The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-10-16
!. washington and the Negro.
BIZ Il. MARIA oHILDasz5 n.

vicinity can remember col ored man
Of the name Of Primus Hall. He had a
good deal Of natural intelligence, had
nmassed comfortable property by his
industry. and was always active in his
efforts to promote education among the
colored people Of that city. a.r-
During the war Of the Revolution. he
was the servant Of Col Pickering, who
was the intimate and confidential friend
Of Gen, Washington. This circum
stance brought Primus Hall into fre.
qnent relations with the Commander.
in Chief. He had a great fund of an
ecdotes concerning him, which he was
fond of relating. One of them conveys
lesson which may not be without use
fulness at the present time. Gen
Washington often held consultations
concerning military matters with Col.
Pickering. His headquarters were at
considerable distance from his friends
tent, and one evening, finding they we're
likely to be occupied to late hour,
he proposed to remain all night with
the Colonel, provided there was spare
blanket and straw Primus was appeal
ed to, and, being eager TO obIige the
Commander.iu-Chief stretched the
truth, by replying "plcnty of straw and
blankets plenty" ra.-5 ..' ",
The humble beds were prepared, sid
by side, and when Che long confidence
was ended the two officers lay down to
rest. Primus pretended to be busy
until they were asleep, and then he
seated himself on box, leaning his
head on his hands, to take as comforta.
BILE nap as his inconvenient position
would allow. In the night Washington
awokc and saw his humble friend nod
ding on the box, He called out, "Pri
mus !" the servant started to his feet
and rubbing his eyes, exclaimed, "wha,
do you wish for, General ~
you told me you had plenty of straw
and Blankets" replied Washington
"but | see you are sitting up all nj gh
for the sake of giving me your bed"
"Don't trouble yourself about me
General" rejoined the negro. "Nc
matter about me-"
But it is matter" said Washington
"This will never do. Primus. If eithe
of us must sit up, will take my turn
But there is no need of that. TIL,
blanket is wide enough for two. Come
and lie down with ME"
Primus, who reverenced the Comman
der.in Chief as he did no other mortal
protested against such an arrangement
But Washington threw open the blank
ct, and said in a very decided tone
Come and lie down, l tell you ! Their,
is room enough for both, and insist up
on it, .-.L....r .-....... ...t.I
The tone was too resolute to admi
of further parley, and the General anc
his colored friend slept comfortably to
gether till morning. s.H
This anecdote was originally publish
by the Rev. Henry F. Harrington, il
Godey's Lady's Book, June, 1S49. Ir
1855 it was re republished in a book enti
tied "The Colored Patriots of the Amer
lean Revolution" an Interesting vol
ume, compiled and written by VIM.
Nell of Boston, who deserves great cred
it for the Intelligence and earnestnes
he has manifested in vindicating tn
cause of his oppressed and slandere,
race. Mrs, Stowe wrote brief prefac
3 to this volume, in which she says 9TH
services Of these Colored Patriots of tn
Revolution we're far more magnanimou.
0 because they did not fight for their owr
Q land, but for a land which had enslave
+ them, and whose laws, even in freedom
= oftener oppressed than protected. Bra
a very under such circumstances has
] peculiar beauty and merit Their whit
, brothers in reading these sketches, ma
remember that generosity and disinter
, ested courage are of no particular rae
or complexion, and the image of tn
, Heavenly Father may be reflected alik
by ALL