I’m a Priest; I’m Gonna’ Bless Them for You

When I was in Hong Kong a little while I was there, I picked up some seeds, some little seeds, and I made prayer beads. I made four pairs of prayer beads, and then this fellow come with little bones and I made the cross, fixed that with dynamite wire and there was a priest come to our camp while we were in Hong Kong, when we come off of the hills. And he come in and I had them on the floor. There was no table or nothing, I had them down on the floor. “Oh,” he says, “what would you call that?” Oh, I said, “I call them prayer beads.” And he says, “Yes, that’s what they are and I’m going to bless them. I’m a father, I’m a priest and I’m going to bless them for you.” And there was a fellow by the name of Robinson. He wasn’t Catholic though, he was Protestant. But he asked me, he says, “Hector, are you going to sell me a pair of them?” I says, “I’m not making them to sell. Here, take them.” And then the last words, the last time I heard about him, he had changed his religion - went Catholic!

Mr. Hunt describes making prayer beads from seeds and a cross from bones.

Hector Hunt

Hector Hunt was born in Pabos Mills, Quebec, on December 9, 1911. His father was the local river guardian. Mr. Hunt was the second oldest of 16 children. He had little schooling, having gone to the woods at the age of ten to cut pulp with his father. He also transported supplies to his father when he was busy on the river. At sixteen, Mr. Hunt started work at the Chandler pulp mill for twenty-five cents and hour. When the opportunity to enlist occurred, he signed up anticipating better wages and lifestyle. He had very little basic training and no live ammunition weapons training. Mr. Hunt served in Newfoundland before eventually being shipped overseas toHong Kong. He was a POW in both Hong Kong and Japan, where he worked in the coal mines near Niigata. Mr. Hunt credits his strong faith for helping him to endure his time in captivity. After completing his service, Mr. Hunt returned home to work in the local mill.