Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-04-18
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SINGULAR DREAM.

"a The following story is from the Wash
ington correspondence Of the Philadelphia
Quaker City:
Mr. ED1ron The other morning at
the breakfast table, our friend, the Hon.
J. C.. Calhoun, seemed very much troub-
led and out OF spirits You know he is
altogether venerable man, with a hard,
stern, Scotch-I Irish face, soltened in its ex-
preston around the mouth by sort Of
sad smile, which wins the hearts Of all
who converse with him. His hair is
snow-white. He reminds you very much
Of Old Hickory. That he is honest no
one doubts; he has sacrificed to his fatal
ism, bis highest hopes Of political advance
ment-has offered up to that shrine of
iron necessity which he worships, all that
can excite ambitiou-event the Presidency
Of the United States. ,.s .. a.#ua .a'
But to my story. The other morning,
at the breakfast-table, where l, an unob-
served spectator, happened TO be present,
Calhoun was observed to gaze frequently
at his right hand, and brush it hurriedly
with his left, in a nervous and excited
manner. At length one of the persons
composing the breakfast party--his name
| think is Toombs, and he is member of
Congress from Georgia, took upon him
self to ask the occasion of Mr. Calhoun's
disquietude. a-oaas.as VII a.a=s4 sa1aa q .e@
''Does your hand pain you? ?"he asked.
To this Calhoun replied in rather a
flurried manner-"Pshaw it's nothing
only dream had last night, and which
makes me see perpetually large black
spot, like an ink blotch, upon the back Of
my right hand. An optical delusion, I
suppose" .aaaa.aas -a. ..s .a.1.a as.
OF course these words excited the Gu
riosi.y of the company, but no one ven-
tured to beg the details Of this singular
dream, till Toombs asked quietly ..s....
"Nhat was your dream like |? am
not very superstitious about dreams but
sometimes there is great deal of truth
in them" @sa
"But this was such peculiarly absurd
DREAM" replied Mr. Calhoun, again brush
ing the back Of his --"however, if it
does not too much intrude upon the time
Of our friends, will relate it,"
Cf course the company were profuse in
their desires TO know all about the dream.
In his singuIarly sweet voice, Mr. CAL
houn related /, /: .e-s.a.@~~
"At late hour last night, as was en-
gagged in writing, was asionished by the
entrance Of a visitor, who entered, and
took seat opposite me a. my table,
This surprised me, as | had given partic-
ular orders 10 the servants that should
on no account be disturbed. The man
nrr in which the intruder entered, so per-
fectly self-possessed, taking his seat op-
posl.e me, excited in me as much surprise
as Indignation. As l raised my head TO
look into his features, over the top Of my
shaded lamp, l discovered that he was
wrapped in thin cloak, which effectually
concealed his face and features from my
view. And as raised my head he spoke:
"What are you writing, Senator from
South Caro'ina?' he said.
did not think Of his impertinence at
first, but nswercd involuntarily-- B..
IL am writing plan for the Dissolu-
ton Of tie Union )" you know gentlemen
that am expected to produce plan of
dissolution in the event Of certain con.in-
genciss.
"Senator from South Carolina, viii you
allow me TO look at your hand, your right
hand 2" .-a...- ........ .....
He rose, the cloak fell, and beheld his
face. Gentlemen, the sight of that face
struck me like clap Of thunder. ltwas
the face of one whom uncommon events
have brought to life. The features were
those of George Washington--yes, gen
tlemen, the intruder was no other than
George Washington. He was dressed in
the revolutionary costume, such as You
see in the Patent Office" .....-a...
Here Mr. Calhoun paused, apparently
much agitated. His agitation, l need not
tell yon, was shared by the company
Toombs at length broke the embarrassing
pause. ~Well--w-e-l-l, what is the is
sue Of this scene?' MIR Calhoun re-
sumed: ....... -.... .4.........
"This intruder l have said, rose and
asked TO look al my right hand. As tho
| had not the power to refuse, extended
it. The truth is, | felt strange chill per-
wade me at his touch he grasped il. and
held it near the light, thus atfordng me
full time TO examine every feature of his
face. It was the face Of Washington. :
Gentlemen. shuddered as | beheld the
horribly dead d-ali6e look of that visage. -
After holding my hand for moment, he
looked at me steadily, and said in quiet
way ....-. I
aAnd with this right hand, Senator
from South Carolina, would you sign your
name TO paper declaring the Union to be
dissolved?'
Ianswered in the affirmative. "Yes,"
said, I iii certain contingency arises, !
will sign nv name to the Declaration Of
Disnnion. But al that moment, hlack
blotch appeared on the back of my hand,
an inkv blotch which / seem 10 see even
now. "What is that ?" I cried alarmed,
and not knowing Why, at the bloteh that
was npon my hand. r...ar. ! ~
"That," said he, dropping my hand. "is
.he mark by which Benedict Arnold is
known in the next world" .saa~ ..--.
He said no more, gentlemen, but drew
from beneath his cloak an object which he
placed upon the table placed il upon the
paper on which ! was writing. That OBJ