Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1829-02-27
"A w u S i M G..
From the Crystal,

TTOm HN CFV5Lut.
During the Revolutionary war, there was gen
teman Of large property residing in Brookln, vino
was addicted to the habit of walking in his sleep
panic struck at the invasion of the enemy, he daily
expected that his dwelling would be ransacked and
plliaged. Under the influence of these fears, he
rose one night, and taking strong box, which
when awake he never attempted to lift without as
sistance-he proceeded down stairs, furnished him
self with a lantern and spade, and in deep woody
glen about quarter ct nile from his house he
buried his treasure carefully replacing the sods
as to create no suspicion of their having been
led-1his done, he returned, undressed and went
70 bed--Next morning. he was the first to dlscov-
er the absence of the "strong box" without having
the slightest remembrance of what had passed.
Enraged at his loss, he Immediately accused his do
mestics of the robbery, as no traces Of violence
perceptble on the locks, or doors Of his house,
that could induce him to suspect strangers. Mnnh
after month elapsed, and still the mystery was not
solved and his family began to want the necessaries
of life, without the means of procuring them at
that period of public calamity no money could be
raised on real estate, and it at that season of
the year, when agricultural labors had ceased,
which left him means of earning support for his
family. TO augment his misery, his only son lay
confined by violent fever, without any of these
comforts which his situation demanded.
The mind of the despairny fa,ner was strongly
dl1eCteu by tllS UtiauCnOy view Ol Tue IutuTe, MS
rest became more frequently broken, and he would
often wander from room to room all night with hur-
! ried and unequal steps, as fpursued by an enemy.
| His wife and daughter who were accustomed TO
these nightly wanderlnGs, never attempted to dis
turb him, unless they fearful some accident
| might befal him in this it was necessary to
employ the most violent means to awake him, up.
on which he would exhibit much fear and distress,
that they usually suffered him to recover gradually
| e.. l. xuh, I,I
drowsness, after which he would sink into a light
ant, natural Sleep which generally continued for Sc
yeral hours.
One night as his daughter was watching at the
couch of her sick brother, she heard her father de.
scend the stairs with quick step, and Immediately
followed him; she perceived he had dressed HIMSELF
and was lighting a lantern at the hearth, after
which he unbolted the door, and looked out he
then returned to the Kitchen & taking the lantern &
which was not usual. Though it sometimes occurred
as above related without the knowledge of his fam
y) she hastily threw ON cloak and followed him
to the wood. trembling with apprebensions Of she
knew not what both for herself and for her father
Having gained the place where he had three
months since buried the box, he set down the lantern
so as to reflect strongly upon that spot he then re-
moved the sod, and striking his spade against its
iron cover, he laughed wildly, and exclaimed, my
treasure is safe and we shall be happy and shoul-
dering his heavy bur'hen with the strength of a
Hercules, he stopped not as before to replace the
sotls of earth but snatchng up his lantern, pursued
his way directly home to the joy Of his daughter
who could scarcely support herself from the fears
she had experienced, which were, that he was about