The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-02-05
NE WAS GUILTY.
But Uncle AKIN was Particular to WHOM,
He Admitted 1t.


He Admitted 1t.
Old Eliakim Hunt was an ex-slave Of |
Halifax county, Va, who was extreme
ly proud Of the family name.
"Yaas, sab, was or body sarvunt OBJ |
ole Marse 'Noni Hunt, wot merried |
Miss PinlSie Ellis, f'om de quality FL
Uses, ober in ole Fluvanner county," he
would explain. "Doyse daid an done
gone now, but amt gwine furgit we
was quality folkses. "
Akin was averse to work, and when
the results of the war made IL necessary
to shift for himself he concluded that
preaching was an easy and at the same
time dignifled way of getting along. He
could rant very effectually and might
have succeeded quite well but for a sim
gle weakness. Akin was q great
"wrasler in pra'r," as one of his breth-
rem expressed it, "but he do git drunk
pow'ful"
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 ono Sunday
so drunk that he could scarcely main.
tain his equilibrium. Deacon 81 Jones
arose and rebukod him, whereupon the
preacher swore at him roundly and &C.
cused him of being chicken thief. The
latter offense was not so heinous in the
sight of 'Akim's congregation as might
be supposed, but 1t was mortal affront
to be accused of such transgression,
and the deacon having great influence
in the body Akin was then and there
placed upon trial and deposed from the
ministry, not Tor getting drunk, but for
calling one oil 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 neighboring
town he never raised any fowls himself.
If any OF these ISLANDERS reached the ear
Of Akin he gave them no heed. He had
the most ineffable contempt for poor
white trash and "oornfield niggers'
and affected intimacy with real quality
people.
One day Parson Redbetter, the Meth
odist circuit rider, met him rs he was
staggering along the highway from the
effects of large rotations of moonshine
whisky that had been given him by a
party of fox hunters. To sternly ad-
ministered rebuke from the preacher
old Akin made reply:
''Yaas, sab, but de Bible say, Drink
OBJ de whisky fur de stomach ache an di
of EN- information. :"
Being corrected in his Scriptural quo.
IL,
pregnable fortress.
"De quality folks, dey gimme dc
whisky, an dey is alters right. Dey gets
all de favorin f'om de Lawd. Po' white
folks an foo niggers hahn t no show wiz
de Lawd. Huccum he recognize de quail
ity folks? Bekaise dey kin do no wrong,
an dey done gimme de whisky"
Such was Atkins faith. What the
quality did could not be wrong Final
", however, he cane to grief. A small
farmer caught Eliakim in the very ac
of stealing a pig and forthwith drag
ged him before Justice Danforth, mem
= Der of the simon pure aristocracy o.
Halifax, who knew Akin well. The
prosecutor told straightforward ant
convincing story of the theft, but during
the recital the prisoners ebon counte
nance expressed contempt, indignation
scorn and incredulity. When he hat
done, the magistrate asked Akin i
he had anything to say.
'Marser Danfu'th, akin yer pahdun
but things is 0eSDrutly clainppd dat