Knocking

No, we never had dreams nor apprehensions, nor talks about snakes. At hill stations, where they may be seen, we have, of course, talked of them (glad to have any subject for talk !), but at the time of my dream we were living in a large house close to the sea, and where snakes were almost unknown. As to the seeming discrepancy in time, it can be removed in this way. / got into bed directly she left me, and in India, when in health, I generally went to sleep at once. She was given to sit up reading, and it was while undressing the panic began ; then followed the hunt, and we may feel sure that even after she got into bed sleep might not come all at once. M-j feeling when I awoke was as if it were the middle of the night, but it might really have been only an hour- or two. I never looked at the time. [We of course cannot assume that the coincidence was exact.] (409) From Mrs. Sibley, 6, Radipole Road, Fulham, S.W. January 26th, 1884. The following occurred about May, 1859. I believed my son to be away in the Mediterranean, and I had no reason to believe he would come home for a year or two, when one night I dreamt that I had a letter, and all that was written on it and inside it was ' Woolwich,' ' Woolwich,' ' Woolwich.' I awoke with the belief that I must be going to hear from him ; it was then about 6.30. I could not sleep any more, and when I heard the postman's knock at the door, I sent immediately for the letters. Only one was brought to me, and that had for its postmark ' Woolwich VOL. II. 2 c 386 SUPPLEMENT. [chap. Dockyard,' and it was from my son, telling me of the safe arrival, the night before, of the ship he was on. My son was in the navy, and I am perfectly certain that the idea of his speedy return had never crossed my mind ; for aught I knew he might be several years away. This dream is unique in my experience, in the strength of the conviction it produced that it must correspond with reality. I mentioned this dream immediately on waking to a daughter (since deceased), who was sleeping with me. u Katherine Sibley. The following corroboration is from the wife of the present writer, a younger daughter of Mrs. Sibley's : — 26, Montpelier Square, S.W. Jan. 26, 1884. I remember the news of this incident spreading through the house before breakfast, and our rushing to my mother's room— when we were shown the letter, and told the dream.