El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-02-23
REVOLUTIONARY STORY.
How Washington Shared his bed With
aNegrO.

Throughout the Revolt ionary war;
Primus! Hall was the body-servant of
I Colonel Piczering, of Massachusetts,.
1t was we'll known that there was no
officer in the whole American army
whose memory was dearer to Washing
| ton, and whose counsel was more es.
| teemed by him, thau.that of the honest
and pairiOtic Colonel Pickering.
Whe, ever he was stationed within
such a distance as to admit of it, he
passed many hours with the cole mel.
Washington was, tho f,-e, often
brought into cOutract with I servant
OF Co ooel Pickering, the det'arted
Primus.
On one occasion the great general
was engaged in earnest consultation
with Colonel Pickering, in his tent,
until after the night had fairly set in.
Headquarters were at a considerable
distance, a. Washington signifed his
preference to staying with the colonel
over night, provided he had spare
blank ct and straw.
sob, yes.'' sa p imus, who wa s ap-
pealed to, plenty of straw and blan-
kets-plenty"
Upon this assurance, Washington
continued his conference with the col
Onel until it was time to retire to rest
Two hun. Bile beds were spread side by
side in the tent, and the officers laid
themselves down. viii e Pr mus seem
ed to be busy with duties that required
his attention before he himself could
sleep. He worked, or appeared to
work, I'D til the breathing of the pos
trate gent: emen satisfed him til at they
were sleeping: and then, seating him
self npor a box o. stool, be leaned his
he ad upon his hands to obtain such re-
pose as so incOpvenient position
would allow. In the middle of the
nigh Washi gton awoke. He looked
about and deserted the negro as be eat.
He gaze at him awhile and then spok e
'.Prim us!' said he, calling, "Pr-i
musr'
Primus stared up and rubbed bis
eyes. '.What, general said he.
Washin tan rose up in bed. "Pri-
saying that you had blankets and str a "
enough? Here you have given up your
| blanket and straw to me that l may
| sleep comfor' ably, while you are
OBLIGED to sit through the night
Its nothing, general" said Primus
cts nothing. I'm we'll enough. Don't
trouble yourself about me, general. but
20 to- sleep again. No matter about
me. l Sleep very good"
'sBut it is ma Jer-it is NATTER said
| Wash ington, earnestly. II cannot do
it, Primus If either Of US is to sit up.
[ will. But | think there is no need of
either sitting up The blanket is wide
| enough for two. Come and lie down
here with me-"
sob, no, general!' said Primus,
starting, and prot. sting ag. lost such a
propos i,iop. ''No, let me sit here
I'll do very we'll on the STOOL"
81 say, come and lie down here!"said
Was hing ton, autnoritatively: ''There
is room enough for both aud 1 insist
upon it,
He threw open the blanket as be
spoke, and moved TO one side of the
straw. Primus profess es to have been
| eXcee dinghy shocked at the idea of ly-
ing under the same cover with the
commsnder-in-chief, but his tone
! was so re olute ard determined that
he could not hes tata. He prepared
him Elf, therefore. and laid himself
down by Weshir gtou; and on the
same straw, and under the sane
blanket, the general and the negro
slept until morning Godey's Maya
zine for March.