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
some other fellow, that was killed. It seems that this ghostly assassin
tried his hand on some one else. And this reminds me of an old farmer in
Illinois whose family were made sick by eating greens.

"'Some poisonous herb had got into the mess, and members of the family
were in danger of dying. There was a half-witted boy in the family
called Jake; and always afterward when they had greens the old man would
say, "Now, afore we risk these greens, let's try 'em on Jake. If he
stands 'em we're all right." Just so with me. As long as this imaginary
assassin continues to exercise himself on others, I can stand it.'

"He then became serious and said: 'Well, let it go. I think the Lord in
His own good time and way will work this out all right. God knows what
is best.'

"These words he spoke with a sigh, and rather in a tone of soliloquy, as
if hardly noting my presence.

"Mr. Lincoln had another remarkable dream, which was repeated so
frequently during his occupancy of the White House that he came to
regard it is a welcome visitor. It was of a pleasing and promising
character, having nothing in it of the horrible.

"It was always an omen of a Union victory, and came with unerring
certainty just before every military or naval engagement where our arms
were crowned with success. In this dream he saw a ship sailing away
rapidly, badly damaged, and our victorious vessels in close pursuit.

"He saw, also, the close of a battle on land, the enemy routed, and our
forces in possession of vantage ground of inestimable importance. Mr.
Lincoln stated it as a fact that he had this dream just before the
battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, and other signal engagements throughout
the War.

"The last time Mr. Lincoln had this dream was the night before his
assassination. On the morning of that lamentable day there was a Cabinet
meeting, at which General Grant was present. During an interval of
general discussion, the President asked General Grant if he had any news
from General Sherman, who was then confronting Johnston. The reply was
in the negative, but the general added that he was in hourly expectation
of a dispatch announcing Johnston's surrender.

"Mr. Lincoln then, with great impressiveness, said, 'We shall hear very
soon, and the news will be important.'

"General Grant asked him why he thought so.

"'