The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-03-16
A Singular Story

i''h III suiFrhatuIal appearances on in Washing
ton correspondents, bu, il ANYTHING could lead tbs
ghost ri the "FaruER OF ms Copx1ay- Ia rev;.i,
the iealhs beneath the moon. |, wu,,ld M. ,h.
thought that his b,oyed country was In aan.,s,
ol Dsuni"n, which i, but anoiLer n,,ne for Ci,I
War We give The story for what |, is worth /;
! Washington, d. C., Jan L. isec
Mt Editor-The otncr morning, at the br,,,k.
fast table. our friend the Hon John G. Calhour
seemed very much troubled and out If spirits
You know he is altogether venerable man. viii.
hari' stern. Scotch Irish face softened in its ex.
Pres.I"n around the mouth by sort Of sad smile
which WINS the hearts Of all who converse with
HIS hair is snow white lie is tall thin and an
gnIar lie rclHin'ls YOU very much Of Old lick.
ory. That he is hunest no one doubts he Inns
SaCrahced to his Fatalism the brightest hopes Of
political adrancement--hss offered upon tbs
shrine Of that iron necessity which hs w.rships
all that excite ambiiIon-e.en the Presidency of
the United States.
But To my story. The other morning at the
breakfast table, Where l. an unobserred spectator
happened to be present. Calhoun was observed
!" gaze frequently at his right hand and brush
u with his lett, IN nervous and hurried manner
lie did this so often that it excited attention At
length one of the persons composing the break
last party--his name think is Toombs and he
Is a member of Congress from Gcorgia--took up.
on himself To ask the occasion Of AIr. Calhour's
{ disquietude
Does your hand pain you I" he asked.
: 10 this Calhoun replied in rather a Ray;.d
inanner-"ls shaw its nothing only dream which
had last night and which makes me see perpet-
ually large black spot-like an ink blotch up-
ON the back of my right hand-An optical delr-
sion, suppose"
the company, but no one ventured to beg the de-
tails of .his singular dream until Toombs asked
quietly
! Nv hat is your dream like Tn not verv s,,-
perstitious about dreams; but sometimes they
have good deal Of truth In .hem.n
/ but this Wa such peculiarly absurd dream"
sad Nh Calhoun, again brushing the back of his
rsht hand--"hOwever, If it does not too much in.
trude upon time of our friends, | will relate it,"
{ VI course, the company were profise in their
expressions of anxiety to know all about the dream
lie related it as follows:
I AT late hour last night, as Twas sitting in
my room, engaged in writing, | was astonished by
the entrance of a visitor, who entered and with
out word, !ook seat opporite me, at my table
This surprised me- rs had given particular or
ders to my servant, that | should on no account
be disturbed. The manner in which the Intruder
entered So perfctly self possesscd ,akno his scat
opposite me. without word rs though INV room
and everything in it belonged to him, excited in
| me As nuch snrnrise os INDIGNATION A. ,o,s.d
nv head to look into his features over tho tnn
OF my shaded lamp, | discovered that he was
wrapped in thin cloak which etfectually con.
cealcd his face and features from my view. And
as | raised nv head he stake
What are Won writing. Senator from South
Carolina r he said
II did not think Of his imnert;nence at first bpt
answered him involuntary
II am writing plan for the Dissolution Of the
American Union (you know gentlemen that I
am expected 70 produce plan for Dissolution in
the event of certain contingencies y,
"To this the intruder replied in the coolest man.
ner possible:
senator from South Carolina, will YOU allow
me to look at your hand, your right hand"
"Ie rose. the cloak fell and I behed his face
Gentleman the sight of that face struck me like
thunder clap. 1t was the face cf dead mar .
whom extraordinary events have called back 10
life The features were those of George Washing.
ton YES gentlemen, the intruder was none other
than GLonGE WAsmycToy. He wa. dressed in
the revolutionary costume such Us YOU see pre-
served in the Patent Office
/ Here Mr.. Calhoun paused apparently much
agitated. His agitation, need not tell YOU was
shared By the company Tomb. at length
length broke the embarrassing pause. We'll
we'll what was the issue Of this scene Mr. Cal
houn resumed:
This intruder have said rose and asked to
look at my riyt, hand As though had not the
power TO refuse, extended The truth is that
felt a strange chill pervade me at his touch ne
grasped it, and held it near the light thus afford
ing me full time to examine every feature Of hi.
face 1t was the face Of Washington. Gentle.
men, shul,lered ~ beheld the horribly dea}o..
lire look OF that yisige. After holding my hand
Tor moment, he looked at me steadily, and said
in quiet way
And with this right hand, Senator from Caro-
lima YOU would sign your name to a paper, de-
caring the Union dissolved!' -
81 answered in the affirmative. Yes. said l.
If a certain contingency arises will ssn my
tiit ilolieill Il OHph hioSn appeared Oh tiic ohch