Screaming or howling

January, 1884. About 25 years ago, David Fitzgerald, Land Agent, of Limerick (my grandfather), at that time between 65 and 70 years of age, was residing at Richmond, his private dwelling, about half-a-mile outside the city. The other occupants of the house were his second wife, Sarah Fitzgerald, and his step daughter, Mary Hunt.^ He had, besides, many sons and 1 Since married to a Mr. French, R.M. ; but we learn from Mr. McKern that she was away at school at the time. 458 SUPPLEMENT. [chap. daughters, the youngest of the former having gone to Australia. One night (hour not known to narrator) he was awakened from sleep by the howling in front of the house of a favourite dog — spaniel or retriever — of the absent son, Frederick. (Note, in Ireland, the howling of a dog is looked upon as a sure sign of death in the immediate locality.) He awoke his sleeping partner, and said, ' I am sure there is something wrong with Freddy ; do you not hear the way the dog is howling ? ' She endeavoured to soothe the old man, and went to sleep again, when she was again awoke by him in a sudden, not to say violent, manner. He was in a highly excited state, exclaiming, ' I saw Freddy ! I saw Freddy ! He stood at the bottom of the bed, with the curtains drawn aside, and looked at me.' The next morning a note was made of the occurrence, and the following mail from Australia brought news of the lad's death, which the narrator believes to have corresponded with the father's vision.