An account

(1) The vision in a general way resembled James, especially as to size. The features were not clearly defined, but more like a magic-lantern view not properly focussed. (2) I knew that he was ill, but not that he was likely to die. (3) I was attached to him, but I cannot say I was particularly anxious about him. As far as I remember, I went to the house every evening, as his father and mother kept the coffee-room of which I had the superintendence ; so my mind was occupied with his condition ; but he was not in my thoughts before I saw the luminous figure. (4) I did mention it to our minister, the Rev. A. Macdougall, but I cannot say whether it [i.e., the mention] was at the time or near the time — certainly not on the same evening. The fact is, I was rather afraid of being laughed at. I only wish I had been more careful in recording the facts. I shall 1 As regards the movement, compare cases 203, 204, 512 ; as regards the luminosity, see Vol. i., pp. 550-1. 510 SUPPLEMENT. [chap. never forget the shock I received on entering my evening school half-anhour afterwards, and learning from the caretaker that James had died about half-an-hour before. Mr. Chamberlain mentions that he has had one other visual hallucination in his life ; but this was much less distinct, and occurred at a time when he was unstrung by constant nursing and watching. [Here the coincidence seems to have been very exact ; but we cannot with certainty exclude the supposition that the hallucination was due to the observer's anxiety as to his pupil's condition.] (551) From the Rev. C. C. Wambey, now of Paragon, Wilton Road, Salisbury, the narrator of case 129. April, 1884. My father, who was an Indian officer, retired from the service at an early age, owing to partial loss of sight, which eventuated in total blindness. He was somewhat eccentric. Among other things, he was in the habit of frequently sitting up all night, retiring to bed when the servants came down in the morning. We, that is my father, mother, and their six children, were living at Crossway Green, in the parish of H., 12 miles from the city of W. One morning, — how well I remember it ! I was but a young child then, — a neighbouring farmer called at our house, and requested to see Mrs. W. immediately. He was shown into the drawing-room and, when my mother joined him, he mysteriously closed the door, and in an excited manner asked if it were all well with the ' Captain.' My mother replied that he was quite well when her eldest son, who had been reading the newspaper to him in his room, left him about half-an-hour ago. The farmer shook his head incredulously, and took his departure. Shortly after this, one of the servants having been guilty of misconduct, my mother, taking me with her, went to my father's room to acquaint him with the matter. As soon as she had opened the door, she started back in horror, saying to me, ' My , here is your father.' Stretched on the floor, his head against the bedstead, there he lay, dead ! He was evidently in the act of preparing to dress (for a stocking was firmly grasped in his hand), when he was seized with a fit of apoplexy, death apparently having been instantaneous. After the funeral, the farmer disclosed to my mother this startling event, which from motives of delicacy, he forbore to mention to her sooner : — On the morning of his visit, he and his carter were with a waggon and team of horses crossing the common. Suddenly my father, his hand pointing to our house, appeared in front of the horses (which commenced snorting and plunging furiously), and as suddenly disappeared. When the horses had been calmed, the farmer, leaving them in charge of the carter, hastened to our house, and, as already related, requested to see my mother instantly.