White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-02-16
CHAPTER II

In Which Colin Cabot Gets Acquainted
With the Camp and Its Commanders
and Falls Into British Snare.
Washington and General Greene of
Rhode Island, big, smooth-faced,
kindly. gray-eyed man with a deep
voice, were sitting together when
Billy, the mulatto slave of the Com
mander in Chief, who had long served
him at Mount Vernon, ushered Colin
into the Office General Washington
shook the young mans hand and hav-
Ing presented him to the most trusted
member of his staff said:
my boy, hope that the camp has
interested you"
1T has set me to thinking"
"Of what?" the General asked,
Colin, overawed in the presence Of
these great men, blushed with embar-
rassment. I'll am young, sir. My
thinking is of small account"
The General smiled, saying: "Per-
haps shall be a better Judge of 1t
than you.'
Reassured but still abashed, the
young man said:
II have seen the bare feet, the semi.
nakedness, the ragged clothing, the
misplaced democracy of spirit. I
have sensed growing discomfort and
I think that know what is under it."
Graciously, as he looked into the
eyes Of the boy, General Washington
said, "You are New Highlander and
am told that you are man of keen
perception. l shall be glad to hear
your opinions"
Colin began with smile: II won
der, sir, If shall ever be as brave
again as / am now. These people
know nothing of real war. They have
had few skirmishes with the red
men, but that is not war. Five gen.
erations behind them have lived re-
mote from its exactions and penalties.
So they are unlike any other people In
the world. Their family ties are
strong. Most of them have lived far from
neighbors. There are perhaps no men
and women on the face of the earth
to whom the words wife. husband, ia
ther, sister, brother, mean quite so
much. They are as sensitive as chill
dren. Their Indignation and excite
ment have abated. When a mans
crops are going to waste and his fam.
lily Is In need, he forgets human lib
erty and thinks of bread and butter
and wool. He has nearer enemies than
the British. They are the danger Of
starvation and freezing in the long
cold months He must keep up his
supply of mmuntion-wood, food and
clothing-or die. Our. soldiers are
paid, with needy families at home"
"My boy" said the Chief, 'you have
discovered our great weakness. 1t is
the need Of money. We are going to
a part of the line today where there
may be some slight activity. Perhaps
you would like to go with u.s."
Colin was expressing his Joy in the
privilege when they were summoned
to breakfast. 1t was simple meal of
hoe-cake, tea, preserved berries and
peaches, beefsteak, and baked pota-
toes. AS they sat down the Chief
said:
my own breakfast is always hoe
cake and tea. When General Greene
is here, the cook thinks 1t necessary
to cut figure"
Encouraged, by these great men to
continue his comments, Colin gave
sympathetic and amusing picture of
his company commander, at which they
both laughed.
Greene said: General, ] think that
this boy can be more useful with his
tongue and his pen than with sword
and a musket."
"That may be" Washington an
swered. II have plans in mind for
him"
He asked the boy for information
as 10 his military training and was
given an account Of hAs work in the
Boston Grenadiers. Much Of 1t had
been field work.
On returning to the office. Wash
ington dismissed Colin with these
words:
"You will please return, to us in
half an hour in riding boots and with
your sword and pistol"
He went out into the hall with the
young man and there said to him in a
confidential tone: "Here are five
pounds. VIII you oblige me by lend
ing II to Farnsworth and do not let
him know that 1t comes from me? I
Will see that he gets ftrlough. like
He will make an ex-
cellent soldier" y sfla
Captain Farnsworth was cleaning
arms with a squad of his men when
Colin returned. Calling the captain