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

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Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 296in our eyes, was by his interpretation a premonition of impending doom? Ianswer in a word: His sense of duty to his country; his belief that 'theinevitable' is right; and his innate and irrepressible humor."But the most startling incident in the life of Mr. Lincoln was a dream hehad only a few days before his assassination. To him it was a thing ofdeadly import, and certainly no vision was ever fashioned more exactly likea dread reality. Coupled with other dreams, with the mirror-scene and withother incidents, there was something about it so amazingly real, so true tothe actual tragedy which occurred soon after, that more than mortal strengthand wisdom would have been required to let it pass without a shudder or apang."After worrying over it for some days, Mr. Lincoln seemed no longer ableto keep the secret. I give it as nearly in his own words as I can, from noteswhich I made immediately after its recital. There were only two or threepersons present."The President was in a melancholy, meditative mood, and had been silentfor some time. Mrs. Lincoln, who was present, rallied him on his solemnvisage and want of spirit. This seemed to arouse him, and, without seemingto notice her sally, he said, in slow and measured tones:"'It seems strange how much there is in the Bible about dreams. There are, Ithink, some sixteen chapters in the Old Testament and four or five in theNew, in which dreams are mentioned; and there are many other passagesscattered throughout the book which refer to visions. In the old days, Godand His angels came to men in their sleep and made themselves known indreams.'"Mrs. Lincoln here remarked, 'Why, you look dreadfully solemn; do youbelieve in dreams?'"'I can't say that I do,' returned Mr. Lincoln; 'but I had one the other nightwhich has haunted me ever since. After it occurred the first time, I openedthe Bible, and, strange as it may appear, it was at the twenty-eighth chapter
Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 297of Genesis, which relates the wonderful dream Jacob had. I turned to otherpassages, and seemed to encounter a dream or a vision wherever I looked. Ikept on turning the leaves of the old book, and everywhere my eyes fellupon passages recording matters strangely in keeping with my ownthoughts--supernatural visitations, dreams, visions, etc.'"He now looked so serious and disturbed that Mrs. Lincoln exclaimed 'Youfrighten me! What is the matter?'"'I am afraid,' said Mr. Lincoln, observing the effect his words had upon hiswife, 'that I have done wrong to mention the subject at all; but somehow thething has got possession of me, and, like Banquo's ghost, it will not down.'"This only inflamed Mrs. Lincoln's curiosity the more, and while bravelydisclaiming any belief in dreams, she strongly urged him to tell the dreamwhich seemed to have such a hold upon him, being seconded in this byanother listener. Mr. Lincoln hesitated, but at length commenced verydeliberately, his brow overcast with a shade of melancholy."'About ten days ago,' said he, 'I retired very late. I had been up waiting forimportant dispatches from the front. I could not have been long in bedwhen I fell into a slumber, for I was weary. I soon began to dream. Thereseemed to be a deathlike stillness about me. Then I heard subdued sobs, asif a number of people were weeping."'I thought I left my bed and wandered down-stairs. There the silence wasbroken by the same pitiful sobbing, but the mourners were invisible. I wentfrom room to room; no living person was in sight, but the same mournfulsounds of distress met me as I passed along. It was light in all the rooms;every object was familiar to me; but where were all the people who weregrieving as if their hearts would break? I was puzzled and alarmed. Whatcould be the meaning of all this?"'Determined to find the cause of a state of things so mysterious and soshocking, I kept on until I arrived at the East Room, which I entered. ThereI met with a sickening surprise. Before me was a catafalque, on which
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''Abe'' Lincoln's Yarns and Stories - University of Macau Library

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