The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-11-08
THE LOWER CRITICISM.
How a South Sea Chief Got Mixed About
Adam.

| inclined, ana rather euPtllVi 'HeNt
said the secretary, as he babe farewell
to the Rev. Wilired Draggs. They
are intellectually acute, and capable oil
much development under the right in
fluences."
Mr.. Draggs, upon arriving in the is
lands. found that the secrctarys csti-
mate was correct. The Mooganlans had
none OF the subservience or puerie rev.
erencc many natives feel toward the
white races. They welcomed the mis-
sionary cordially, assigned him neat
hut with a kitchen garden and seemed
especially regardful OF the comfort OF
Mrs. Draggs. The young missionary
couple decided that their lot had fallen
in pleasant places, and this impression
was strengthened as time went on
Learning the language brought closer
acquaintance with their new charges, in
creased the cordially of intercourse, and
also put into the power OF Mr.. Draggss
the means of their religious and moral
| training.
Before actually establishing church
and holding services, the missionary felt
the need of imparting certain elementary
/ instruction, and decided that something
in the nature of Bible class would be
! good beginning He did not think It
prudent to break ground with the chief,
and believed the wiser course was to
plant the first rudiments of instruction
in the chiefs family. Fortunately, this
was a simple matter, since the Chief $
favorite wife and her eldest son, child
of twelve, were almost daily visitors
to the missionaries home.
Albola, the wife, was very intelligent
woman, with keen sense of humor,
and much kindness of disposition Mrs.
Draggs had become very fond OF this
dusky little gossip, and the two chatted
over their sewing as freely as II OF one
race and one faith. no.
) Mr.. Draggs consulted his wife. u
have made up my mind" he said, that
we now speak the vernacular with sut-
ficient readiness to enter upon some
Scripture and moral instruction. | came
, my love, to ask your advice. 1t seems
to me that | can hardly do better thar
) to begin my work in this field by some
suitable elementary lessons in Biblica
knowledge | should, of course, prefer
to secure hearing from the chief him
. self: vet ] fear to excite opposition o,
suspicion. But his consort, Mrs. Albola
has already certain feeling of friend
, illness for us, and perhaps it would be
wise to begin with her."
: Il agree with you entirely, Wilfred,
Mrs Draggs said. "She is coming, too
to-day, to spend the morning, Perhaps
hyou might make beginning, and mean
while | will amuse the little boy. | can
take him out upon the veranda, and
you may make a school-room of the
stting-room here"
The plan was carried out at once.
When Albola arrived and was settled
I cross-legged upon the mating, engaged
in weaving belt for her lord and
master Mrs. Draggs coaXed the dark
son of barbariSm out upon the veranda,
and the Rev. Wilfred Draggs began his
lesson.
"Albola," said he, did you know that
we white people have good book that
tells us about the long past time when
men were first on the earth p
His language was simple perforce, as
his Moogan vocabulary was limited.
She showed her white teeth in
pleasant smile
YES" said she, your wife has told
me little"
"Some day. he went on, 81 shall
teach you all to read this good book
for yourselves. But would you now like
to know some of the stories ii contains ~
ooh, yes" Albola said, nodding eager
ly. Il love to hear good stories
Then listen" Mr., Draggs began,
"and | will tell you of the first man
and the first woman that lived"
With this preliminary. he made rapid
summary of the early portion of Genesis,
passing lightly over the creation of the
world, of the plant and animal life, and
reaching as soon as possible the Garden
of Eden, the blessedness of which he
sketched as brilliantly as his memory
OF Paradise Lost" permitted
Albola was delighted, Beautiful gar
den" she said. Il love the beautiful
garden And the man Adam and Eva
/ his wife had it all to themselves!
! Nothing to bother them, and all day to
do whatever they pleasedn'
"Yes," Mr. Draggs agreed, they
/ surely must have been very happy, so
! long as they were good"
4 And why not good Albola
said. "Thcy could do whatever they
liked. How could they do wrong Z"
Il will tell YOU answered Mr..
Draggs, impressively. There grew in
the middle OF the garden one tree with
ptdulllul lIull, ana llldl nun N'ul'l ilpb
be good for them to eat. So the Great
Spirit told them that they must not eat
OF this fruit, and that it would kill
them il they did eat IT,"
Albola stopped her work, and looked
very sad
Yes" Mr. Draegs repeated there
was one forbidden tree And though
they had the whole garden for their
pleasure. vet Adam and Eve dsobeyed
their Lords command and I'll tell you
how II hapnened'
Abola listened with hated breath 10
a moving character sketch Of the
Satanic serpent and his wiles Ewes
beguilement followed then the con
demuaiian, the expulsion from Paradise
and the enlailed curse ON mankind
Mr. Dfaggs told the story with dramatic
power. and kindly Albola Vas affected
a. tears If sympathy Tor the father and
mother II mankind
Thus the lesson ended, the pup
warmly thanking the missionary for hii
heauiiim story. and then haaeninl
II.NsataaFH ga fks midday meal af