406

THE GRANDMOTHER

On subsequently comparing notes, the ladies ascertained that the impressions left on each of them by this extraordinary appearance were the self-same. I had the particulars, first from the elder daughter, Mrs. Y- and afterward confirmed by the mother. To both the figure seemed a real person. Both recollected the precise dress, and their recollections exactly corresponded. To the eyes of both the figure had crossed the room, approached the front wall, lingered there to look at the portrait, recrossed to the door and there vanished. Neither heard any sound. It should be added that they had not been talking or thinking of the lady whose image thus suddenly appeared before them.

Mrs. R- as well as her daughter, had instantly recognized the figure as that of Mrs. R's mother, who had died about ten years before. Not only the face and form, but every minute particular of the dress, as above described, were the counterpart of that lady and of her usual walking attire, when in life. Originally she had belonged to the Society of Friends, and she had, in a measure, retained the style and peculiarities of their apparel.

The ladies related this incident, on the evening of the same day, to the Rev. Mr. Y——, from whom I first obtained it: his recollection of what they told him, only a few hours after the event, tallying exactly with their account to me of what they had seen. He informed me that he had never seeu old Mrs. R; but, the next morning, meeting three elderly ladies, sisters, who had been intimately acquainted with her, he asked them (without mentioning what had been related to himself) to give him a description of her personal appearance and ordinary walking-dress. It agreed, point for point, with that of the apparition, as it had been described to him.

Some other particulars which add greatly to the value of this narrative remain to be stated. Shortly before her death Dr. R's mother had strongly advised her son to buy a house in the neighborhood in which he ultimately purchased. She had also, about the same time, stated to a friend of

KEEPS HER PROMISE.

407

hers, Mrs. C, that if her son (he was an only son) did well, she would, if permitted, return from the other world, to witness his prosperity. This was afterward mentioned by Mrs. C

to me.

to the Rev. Mr. Y— and by that gentleman

But it so happened that, on the very day, and as nearly as could be ascertained at the very hour, when his wife and daughters witnessed the apparition of his mother, the deeds by which Dr. R———— became the legal proprietor of the house in which she appeared were delivered to him by its former possessor. Though he had spoken to his wife and family of his intention to purchase, they had no reason to suppose that the bargain would be closed on that day. When, on his return in the evening, he threw the deeds on the table, it was an unexpected surprise. Is it to be wondered at that, after the first feeling of gratification, the next thought, both of mother and daughter, should be of her who had so earnestly wished for this acquisition, and who had appeared to them, in her son's house, at or near the very time at which that house passed, by legal conveyance, into his hands? Is it surprising that Mrs. Cshould call to mind her old friend's promise, thus, to all outward seeming, strangely and punctually fulfilled?

It may, perhaps, occur to the reader as singular that the spirit of the mother should not, at the time of the purchase, have appeared to her son, rather than to her daughter-in-law. But it is not certain that this was possible. It would seem that, as a general rule, apparitions, like other spiritual phenomena, can present themselves only under favorable circumstances, and that these circumstances are often connected with the personal attributes, or peculiarities of organization, of the spectators, or some one of them.

But Mrs. R, the daughter-in-law, evidently possessed some such peculiarities. For, at various periods of her life, she had had dreams of a prophetic character. To these I shall advert when I come to speak of the gift of prophecy.

408

WHAT WE SHOULD BEAR IN MIND.

In connection with the above incident it behooves us to bear in mind:

That it occurred two years before modern Spiritualism had made its appearance in the United States, when the suggestion of "epidemic excitement," even if that plea be ever good, was out of the question.

That the apparition, as far as one can judge, was objective; seen by three persons at once, who coincide in their report of it; in broad daylight and at a moment when the thoughts of the witnesses were occupied by every-day matters.

po

That these witnesses were disinterested and their social sition such as to forbid the supposition of wilful deception. That the coincidence between the conditional promise and its fulfilment at the moment the condition was accomplished, is too striking to be rationally referred to chance.

Whether, under these circumstances, the identity of the grandmother is made out with reasonable certainty, it is for the reader to determine.

CHAPTER II.

A CASE OF IDENTITY THREE HUNDRED YEARS OLI).

THAT branch of Pneumatology which relates to intermundane phenomena has come into notice so recently, and has been, till now, the subject of so little careful study, that one ought to speak very cautiously of its laws, especially those which govern the conditions under which spirits may, or may not, communicate with earth. It is hazardous to generalize in view of a comparatively small array of facts.

Nevertheless I think we may assume it to be probable that a very large proportion of all the spirits who manifest themselves here, do so for a limited time only after they reach their new homes. Their destiny is upward and onward; and we may suppose the better class among them to be more occupied by the scenes of beauty and excellence that are opening before them, than by any recallings of the dim and checkered sojourn they have left.

With one drawback, however: drawn down sometimes to that lower sphere by a power that is greater in Heaven than on earth-by an attraction that rules most surely in natures that are noblest and best.

The most powerful of all the heart's agencies-human love which so often bridges over a thousand difficulties here—that same emotion it is, triumphing over the death-change, which would seem the most commonly to overcome the gulf fixed between earthly life and spiritual existence. And thus, sometimes, for a few years-ten, thirty, fifty, perhaps so long as the loved ones still linger behind-that deathless emotion appears to rule a divided heart.

-Divided between Heaven and earth; unable, yet, while its mourners are on the other side, fully to realize that peace

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MOTIVES THAT PROMPT THE

which passeth all understanding; unable cordially to rejoice with them who do rejoice, till these mourners-now removed, as if they were the dead become alive again, at its side; eager, meanwhile, to make known its undying affection, to evince its constant care; anxious to aid, to comfort, to encourage.

But these earth-bound labors of love are transient only in that higher sphere. Death is an Angel of Mercy there. He is Heaven's Herald of joy, for whose messages yearning souls wait. Through him, the Comforter, comes re-union in the many mansions that had been lonely, even amid celestial surroundings, till he brought the earthly wanderers home. Then satisfied hearts stray no longer from heavenly abodes.

It is true that what on earth we call philanthropy, and what in the next world seems chiefly to take the form of earnest desire to bring immortality to light in this darkling world, may cause benevolent spirits to seck us here even when their own circle of love is complete. And this doubtless happens: Franklin (Book v., chap. 4) seems an example. Yet I think it is the exception rather than the rule. In a general way it would seem that it is not the higher class of spirits which continue, generation after generation, more especially century after century, to revisit earth: not such men as Confucius or Socrates or Solon; nor yet such as Milton or Shakspeare or Newton.

Yet I give this as my individual opinion only. I have found no proof of identity in the case of any spirit, once celebrated either for goodness or talent, returning, after centuries, to enlighten or reform mankind. My idea is that they have completed their earthly task, and that their duties, now, are of another sphere. I think that we are left to work out, in the main, our worldly progress. The help we receive from above is not to supersede our exertions here below. Only so far we are to be directly helped-to an ardent, living conviction, instead of a cold, barren belief, of that truth of truths-immortality. That once secured to our race, we are to trust, it seems, to our own industry and courage for the rest; with