Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-02-20
A WONDERFUL STORY.
The following wonderful story appeared sew
,ral years ago, from the pen of an unknown

The following wonderful story appeared sew
eral years ago, from the pen of an unknown
author - 'aii z tssa@ 8dEgaai' a',i5 2t '''E.'
The other morning, at the breakfast table,
our friend, the Hon.. John @. Calhoun, seem
ed very much troubled and out of spirits. You
know he is altogether venerable man, with
hard, stern, Scotch Irish face, softened in its
expression around the mouth by sort Of sad
smile which wins the hearts Of all who converse
with him. 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 upon 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 !, an unobseryed specta-
tor, happened to be present. Calhoun was OBJ
served to gaze frequently at his right hand,
and brush it with his left in a hurried and ner-
vous manner. He did this SO often that it ex-
cited attention. At length one of the persons
composing the breakfast party-his name !
think, is Toombs, and he is member Of Con-
grcss from Georgia-took upon himself to ask
the occasion of Mr.. Cslhoun's disquietude
"Does your hand pain your" he asked Of
Mr.. O. IS vlu ai9o osss r,
To this Mr.. Calhoun replied, in rather
hurried mnnner:- 72'
"Pshaw 1t is nothingl Only dream l
b.J I.of n,oht on1 b,,b -, 4 - ~. a 80 -
petually alarge black spot--like an ink blotch
upon the back of my right hand. An optical
illusion. suppose" ~ ftiiait'9 ~.
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 iifgEuf .tieao ~ EaA
"What was your dream likef Pm very
superstitious about dreams; but sometimes
they have great deal Of truth in them"
"But this was such a peculiarly absurd
dream" said Mr.. Calhoun, again brushing the
back of his hand "however, If II does not in
tude too much on the time of our friends, /
will relate it to- you" 5gr-a
or course the company were profuse in
their profession Of anxiety TO know all about
the dream. In his singular sweet voice, Mr..
Calhoun related it, /"
AT a late hour last night, as was sitting
in my room engaged in writing, was aston
ished by the entrance Of a visitor, who entered
and without word took a seat opposite me at
my table. This surprised me, as 1 had given
particular orders 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 il
belonged to him, excited in me as much sur
prise as indignation. AS raised my bead TO
look into his features, over the top of my
shaded lamp, | discovered that he was wrapi
in a 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
Carolinaf"
"I did not think ofhis impertinence at first
but answered him voluntarily
al am writing plan OF the dissolution Of
the American Union, (you know gentlemen
that am expected to produce plan OF disso.
luton, in the event OF certain contingencies,
"To this, the intruder replied, in the coolies,
manner possible
"Senstor from South Carolina, will you al
! low me to look OF your hand-your right
bandfn
"He rose, the cloak fell, and bcheld hi,
face. Gentlemen, the sight Of that face STRUCK
me like a hunder-clap. II was the face Of
dead man, whom extraordinary events hat
called back to life The features were those o
General George Washington--yes, gentlemen
the intruder was none other than Georg,
Washington. He was dressed In the Revolu
tionsry costume, such as you see in the Paten
Ofice.r ~
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused, apparently agita
, ted. His agitation, I need not tell you, wa,
. shared by the company. Toombs at lengti
broke the embarrassing pause:-
"weIl, we-e-ll, what was the issue Of thi
/ scene2"
Mr.. Calhoun resumed -
aTha intruder al have ea;d roeo and aal