Because,' said Mr. Lincoln, 'I had a dream last night; and ever since
this War began I have had the same dream just before every event of
great national importance. It portends some important event which will
happen very soon.'

"On the night of the fateful 14th of April, 1865, Mrs. Lincoln's
first exclamation, after the President was shot, was, 'His dream was
prophetic!'

"Lincoln was a believer in certain phases of the supernatural. Assured
as he undoubtedly was by omens which, to his mind, were conclusive, that
he would rise to greatness and power, he was as firmly convinced by
the same tokens that he would be suddenly cut off at the height of his
career and the fullness of his fame. He always believed that he would
fall by the hand of an assassin.

"Mr. Lincoln had this further idea: Dreams, being natural occurrences,
in the strictest sense, he held that their best interpreters are the
common people; and this accounts, in great measure, for the profound
respect he always had for the collective wisdom of plain people--'the
children of Nature,' he called them--touching matters belonging to
the domain of psychical mysteries. There was some basis of truth, he
believed, for whatever obtained general credence among these 'children
of Nature.'

"Concerning presentiments and dreams, Mr. Lincoln had a philosophy of
his own, which, strange as it may appear, was in perfect harmony
with his character in all other respects. He was no dabbler in
divination--astrology, horoscopy, prophecy, ghostly lore, or witcheries
of any sort."

EVERY LITTLE HELPED.

As the time drew near at which Mr. Lincoln said he would issue the
Emancipation Proclamation, some clergymen, who feared the President
might change his mind, called on him to urge him to keep his promise.

"We were ushered into the Cabinet room," says Dr. Sunderland. "It
was very dim, but one gas jet burning. As we entered, Mr. Lincoln was
standing at the farther end of the long table, which filled the center
of the room. As I stood by the door, I am so very short, that I was
obliged to look up to see the President. Mr. Robbins introduced me, and
I began at once by saying: 'I have come, Mr. President, to anticipate
the new year with my respects, and if I may, to say to you a word about
the serious condition of this country.'

"'Go ahead, Doctor,' replied the President; 'every little helps.' But I
was too much in earnest to laugh at his sally at my smallness."