he be-
ing the Committee and had been given
it; accordingly she had come.
The Squire, seeing in the plan scheme
for possibly gaining few additional CENTS
had proposed that the new teacher take up
her abode at Renfew.
This proposition the lady readily accept
ed, having no friends in the place, and soon
became as much member of the family as
Edith, barring the abuse.
Matters progressed under this regime
for over a year, when one night the inmates
of Renfew were awakened from their SUM
bers by the sudden illness of its master
Edith was the first to reach the old mans
bedside, and soon saw that he was danger
ously ILL.,
John, the man servant, had gone to the
city in the afternoon and would not return
until the morrow
A physician must be brought immediate
ly, but who was to go for one? There
were none in the village, and the nearest
was three miles distant.
Instantly her resolve was formed: she
would go nerSeil.
The generous girl did not think of the
treatment the sufferer had so often inflicted
upon her without cause.
He was her father; he was suffering and
needed medical assistance; hiswould reach
him sooner if she went for it than if she
should send for it by one of the men i'll the
village, whom she would first have to
arouse from his sleep.
In few moments she had the horse sad
died, and, after leaving few instructions
with the servant. she was started at a late
hour on her cherries ride for the doctor
1t was not long ere she returned accom-
panied by the physician, who, as soon as
he saw the patient pronounced his trouble
apoplexy
ut is doubtful, " said he, ''if your father
lives until morning"
All the long night Edith watched by the
side of the suffering man. but before
the sun again shone in at the bed
room window, her watch was released by
the messenger of death.
The old man had only spoken once to
her since he had been taken i'll; then he in
distinctly gasped;