The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-01-05
HE WAS GUILTY.
But Uncle AKIN Was Particular TO Whom
lie Admitted It.

Old Eliakim Hunt was an ex-slave of
Halifax county, Va, who was extreme
ly proud of the family name.
"Yaas sab, was er body sarvunt oh
ole Marse 'Noni Hunt wot merried
Miss Pinkie Ellis, f'om de quality Ell
Uses, ober in ole Fluvanner county" he
would explain. 'Deyso daid an done
gone now, but amt gwino furgit we
was quality folkses.
Akin was averse to work, and when
the results of the war made it necessary
to shift for himself he concluded that
preaching was an easy and at the same
time dignifiod way of getting along. He
could rant very effectually and might
have succeeded quite well but for sim
gle weakness. Akin was great
"wrasler in pra'r," as one of his breth-
rem expressed it, "but he do git drunk
pow full. "
Yet the simple people to whom he
ministered were not inclined to be very
harsh in their Judgment Of this offense,
for their own sins called for such con-
slant exercises of the pardoning power,
and Akin was very full of the quality
of mercy, particularly when the trans
gressors spared him personally. When
his weakness came up for consideration
in the discipline" meetings from time
! to time, he was left out, with the sim
pie admonition that he try to keep out
of sight of white folkses" when in
his cups, the colored folks being pecul-
iarly sensitive to criticism from their
former owners.
Repeated condoning Of his sin hard
ened the heart Of old Akin, and he
finally mounted his pulpit one Sunday
so drunk that he could scarcely main.
tain his equilibrium. Deacon 81 Jones
arose and rebuked him, whereupon the
preacher swore at him roundly and ac-
rused him of being chicken thief. The
latter offense was not so heinous in the
sight of Atkins congregation as might
be supposed, but it was mortal affront
to be accused of such a transgression,
and the deacon having great influence
in the body Akin was then and there
} placed upon trial and deposed from the
ministry, not for getting drunk, but for
calling one of the brethren pilferer of
fowl.
Thenceforward old Akin lived upon
his wits and his politeneness. There
were evil minded persons who alleged
that much of his revenue was derived
: from the hen roosts of his neighbors,
and what gave color to the charge was
, the fact that while he sold great many
= chickens to the people of neighborinl
town he never raised any fowls himself
If any of these ISLANDERS reached the cal
of Akin he gave them no heed. He hat
g, the most inetfable contempt for ''pool
! white trash" and "cornfeld niggers'
and affected intimacy with real qualit.
people.
; One day Parson Redbetter, the Meth
J, odist circuit rider, met him as he wa
staggering along the highway from tn
y effects of large rotations of moonshiD
= whisky that had been given him by
party of fox hunters To sternly ad
3. ministered rebuke from the preache
r old Akin made reply:
, "Yaas, sab, but de Bible say, 'Drinl
I oh de whisky fur de stomach ache an
of 'en information.
! Being corrected in his Scriptural quo
tation, old Akin fell back into his i'm
pregnable fortress
. Ode quality folks, dey gimme d
a whisky, an dey is alters right. Dey get
+ all dc favorin f'om de Lawd. Po' whit
f.. folks an foo niggers hahn no show wi
4 de Lawd. Huccum he recognize de qual
q ity folks? Bekaise dey kin do no wrong
+. an dey done gimme de whisky"
Such was 'Akims faith. What tn
quality did could not be wrong. Final
ly, however, he came to grief A sma,
e farmer caught Elialkim in the very az
y of stealing a pig and forthwith drag
ged him before Justice Danforth, men
!! Der of the simon pure aristocracy {
Halifax, who knew Akin we'll. TIL
prosecutor told straightforward an
convincing story of the theft, but durin
the recital the prisoners ebou countt
nance expressed contempt, indignation
q scorn and incredulity. When he ha
a done, the magistrate asked Akin
he had anything to say.
f 'Marser Danfu'th, akin yer pahdur
e but things is desprutly changed, dat
d po' white trash kin com testify agin
quality colored pusson. Dis am wot {
come er de wah, sab Po' white trash
furder f'om de trufe dan dey is f'oi
A glory. Dis yere man hain't done had Il
a pig, an ef he had hain't so low dow
common es ter steal f'om him. Eff
was quality folkses' pig, wouldn
;, min de 'cusin, but jis' common trasi
Marse Danfu til, you'd oughter know Of
Akin bettur nur dat. I'ze es innercel
es de little Balaam dat stray f'om q
fol. Gimme de Bible, Marser Danfu' I'll
an done swear on hit dat I'ze nebbt
seed dat dere pig
/. "This will not do, AKIN" intel
} rupted the magistrate. "You certainl
stole the pig"
''Wot dat you say, Marser Danfu'tl
You say l done tuck dat pig? Den di
settles it, an I'ze guilty fur fac BIZ
l jes' wasn't gwine ter b'lieve it @
what der po' white trash man say.
course you knows, you does. "
Akin received his sentence withou
a murmur, but it was a very mild on,
and he went to Jail with his faith in IL
quality mistaken. Chicago Tribune
A Circumstitntiai Case.
Friend Broadbrim-So, Friend Davit
thee wishes to marry my daughtt
Hannah. Friend David, thy circun
Sta t,,, 10