The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08
A BELOVED MOTHERS GHOST
1T APPEARED WILDLY TWELVE
TINES TO A BORROWING son.
other Experiences Showing That the
Specters Are Conjured Up by
Intense Mental Processes.

ghosts for. while there may be ghosts.
one may see ghosts-may see them and
talk 10 them, and pet and love them-I
have done il myself.
Ten years ago my mother died. We had
loved each other dearly-friends called us
the inseparables" So fond of me was
she that when I went 70 college she broke
Up her home to follow me 10 the big city,
keep house for me, care for me. and assist
me in my studies, for this was a wise and
ambitious mother.
All her evenings were devoted to literary
work. She burned the midnight oil TO
help pay for my education. When through
she usually crept in where 1 was sleeping
TO see whether everything was right. the
window open. but not too far, the little
wax-light afame in the glass where
small quantity of oil foated on a larger
bit OF water.
And after arranging my linen and my
clothes for the morning. she used TO sit
down by the bed and listen TO my breath
ing. Often when l awoke. saw her eyes
rest on my face with tender care.
OF course when l grew 10 mans estate
professional duties put stop TO the ldyI.
Drawing away from childhood habits,
these customs were gradually shelved and
in the end almost forgotten.
But when mother was dead all came back
10 me- her kindly attentions. her acts of
self-sacrifce, her enduring love The fu-
neral OF the dear one put me 10 heavy
mental and physical strain and when, late
in the night, I went to bed ] was thorough
y exhausted and cried with grief and ner-
vousness AS l got into bed. / thought
over and over again: Poor boy that 1
an, mother TO love and care for me-
no one 10 pet me as I lay myself down to
sleep"
1 Go not think l remained awake for any
length Of time. I dreamed that once more
was student in that big strange Univer-
sity town. and that mother was walking
with me in the neighboring forest of which
we knew every nook and corner. The
mother Of those bygone days was young
and pretty and healthy and so was the CEN
trail figure Of my dream Al how glad
was / had found her acei1. Snc talked as
usual. and gave much bJJd advice as
mothers wont 10 do. We enjoyed each
others company for many hours; it may
have been only for the infnitesimal part of
second according to dream laws. but 1
thought IL an eternity of joy
A SUDDEN AWAKENING.
But suddenly I was overcome by the
recollection that mother was dead. 1 looked
up to her and before knew what 1 V IS
doing. said: Il thought 1 buried you this
afternoon; was that dream or is this?''
AS I pronounced the words her face fell.
the smile playing around her lips vanished.
her whole aspect changed. She looked
twenty years older and her face was now
deadly pale.
Seeing this I awoke with a start If my
could not have been more awake than 1
was. And there, before me- in the mild
light OF the waxen taper. sat mother at the
foot OF the bed. as she was wont to do in
days gone by. And as OF DID, those mild.
big. dreamy eyes rested on me with tender
attention
There was no delusion. I am positive of
that. l was as completely awake as one
can be. Get the specter did not brighten me
in the least On the contrary. 1 liked its
presence and responded TO its tender gaze
with eyes full of joyous tears
The dead" argued my mind trained in
science. the dead don't rise but loving re-
membrance often recalls them to their
former sphere"
Ny mothers ghost. still clothed in the
carb she wore in life. appeared to me
twelve times. all told
After her first visit. waited several
months in vain, awakening at certain
hours in the night 10 look for the dear
woman At the end OF the third month
she came again. repeating her visits. there
after. in longer or shorter intervals.
Two years after her death I saw my
mother for the last time AS on all for
mer occasions. IL was night. I was speed
ing towards the Italian frontier in a pri-
vate railway carriage. l had the carriage
All TO myself. for. being unable to sleer
on the train, l never make use of the
sleeping car. and. instead. bride the con
ductor 10 give me whole carriage TO my
self
I had stretched out on one OF the up
holstered benches at full length, weighing
in mind some scientific problem while my
eyes were closed. When, after half ar
hour or so. ! opened them suddenly.
noticed my mother seated at my feet. The
upper part OF her body was bent towards
me. her eyes sought mine. her attitude
was that of the listener
THE MOTHER APPEARED.
I could distinguish every feature fol
the light at the ceiling shone with unu-
sual brightness. the train having only just
started. I didn't move but after gazing
upon the beloved figure for some time
closed my eyes again. thinking OF her and
OF the many pleasant years we had spent
together. To make sure that l was fully
awake. though. I pressed the button OF
my repeating watch. $3.50. After a while
consulted the watch again; lis, and the
spectre still there. immovable mild. life
like
Three-quarters OF hour later by the
clock / opened my eyes for a third time
and there was mother as l had seen heI
before. IN dream and life. But as 1 was
going 10 make certain and arise. the spec
ire faded away never TO return. My fan
tasy was never strong enough thereafter e
conjure up the dear woman.
Many who read this will undoubtedly
say: He dreamed with his eyes open"