Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-03-13
5fiscfllanu.
Lincoln's Dream, as told
by Dickens.

Abraham Lincoln's Dream, as told
by Dickens.
| dined with Charles Sumner, last Sun
day, against my rule; and, as Ihad stip-
ulated for no party, Mr.. Secretary Stan
ton was the only other guest besides his
own secretary. Stanton is man with a
very remarkable memory, aud extraor-
dinarily familiar with my books. He
ana Sumner having been the first two
public men at the dying presidents bed
side, and having remained with him un-
til he breathed his last, we fell into a
very interesting conversation after din
ner, when, each Of them giving his own
narrative separately, the usual discrep-
ancies about details of time were OBJ
servable. Then Mr.. Stanton told me a
curious little story, which will form the
remainder Of this short letter. On the
afternoon of the day on which the presi-
dent was shot, there was cabinet coun-
Gil, at which he presided. Mr.. Stanton,
being at the time communicating chief of
the northern troops that were concen-
trated about here, arrived rather late,
indeed, they were waiting for him, and,
ON his entering the room, the president
broke off in something he was saying,
and remarked : 81 Let us proceed to busi-
ness, gentlemen" Mr.. Stanton then
noticed, with great surprise, that the
president sat with an air of dignity in
his chair, instead of rolling about in the
most ungainly attitudes, as his invariable
custom was, and that instead of telling
irrelevant or questionable stories, he
was grave and calm, and quite differ
ent man. Mr.. Stanton, on leaving the
council with the attorney-general, said
to him: "That is the most satisfactory
cabinet meeting l have attended for
many long day. What an extraordin-
ary change in Mr.. Lincolnl" The at
torney-general replied, Z" We all saw
that before you came in. While we were
waiting for you, he said, with his chin
down oD his breast, Gentlemen, some
thing very extraordinary is going to hap
pen, and that very soon.'" To which
the attorney general had observed,
Something good, sir, | hope" When
the president answered very gravely, I
don't know, don't know but it will
happen, and shortly, too" As they were
all impressed by his manner, the attor-
ney-general took him up again: Have
you received any information, sir, not
yet disclosed to us NO." answered
the president; "but have had dream,
and have now had the same dream
three times-once on the night preceding
the battle of Bull Ron; once on the
night preceding such another" (naming
a battle also not favorable to the North.
His chin sunk on his breast again, and
he sat rejecting, might one ask the
nature of this dream, sir ?" said the at
torney- general. WE'LL" replied the
without lifting his head or
changing his attitude, am on great
broad, rolling river, and l am in boat
and l drift and | drift-but this is not
business" suddenly raising his face and
looking round the table as Mr.. Stanton
entered, Let us proceed to business,
gentlemen" Mr.. Stanton and the at
torney-general said, as they walked on
together, it would be curious to notice
whether anything ensued ON this; and
they agreed to notice. he was shot that
Life Of Dickens.