Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-02-14

| II print a portrait of lady, that was so like,
but it had one-she had missed it from her
book for three weeks passed. 1t was the
more Disappointing. rs she was sure 1t would
nave been of such great assistance. | asked
if she could tell me who the print was of,
as, if knew, | could easily procure one in
London She answered, Lady NJ. A. lmme-
datelv the name was uttered the whole scene
of the lady of the railway carriage presented
itself TO me. had my sketch-book i'll my
poftmanteau upstairs. and, by II fortunate
chance, fixed in it was the print in question,
with the two pencilsketches | instantly
brought them down, and showed them to
Maria Lutte. She looked at them for mo-
ment, turned her eyes full upon me, and SAID
slowly, and with something like fear in her
manner, Where did you get these 2" Then
quicker, and without waiting for my answer,
Let me take them instantly to papa" She
was away ten minutes, or more when she
returned, and her father came with her. He
did not wait for salutations, but said in tone
and manner | had not observed in him before,
Il was right all the time; it was you that |
saw with her, and these sketches are from
her, and from no one else. l value them
more than all my possessions, except this
dear child. The daughter assured me that
the print l had brought to the house must
be the one taken from the book about three
weeks before, in proof of which she pointed
out to me the gum marks at the back, which
exactly corresponded with those left on the
blank leaf. From the moment the father
saw these sketches, hi mental health Ie-
turned.
was not allowed To touch either of the
pencil drawings in the sketch-book, as it WAS
feared | might injure them but an oil pie
ture from them was commenced Immediately,
the father sitting by me hour after hour,
directing my touches, conyersing nationally,
and indeed cheertully, while he did so. He
avoided direct reference to his delusiOns, but
from time to time led the conversation 20
the manner in which I had originally OBJ
tanned the sketches The doctor came in
the evening, and, after extolling the partic-
ular treatment he had adopted, pronounced
his patient decidedly, and he believed per-
manently, improved.
The next day being Sunday, We all went
to church ; the father for the first time since
his bereavement. During walk which he
took with me after luncheon, he again np-
preached the subject of the sketches. and
after some seeming hesitation as to whether
he should contide in me or not, said Your
writing TO me by name, from the inn at
Lichfeld was one of those inexplicable cir
cumstances that | suppose it is impossible to
clear up. | knew you, however, directly |
saw you when those about me considered
that my intellect was dsOrdored. and that |
spoke incoherently, it was only because |
saw things that they did not. Since her DEATH |
know, with certainty that nothing will ever
disturb, that at different times have been
in the actual and visible presence of nv dear
daughter that is gone oitener. indeed, just
after her death than latterly. Ofthe many
times that this has occurred, distinctly re-
member once seeing her in railway car
riage, speaking To a person seated opposite
who that person was | could not ascertain,
as my position seemed to be Immediately
behind others, and amongst others, unques-
tionably, ! saw yourself ! afterwards
learned that at that time | was considered TO
be IN one of my longest and most violent
paroxysms, as | continued to see her speak
ing to you, i'll the midst OF large assembly.
for some hours. Again saw her, standing
by your side, while You were engaged in
either writing or drawing. | saw her once
afterwards, hut the next time | saw Yourself
was in the inn parlor.'
The picture was then proceeded with the
next day, and on the day after the face was
and | afterwards brought it
with me to London to finish
have often seen Mr.. L. since that period
his health is perfectly re-established and his
manner and conversation are as cheerful as
can be expected within few years OF so
great bereavement.
The portrait now hangs in his bedroom.
with the print and the two sketches 10y the
side. and written beneath is &C. l. l3the
le5S, aged -.