The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-03-20
n wONDEhFUL STORY.


JHF. RTJEFSa59 SATJJl
,1s-1- - .-.1-a "a 80 aa1 z
------- :! a
- ~ WONDERFUL STORY.
Tha foiiow;nr wonderful story appeared
8. 9. x III, ,,,,,,y
se'olaA ,'l'1a, aso' 49, ssIs ~ P -
known author: t' .,,s \ 80 q,
The other morning a the breakfast table,
our friend, the Hon. j. G. Calhoun, seemed
very much troubled and ont Of spirits. You
know. be is altogether . venerable man, with
q hard, stern, Scotch Irish face, softened in
its expression around the mouth BY . sort
Of sad smile which wins the hearts OF al
who converse with him. His hair IL snow
white. He - tall thin, and angular. he
reminds You much Of Old Hickory. Thet ne
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, sll that
can exotic ambitiOn-event the Presidency OF
the United States. :.
But to my story. The other morning at
the breakfast tsbte, where happened to be
present, Calhoun was observed TO gaze fre-
quently at his right hand, and brush II o6
with the left in q hurried and nervous man.
ner. He did this SO often tnas II exc. .ted at-
tention. At length one Of the persons COM
posing the breakfast Psrty-his name, !
think, 10 Toombs,; and pc 10 member of
Congress from deorg,a-took upon himself
to askthe occasion OF MI. CalnounNs oisquie-
tude. ss"lz 'f'as72Ss2 s t..'
sDoes your hand pain your ne asked. q
To this Mr. Calhoun replied, IN rather
furried manner: a,.afI
"Pshaw! 1t is nothing! oniy cream
had last night, and which makes me see
perpetually large black epot-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
Toombs asked, quietly -.
"What was your dream like? Pm not
very superstitious about dreams, Dat some
times they have great deal OF truth in
them" 1sga saa:,'. y 1lH ba. E.fag .u3
"But this was such = peculiarly absurd
dream," said Mr.. Calhoun, again brushing
the back Of his right hand; "however, It 1t
does not intrude too much on the time OF our
friends, will relate 1t to you." =
Of course the company were profuse in
their profession of anxiety to know all about
the dream. In his singular, sweet voice,
Mr., Calhoun related 1t, a. t0ilows:
"At late hour last night, a. was sit
ting IN my room engaged in writing, was
astOnished by the entrance of visitor, who
entered and without word took seat op-
posits me at my table. This surprised me,
as had given particular orders to the SER
want that should on no account be disturb
ed. The manner in which the intruder, so
perfectly self-possesed, taking his seat op-
posite me without word, as though my
room and all within belonged to him, excited
in me as much surprise as indignation. As
raised my head to look into his features,
over the top of my shaded lamp, discovered
that he was wrapped in thin cloak, which
effctually concealed bis face and features
from my view. And as raised my head he
spoke - qr.a.-. .aa r-. .7as. ,..s ,aes
"What are you writing, Senator from
South Carolina 90 49, ...: g..'F.. ...
sI did not think of his impertinence at
first, but answered him involuntarily-
81 am writing a plan Of the dissolution of
the American Union, (you know gentlemen,
that am expected to produce plan Of dis
solution, in the event Of certain contingen-
cies. ...a ... -.... # .....sa =
''To this, the intruder replied in the cool
est manner possible: a=
"Senator from South Carolina, will you
allow me to look at your hand-your right
hand 20, rao g.. :. - e
''He 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 extraordinary
events had called back to life. The features
were those OF General George Washington.
yes, gentlemen the intruder was none other
than George Washington. He was dressed
in the Revolutionary costume, such as you
see in the Patent Office. n,-. .s.Ef y e. '.-
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused, apparently agi-
tated. ~ saa- =. .gear lr 80
Ills agitation l need not tell you, was
shared by the company. Toombs at length
broke the embarrassing pause: 3. .za !.
swell, we-e-ll, what was the issue of this
sceneW H zaHa g.. .a. 81: .. a...
MIR. Calhoun resumed. st @s
"The intruder, as l have said, rose and
asked me to look at my right hand. As
though had nopower to refuse. i extend
ed. The truth 10, felt strange thrill
pervade me at his touch he grasped it and
held it near the light, affording view Of
every feature. 1t was the face of Wash
ington., Gentlemen, l shuddered a. be.
rheid the horrible dead pallor of that visage.
After holding my hand for a moment, he
looked at me steadily, and said in quie,
way. ..ig. .aa ss eua. sY"as a.. q
"And with this right hand, Senator from
South Carolina, you would sign your name
to paper declaring the Union dissolved y
81 answered in the affirmative. 'Yes,'
said, if certain contingency arises, will
sign my name to declaration on disunion.'
But at that moment black blotch appeared
On the back Of my hand, IN inky blotch,
which | seem to see even now. what il
that p 1said, alarmed, knew not why, at the
blotch on my hand" ef1.a.--. r.- a. ~.
."Ihat, SAID he, dropping my hand, 10 the
marx Dy which Benedict Arnold 10 known in
'he next World @a ~. -, s.-t So. @
me sald no :, more, gentlemen, out drew
rom pensasn ms cioan an oo)ecs whicn ne
laio upon tne taole--lsio II upon the very
paper on whicn l was writing Ihat OBJECT,
gentlemen, IG1 was skeleton. ,9al 1.
inere, saia ne, mere are the bones OF
isaac hayne, VINO was nang az cnarieston
oy . me brisisn; ~ ne gave % ms me IN order TO