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A FORTUNE-TELLER'S PREDICTION.
Lincoln had been born and reared among people who were believers in
premonitions and supernatural appearances all his life, and he once
declared to his friends that he was "from boyhood superstitious."
He at one time said to Judge Arnold that "the near approach of the
important events of his life were indicated by a presentiment or a
strange dream, or in some other mysterious way it was impressed upon him
that something important was to occur." This was earlier than 1850.
It is said that on his second visit to New Orleans, Lincoln and his
companion, John Hanks, visited an old fortune-teller--a voodoo negress.
Tradition says that "during the interview she became very much excited,
and after various predictions, exclaimed: 'You will be President, and
all the negroes will be free.'"
That the old voodoo negress should have foretold that the visitor would
be President is not at all incredible. She doubtless told this to many
aspiring lads, but Lincoln, so it is avowed took the prophecy seriously.
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Stories and Anecdotes About the Life of Abraham Lincoln
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