Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-08-21
TOM NOIfts pondtnI OF the : z IaNeF {
A SINGUL LAR DREAM.

spirits. You know he is altogether ven
erable man, with hard. stern Scotch
Irish face, softened in its expression a
round the mouth by a sort of sad smile
which wins the hearts of all who converst
with him His hair is snow white Ii,
is tall, thin and angular He remind:
you very much of Old Hickory That
be is honest, no one doubts-he has sa
criiced to his fatalism the brightest hopes
of political adyancement-ha offered up
on the shrine of that iron necessity which
be worshlps, ali that can excite ambition
even the presidency of the United
States
But to my story. The other morning
at the breakfast table, where |. an unob
served spectator, happened to be present
Calhoun was observed to gaze frequently
at his right hand, and brush it with his
left in nervous, hurried manner He did
this SO often that it excited attention -
At length one of the persons composing
the breakfast party, his name | think is
Toombs. and he is member of Con-
gress from Georgia, took upon himself
| to ask the occasion of Mr. Calhoun's dis
| quietude.
Does your hand pain yoq?" said
| he
To this Calhoun replied in rather a
/ furried Manner It is nothing Only
a dream which had last night, which
makes me see perpetually a large black
spot, like an ink blotch, upon the back
part of my right hand. An optical delu
sion | suppose"
OF course these words excited the Gu
riosity of the company. but ne one ven
tured to beg the details of this singular
dream, until Toombs asked, quietly
What was your dream like I'm
not very superstitious about dreams, but
sometimes they have good deal of truth
in them"
But, this was such a peculiarly alb
surd dream" said Calhoun, again brush
ing the back of his hand " however, if it
does not much intrude upon the time of
our friends, | will relate tn
OF course the company were profuse
in their expressions of anxiety to know all
about the dream. In his singular sweet
voice, Mr. Calhoun related it,
:. At late hour last night as | was sit
ting in my room, engaged in writing, L
was astonished by the entrance of visi-
tor, who, without saying a word, took
seat opposite me, at my table. This sur
prised me, as [ had given particular or
ders to the servant that | should on no
account be disturbed The manner IN
which the intruder entered, so perfectly
self possessed, taking his seat opposite
me, without word, as though my room
and all within it belonged to him, excit-
ed IN me much surprise as indignation.
As [ raised my head to look into his fea-
lures, over tue top of my shaded lamp |
discovered that he was wrapped 10 thin
cloak, which effectually concealed his face
and features from my view. As L raised
my head he spoke:
wv hat are you writing, senator from
South Carolina ?"
I did not think of his impertinence at
first, but answered him involuutarily =" |
am writing a plan for the dissolution of
the American Union You know gen
tIemen, that | am expected to produce
plan of dissolution in the event of a GER
tain contingency
To this the intruder replied in the cool
est manner
Senator from South Carolina, will you
! ALLOW me to look at your hand, your right
hand ?n
s.IIe rose, the cloak fell, and | beheld
his face. Gentlemen, the sight OF that
face struck me like thunder clap. 1t
was the face of dead man, whom extra
ordinary events have called to life lie
| features were those Of George WS&asng
| ton; YES. gentlemen, the intruder was
none other than George Washington.
| He was dressed in the revolutionary cos
tune. such as you see preserved in the
patent Office"
y Here Mr.. Calhoun paused paused, ap-
narentlv in much agitation. l need not
tell YOU it was shared by the company =
Toombs at length broke the embarrassing
pause.
..Well, we'll, what was the issue of
this scene 2'
Mr. Calhoun resumed ::
This intruder as | have said, rose
and asked to look at my right hand As
though [ had not the power to refuse, L
lextended it. The truth is, felt strange
chill pervade me at his touch he grasp
ed it and held it near the light, thus ar
lfording me full time to examine. every
feature of his face Il was the face OF
Washington. Gentlemen. | shuddered as
beheld the holy dead alive look OF tha'
visare After holding my hand for mo
ment. he looked at me steadily, and saic
in quiet way"
And with that right hand. senator
from South Carolina, you wonld sign you
name to a paper, declaring the Union dis
solved"
; Il answered in the Affirmative. Yes
: said |. if certain contingency arises
r will sign my name to the declaration Q
: dissolution But at that moment a blac
, blotch which I seem to see even now ar
e peared on my hand What Is that
: said I, alarmed, | know not why, at tn
. blotch upon my hand
/ That" said he, dropping my han'
e :; that is the mark by which Benedict A
q mold is known in the next world. "
5 He said no more, gentlemen. but dre
t from beneath his cloak an object whic
e he placed upon the table placed It upe
L the very paper on which was writing :
: That object. gentlemen, was skeleton
bo hana<