''Abe'' Lincoln's Yarns and Stories - University of Macau Library

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 181"I was at Bull Run the other day, Mr. President, and it is no vanity in me tosay, I am a darned sight better general than you had on the field."This was said, not in the tone of a braggart, but of a man who knew what hewas talking about. Hooker did not return to California, but in a few weeksCaptain Hooker received from the President a commission asBrigadier-General Hooker.KEPT HIS COURAGE UP.The President, like old King Saul, when his term was about to expire, wasin a quandary concerning a further lease of the Presidential office. Heconsulted again the "prophetess" of Georgetown, immortalized by hispatronage.She retired to an inner chamber, and, after raising and consulting more thana dozen of distinguished spirits from Hades, she returned to thereception-parlor, where the chief magistrate awaited her, and declared thatGeneral Grant would capture Richmond, and that "Honest Old Abe" wouldbe next President.She, however, as the report goes, told him to beware of Chase.A FORTUNE-TELLER'S PREDICTION.Lincoln had been born and reared among people who were believers inpremonitions and supernatural appearances all his life, and he oncedeclared to his friends that he was "from boyhood superstitious."He at one time said to Judge Arnold that "the near approach of theimportant events of his life were indicated by a presentiment or a strangedream, or in some other mysterious way it was impressed upon him thatsomething important was to occur." This was earlier than 1850.It is said that on his second visit to New Orleans, Lincoln and hiscompanion, John Hanks, visited an old fortune-teller--a voodoo negress.