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

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 298rested a corpse wrapped in funeral vestments. Around it were stationedsoldiers who were acting as guards; and there was a throng of people, somegazing mournfully upon the corpse, whose face was covered, othersweeping pitifully."'"Who is dead in the White House?" I demanded of one of the soldiers."'"The President," was his answer; "he was killed by an assassin.""'Then came a loud burst of grief from the crowd, which awoke me frommy dream. I slept no more that night; and although it was only a dream, Ihave been strangely annoyed by it ever since.'"'That is horrid!' said Mrs. Lincoln. 'I wish you had not told it. I am glad Idon't believe in dreams, or I should be in terror from this time forth.'"'Well,' responded Mr. Lincoln, thoughtfully, 'it is only a dream, Mary. Letus say no more about it, and try to forget it.'"This dream was so horrible, so real, and so in keeping with other dreamsand threatening presentiments of his, that Mr. Lincoln was profoundlydisturbed by it. During its recital he was grave, gloomy, and at times visiblypale, but perfectly calm. He spoke slowly, with measured accents and deepfeeling."In conversations with me, he referred to it afterwards, closing one withthis quotation from 'Hamlet': 'To sleep; perchance to dream! ay, there's therub!' with a strong accent upon the last three words."Once the President alluded to this terrible dream with some show ofplayful humor. 'Hill,' said he, 'your apprehension of harm to me from somehidden enemy is downright foolishness. For a long time you have beentrying to keep somebody-the Lord knows who--from killing me."'Don't you see how it will turn out? In this dream it was not me, but someother fellow, that was killed. It seems that this ghostly assassin tried his