A MOTHER'S HALLUCINATION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 70, 20 March 1877, Page 3

A MOTHER'S HALLUCINATION.

There dwells in 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 seven-

teen years old, and the idol of the 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 sets a vacant chair at the table and . carefully fills the unused plate, and, spring and fall, buys the newest thing for "Addie," gives away the last years garments, " Addie" having done with them. There is no appearance of mental gloom or disorder about her, she carried this vagary into every act of her life. Riding out, 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 dead "Addie" sits and views the performance. She is cheerful and happy, and asked a friend of mine the other day for the pattern of a wrapper, saying " Addie" keeps her room so much it would be serviceable, and several days later I saw the mother busily braiding a cashmere sack for" Addie." She will speak with all rationality for hours on all subjects, but suddenly excuses herself, saying she must go to " Addie" for a few moments Sitting beside the empty bed (to which her daughter was confined for two years before her death), she clasps an unseen hand and talks for hours together with her phantom child. It is a strange case, but by no means a sad one since the tender ministration to this viewless " Addie" makes the mother's heart rejoice. To all intents and purposes the daughter seems to her to be with her constantly. Her husband contemplates taking her abroad, and the lady is already packing up "Adclie's " things.— New York letter.