The Widow's Return from the Spirit World

“A widow, who had an only son, was very anxious about his spiritual welfare. He was an unbeliever, and she felt that if she could only convince him of the reality of a future life, she would be content. She made a covenant with him that if she died first, she would return and manifest herself to him, so that he might know there was a life beyond the grave. She died, and the son, though he had not much faith in the promise, yet watched for her return. He would often go to the place where she was buried, and call out to her, asking her to fulfill her promise. One day, while walking along the road, he saw a woman coming towards him. As she drew near, he recognized his mother. She looked as natural as in life. He was not frightened, but said, 'Well, mother, you have come back as you promised.' 'Yes, my son,' she replied, 'but if you had known what trouble it has made me to get here, you would not have called me to come as you did.' She then told him that she had been permitted to come to satisfy his mind, and to assure him that there was a life beyond the grave, but that it was a difficult thing for a spirit to return to this sphere. She then vanished from his sight.”

— The Young Woman's Journal, vol. 6 no. 4