Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-06-19
SEEING VISIONs

Lydia Maria Child's article on "Spirits" in
the Atlantic Monthly, contains the following
interesting paragraph:
When Harriet Hosmer, the sculptor, visited
her native country lew years ago. | had an
interview with her, during which our conver-
satlon happened to turn upon dreams and Wis
ions. 81 have some experiente in that way"
said she. "Let me tell you a singular crcum-
stance that happened to me in Rome. An Ital-
ian girl named Rosa, was in my employ for q
long time, but was finally obliged to return to
her mother, on account of confirmed i'll health.
We were mutually sorry to part, for we liked
each other. Ween took my customary ex-
cursion on horseback frequently called to see
her. On one of these occasions found her
brighter than had seen her for some time past
had long relinquished hopes of her recovery,
but there was nothing in her appearance that
gave me the impression of immediate danger.
lett with the expectation of calling to see her
again many times. During the remainder of
the day was busy in my studio, and | do not
recollect that Rosa was in. my thoughts after
parted with her. l retired to rest in good
health, and tn quiet frame of mind. But
awoke from sound sleep with an oppressive
leeilng that some one was in my room. won-
dered ut the sensation for it was entirely new
to Inej but in vain tried to dispeli it. peered
tInguish no object in the darkness. Irving to
gather up my thoughts, soon reflected that
the door was locked, and that l put the KEY
under my bolster. l felt for it and found It
whore | had placed it. / said to myself that I
probably had some ugly dream, and walked with
vague impression Of it on my mind. Reas-
oning thus, | arranged myself comfortably for
another zap. l am habtually a good sleeper,
stranger to fear but do what l would, the
idea still haunted me that some one was in nv
room. Finding it impossible to sleep, long
ed for daylight to dawn, that might rise and
pursue my customary avocatons. 1t was not
long before was able to dsting uish the furni-
ture in my room, and soon after. l heard, in
the apartments below, the familiar noises of
servants opening windows and doors. An old
clock, with ringing vibrations, proclaimed the
hour. counted one, two, three, four five,
and resolved to rise Immediately. NV bed was
partially screened by long curtain, looped up
at the side. AS raised my head from the pill
low, Rosa looked inside the curtain and smiled
at me. The idea of anything supernatural did
not occur to me. Simply surprised, exclaim-
ed, why Rosa, how came YOU here when Won
are so ill !" Il am well, now With no other
thought than that Of greeting her ioyfully
sprung out of bed. There was no Rosa there
| moved the curtains, thinking she might, per-
haps, have playfuy hidden behind its folds.
The same feeling induced me to look into the
closet. The sight Of her had come so suddenly.
that, IN the first moment C. surprise and be-
wllderment, di | not reflect that the door was
locked. When | became convinced that there
was no one il the room but myself, recollect
that fact, and though. must have seen Wis
ion.
At the breakfast table said to the old lady
with whom / bnarIal, Rosa is dead
'What do you mean By ;hat?' she inquired.
You told me thai she seemed better than COM
mon when you called to see her Yesterday
related the occurrence of the morning, and
told her had a strong impression Rosa was
dead. She laugned, and said had dreamed it
all. | assured her | was tn oroughly awake,
and in proof thereof told her had heard all
the accustomed household noise, and had coun-
ted the clock when it struck five.
She replied, 'All that is very possible, my
dear. The clock struck in your dream. Real
sounds often mix with the illusions of sleep.
! am surprised that dream should make such
an impression on a young lady so free from su'
perstition as you are
She continued to Jest on the subject and
slightly annoyed me by her persistence in be-
leving it to be Dream when | was perfectly
sure of having been awake. To settle the
question, l summoned messenger, and sent
him to inquire how Rosa did. He returned
with the answer tnat she died that morning at
five o'clock
wrote the story as Miss Hosmer told it TO
me, and after had shown it to her | asked her
if she had any objection to its being published
without the suppression of names. She re-
piled, You have reported the story correctly.
Make what use you please of it. You cannot
think it more strange or more unaccountable
than do myself"