A MOTHER'S HALLUCINATION.

Thames Advertiser, Volume X, Issue 2625, 17 May 1877, Page 3

A MOTHER'S HALLUCINATION.

Thebe dwells iu New York city a lady who in all respects seems a sane and sensible woman. . She lost, five years ago, an only daughter of great promise, seventeen years old, and the idol of her mother. Since her child's death she has had the , room she used to occupy cleaned daily, and the untouched bed pulled to pieces and made over. She sits before a vacant chair at the table and carefully fills the unused plate, and, spring and fall, buys the newest things for "Addie," giving away the last year's garments," Addie" having done with them. There is no appearancß of mental gloom or disorder about her, yet she carries this vagary into every act of her life. Hiding put, no one ever sits beside her, as that seat is filled by the imaginary air-drawn daughter. When seats are taken at a theatre, her husband always gets three. You see the vacant chair between them, where she supposes the dead " Addie" sits and news the performance. She is cheerful and happy, and asked a friend of mine the other day for the pattern of a wrapper, saying " Addie" kept her room so much it would be serviceable, and several days later I saw' tho mother busily braiding a cashmere sack for " Addie." She.will speak with all rationality for hours on all subjects, but suddenly excuse herself saying she must s;0 to " tddi>" lor a tVw moments. Mtiing beside tho empty bed (to which her daughter was c nfineil two years before her Jealh), she clasps an unseen hand and talks hours together with her phantom child. lb is asi range case, but by no irn'ans a sad one, since her tender ministration to this vit-wless " Addie" makes the mother's heart rejoice. To all intents and purposes tho daughter seems to be with her constantly. ■ Her husband contemplates (ak-< ing her abroad, and the lady is already packing up "Addie's" fhing.-iVbio York Letter.