Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-14
Tidings From the Grave.

The curious event which am about to
relate happened some years ago. the story
having been told to a well-knOwn physi
clan, noted for the remarkable interest he
took in the subject of ghosts, appartions,
illusions. and so forth. by a very intimate
friend, in whom he had every reason
to repose the utmost confidence.
This gentleman informed the doctor that
his brother Alfred, clergyman. was re-
siding at the time of the following appari-
tional impression or visitation-illusion it
could not have been-on his living in
ireland; that there was an old aunt of
theirs, also in Ireland, but residing some
distance off. who was much looked up to
and respected by her relatives that his
brother had been long DESTROYS to consult
her on some important family matters that
were greatly occupying his mind; but
that, though he knew she was greatly all
ing, he was unable. from pressure OF
parochial work, to go to her.
One night, he continued, Alfred and his
his wife had retired to rest, their
room opening into the drawing room.
They had scarcely yet fallen into the in
cipient dreamness of sumi-slumber. when
they were aroused by hearing voice in
the adjoining apartment
Good heavens ~ said Mrs. Alfred to
her husband; it is the voice of your
aunt"
The clergyman at once recognized that
it was So Both he and his wife OF course,
imagined that the old lady had burst upon
them with a sudden visit, and perhaps on
an accession of great emergency. But the
voice said:
Don't be afraid, but get up, Alfred,
and come to me. don't want your wife
and will not have her leave her bed on
any account.
Mrs. Alfred would have demonstrated,
and would have got up, but the voice was
imperative and as she knew that the old
lady had strong will of her own, and
would not be trified with, she remained
where she was, while her husband, hasti-
lv throwing on some clothes and his
dressing gown. proceeded with the light
which lie had struck into the next room,
leaving, however, the door between it and
the bedroom partly open. In the draw
ing-room he found his aunt. attired as
usual with her plain, old-fashioned neat
ness, seated on the sofa. She did not rise
on his entrance, but waving away, AS it
were, all ceremonials of greeting, signed
did so, and the old lady then entered into
long conversation, every word of which,
as uttered by either of the two, being dis
tinctly heard by the wife as she lay in bed
in the adjoining room.
The old lady had been something of a
sceptic on certain points connected with
religion. These she first discussed, pro-
Tossing a more assured belief than former
". After that she entered at length upon
family matters, and gave Alfred all the
advice and information he required on the
matters which were then disturbing his
mind. The information of was the greatest
value-was such as no one but the old
lady could have supplied-and subsequent
quently it proved of material advantage
to his interests. When all this had come
to an end the aunt rose from the sofa, and
repelling, by a significant gesture. any
hand shaking or nearer approach, seemed
to melt out of the room, in a way so unlike
any ordinary departure. that, for the first
time. Alfred was reused out of a state of
strange bewilderment into feeling OF
absolute dread He, however, hurried
ditcI his aunt. WDtiu HS ouppostu ~ VIC
descending the stairs. No aunt was
there. The servants were then reused,
and the house was searched with the same
negative result. That the aunt had not
been there in body was proved by the
intelligence received day or two after.
wards, of her having been lying in bed
dying-observe not dead-at the time
Alfred and his wife had supposed they
were receiving indubitable tokens of her
presence.
This story, not only as regards the i'm.
preston on the senses, but on the senses
of two persons apart from each other,
coming from an unimpeachable source,
the physician always considered of the
highest interest.
There is, moreover. reason to suspect
that even non moribund brain, in partic-
ular emotive states, can produce appari.
tional impressions on another or others.
The following remarkable circumstance.
tending to this. was related by another
medical gentleman of repute. A gentle
man and his wife, being in bed. had stimuli
taneously the impression of female
being in the room, whom the husband
alone recognized, for the wife had never
seen her-as lady to whom he had
formerly been engaged to be married 1t
turned out afterwards that this spectral
impression had been produced on the
night of the marriage of the lady with
another person.