The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-03-16

were ulduS lS5pOuSlDlC lOI IlSll pei
sons.
The children, unused to regularity
or restraint, were very restless, Tut
they gradually settled down to the
daily school routine. Every morning
at six their family met in the parlor
while Mr. Cooke conducted prayers.
After this they had breakfast and a
short play time before the beginning
of the mornino session. OF course, on
entering school, the children knew lit
tie or no English; so that this receiv-
ed the most attention. They were
much puzzled in differentiating the
many letters, and could not at first
distinguish from or k from t-t-a-k
spelt cat for them. Later they took up
reading, writing, history, grammar,
geography arithmetic and nature
study The pupils were very fond of
music, and spent much time in singing
together. Mrs. Cooke, as a reward OF
merit, taught two or three of the girls
to play the piano; but very little time
was spent, as it was thought to be a
light accomplishment,
The children, inclined to be lazy,
preferred to sit around the house in
their unoccupied time After Mr.. and
Mrs. Cooke had taught them such
games as ball, tag, hide-and-seek and
many others, they needed no further
urging. Early each morning the older
ones rode out on horseback with Mrs.
Cooke, and they became expert horse
men.
The Hawaiians had always been a
very superstitious race, and the minds
of the children were filled with stories
of tabus and kahunaism. One day the
children sat telling the stories which
they had heard from their kahus about
ghosts anr COLLINS. Knowing them
only too we'll, Mr.. Cooke stopped
them, but was not able to end it then
and there. That night little William,
one of the younger ones, tumbled out
of bed, and reused the household with
his terrified cries. for he thought the
spirits had taken possession of him
After going to him twice, Mr.. Cooke
had to call in one of the kahus to stay
with him the remainder of the night
The children were punished the next
morning, and became very much
ashamed of the trouble they had caus
ed At another time, when Mr. Cooke
was out walking with Moses, Lot and
Alexander, he and Moses stepped over
a sign, made in the path, without no
ticing it. But the other boys iscov.
ering the symbol Immediately foretold
the certain death of those who had
passed over it. Mr. Cooke stepped
back and forth over the mark several
times to prove to them how foolish
their fears we're. But this story was
quickly carried to the town b. tht ka
hus. and Moses mother came at once
She was followed by a messenger
/ from the governor, who commanded
.
mediately for medicine. Mr. Cooke
refused to permit this, and shut tho
children inside the house until they
were over their fear of this form o
superstition.
The school was constantly beini
hindered by interference from the par
ents. False and exaggerated report
were bein carried to them frequentl
by the kahus. Mr.. Cooke was CON
PEELED to write to them even if on
of the children bumped his head o
stubbed his toe. The parents mad
: sudden and unexpected visits, and ha
= to be entertained whether it was col
5 venient OF not. Kehauluohi, SOM
, times called Queen Regent, was a fir
. quent visitor at school She used
4 come and spend the night and wishC
1 Continued on page siXteen.)