Smyrna times., 1855-12-26
Selett Mlistellanpg,
THE BLACK SPOT.

The following wonderful story appeared sew
eral years ago, from the pen of an unknown
author:
The other morning, at the breakfast table, |
our friend, the Hon. John C. Calhoun, seemed
very much troubled and out of spirits. You
know he is altogether venerable man, with
hard, stern, Scotch-Irsh face, softened in its
expression around the mouth by a sort of sad
smile which wins the hearts of all who converse
with hin. His hair is snow white. He is TALL
thin and angular. He reminds you very much
of Old Hickory. That he is honest, no one
doubts; he has sacrificed to his fatalism his
brightest hopes of political advancement-has
offered up on the shrine of that necessity which
he worships all that can excite ambition-even
the Presidency of the United States.
But to my story. The other morning at the
breakfast table, where l, an unobserved specta-
tor, happened to be present, Calhoun was OBJ
servedho gaze frequently at his right hand and
brush it;wilh his left in a hurried and nervous
manner. He did this so often that it excited
attention At length one of the persons CON-
posing the breakfast party-his name, l think,
is Toombs, and he is a member of Congress
from Georgiu-took upon himself to ask the
occasion of Mr.. Calhoun's disquietude.
"Does your hand pain you" he asked of
Mr.. C.
To this Mr.. Calhoun replied in rather fur
ried manner:
"PshawI 1t is nothing Only dream
had last night, and which makes me see per-
petualy large black spot-like an ink blotch
upon the back of my right hand. An optical
illusion, suppose"
OF course these words excited the curiosity
of the company, but no one ventured to beg
the details of this singular dream, until Toomb:
asked quietly,
"What was your dream like! I'm not very
superstItious about dreams; but sometimes they
have a great deal of truth in them"
"But this was such a peculiarly absurt
dream" said Mr.. Calhoun, again brushing tn,
back of his right hand "however, if it doe
not intrude too much on the time of our friends
/ will relate it to you"
Of course the company were profuse in thei
professions Of anxiety to know all about tn
dream. In his singular sweet voice, Mr.. Ca
houn related it:
"At a late hour last night, as was sittin
in my room engaged in writing, was aston
ished by the entrance of a vister, who entere
and without a word took a seat opposite me
my table. This surprised me, as had give
- particular orders to the servant that should @
no account be disturbed. The manner in whic
the intruder entered, so perfectly fpossesse
taking his seat opposite me, without word,
though my room and all within it belonged
him, excited in me as much surprise as indiJ
nation. AS ] raised my head to look into h
he features, over the top of my shaded lamp, l di
We covered that he was wrapt in a thin cloa
le, which effectualy concealed his face and fe
we lures from my view And as raised my hea
Try he spoke:
ee, "What are you writing, Senator from Sou
ne, Carolina ~
nt- / did not think of his impertinence at fir
ro- but answered him voluntarily,
aw 81 am writing a plan for the dissolution
mt, the American Union," (you know, gentlemt
ldy that am expected to produce plan of dis
not luton, in the event of certain contingencies
"To this the intruder replied, in the cool
tile manner possible:
ty " Senator from South Carolina, will you
me- low me to look at your hand-yourright hand
on "He rose, the cloak fell, and | beheld
ysi- face. Gentlemen, the sight of that face stru
ngs me like thunder-clap. II was the face o
pre- dead man, whom extraordinary events had CT
we ed back to life. The features were those
General George Washngton--yes, gentlem
ami the intruder was none other than George Wa
spi- ington. He was dressed in the Revolution
ear costume, such as you see in the Patent Offc
vii! Here Mr.. Calhoun paused, apparently ag
this ted. His agitation. need not tell you.
the shared by the company. Toombs at len
e of broke the embarrassing pause
ded, "Well, well, what was the issue Of
thus scene ~
q in MIR. Calhoun resumed:
and "The intruder, as have said, rose and as
me to look at my right hand. As though I
pow- the power to refuse, extended it. The &
ocie- ia, felt strange thrill pervaded me at
f in touch he grasped it and held ii near the Ii
poor, thus afEording nae full time to examine e
\ be- feature. 1t was the face Of Washingto