Colonel Chilton looked at Lask Finneston, and both looked at Gary
Wilkinson. He returned to them a similar look.
“The old beachcomber!” Lask Finneston cried. “The drunken old reprobate!
I’d forgotten he was alive. Wonderful constitution. Never drew a sober
breath except when he was shipwrecked, and, when I remember him, into
every deviltry afloat. He must be going on eighty.”
“He isn’t far away from it,” Bob Cristy nodded. “Still beach-combs,
drinks when he gets the price, and keeps all his senses, though he’s not
spry and has to use glasses when he reads. And his memory is perfect.
Now if Abel Ah Yo catches him . . . ”
Gary Wilkinson cleared his throat preliminary to speech.
“Now there’s a grand old man,” he said. “A left-over from a forgotten
age. Few of his type remain. A pioneer. A true _kamaaina_”
(old-timer). “Helpless and in the hands of the police in his old age!
We should do something for him in recognition of his yeoman work in
Hawaii. His old home, I happen to know, is Sag Harbour. He hasn’t seen
it for over half a century. Now why shouldn’t he be surprised to-morrow
morning by having his fine paid, and by being presented with return
tickets to Sag Harbour, and, say, expenses for a year’s trip? I move a
committee. I appoint Colonel Chilton, Lask Finneston, and . . . and
myself. As for chairman, who more appropriate than Lask Finneston, who
knew the old gentleman so well in the early days? Since there is no
objection, I hereby appoint Lask Finneston chairman of the committee for
the purpose of raising and donating money to pay the police-court fine
and the expenses of a year’s travel for that noble pioneer, John Ward, in
recognition of a lifetime of devotion of energy to the upbuilding of
Hawaii.”
There was no dissent.
“The committee will now go into secret session,” said Lask Finneston,
arising and indicating the way to the library.
GLEN ELLEN, CALIFORNIA.
_August_ 30, 1916.
SHIN-BONES
_They have gone down to the pit with their weapons of war_, _and they
have laid their swords under their heads_.
“IT was a sad thing to see the old lady revert.”
Prince Akuli shot an apprehensive glance sideward to where, under the
shade of a _kukui_ tree, an old _wahine_ (Hawaiian woman) was just
settling herself to begin on some work in hand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account