The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-02-25
SINGULAR DREAM.


the breakfast table, our friend, the Hon.
John @. Calhoun seemed very much
troubled and out of spirits. You know he
is altogether venerable man, with hard,
stern Scotch-Irish face, softened in its ex-
preston 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 tail, 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 highest hopes of politi-
cal advancement-has offered up to the
shrine of that iron necessity which he wor-
ships, 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 unob-
served spectator, happened to be present,
Calhoun was observed to gaze frequently
at his right hand, and brush it hurriedly
with his left, in nervous and excited
manner. At length one of the persons
composing the breakfast party-his name
think is Toombs, and he is member Of
Congress from Georgia, took upon himself
L.
quietude.
"Does your hand pain you 7" he asked.
| To this Calhoun replied in rather fur
ried manner: "Pshaw! it is nothingl Only
dream which had last night, and which
makes me see perpetually large black
spot, like an ink blotch, upon the back of
my right hand An optical delusion, l
suppose"
OF course these words excited the curl
osity of the company, but no one ventured
to beg the details of this singular dream,
till 1'oombs asked quietly:
"What was your dream like2 l am not
very superstitious about dreams, but some
times there is great deal of truth in
them"
''But this was such peculiarly absurd
dream" replied Mr.. Calhoun, again brush
ing the back of his hand; however, if it
does not too much intrude upon the time
of our friends, | will relate it."
OF course the company were profuse in
their desires to know all about the dream.
In his singularly sweet voice, Mr.. Calhoun
related it:
"At late hour last night, as | was en-
gagged in writing, | was astonished by the
entrance of visitor, who entered, and
without word, took seat opposite me at
my table This surprised me, as / 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 op-
posite me, without saying word, as though
my room and all within it belonged to him,
excited in me as much surprise as indigna-
ton. AS l raised my head to look into his
features, over the top of my shaded lamp,
discovered that he was wrapped in thin
cloak, which effectually concealed his face
and features from my view. And as l
raised my head he spoke:
What are you writing, Senator from
South Carolina p he said.
II did not think of his impertinence at
first, but answered him involuntarily:
q i am writing plan for the DiSsolu-
ton of the American Union;' you know,
gentlemen, that [ am expected to produce
plan of dissolution in the event of certain
contingencies.
" Senator from South Carolina, will
you allow me to look at your hand, your
right hand ?
''He arose, the cloak fell, and l beheld
his face Gentlemen, hesight of that face
struck me like a clap of thunder. 1t was
the face of a dead man whom extraordinary
events have brought back to life. The
features were those of George Washington
yes, gentlemen, the intruder was no
other than George Washington. He was
dressed in the revolutionary costume, such
as you see at the Patent Office
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused, apparently
much agitated. His agitation, | need not
tell you, was shared by the company.
Toombs at length broke the embarrassing
pause:
Well-w-e-l-l, what is the issue of
this scene2"
Mr. Calhoun resumed:
"This intruder, l have said, rose and
asked to look at my right hand. As
though l had not the power to refuse, l
extended it. The truth is, felt strange
chill pervademe at this touch ;he grasped it
and held it near the light, thus affording
me full time to examine every feature of
his face. 1t was the face Of Washington.
Gentlemen, shuddered as / beheld the
horrible dead aIive look of that visage
After holding my hand for moment, he
looked at me steadily, and said in quiet
way:
And with this right hand, Senator from
Carolina, would you sign your name to a
paper declaring the Union to be dissolvedP ?
81 answered in the affirmative. Yes
said ], if a certain contingency arises,
will sign my name to the declaration of
disunion.' But at that moment black
blotch appeared on the back of my hand,
an inky blotch which seem to see even
now. What is thatP | cried, alarmed,
and not knowing why, at the blotch that
was upon my hand.
That said he, dropping my hand, lis
the mark by which Benedict Arnold is
known in the next world
He said no more, gentlemen, but drew
| from beneath his cloak an ohiect which ha