Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1833-11-28
1nr SPRINGFIELD sLEEP-WALKER.

Tar SPRINGFIELD SLEEP-WALKER.
Some few weeks since we observed an ar
ticIe going the rounds ofthe papers aIledging
some circumstances respecting fenaale SON.
nambuIist in Springfield, Mass. We did not
give publicity 10 it, thinking that it probably
would turn out to be mere hoax. But facts
have since come out which confrm the first
account, and present some things still more
strange. The Springfield Gazette of last week
gives the following particulars -
A few evenings since, she fell asleep in her
chair, aud soon went into paroxysm. White
in this state, she went about her usual con-
Germs. and as there happened TO he visitors at
The house in the course of the evening, when
directed she carried around TO them fruit and
refreshments, and when persons knocked at
fhe door, went as usual and conducted them
10 the parlor. About 10 O'clock she put on
her bonnet and shawl, and said it was Sunday,
and she was going to meeting: she went part
If the wav. and it was with much difficulty
that she was persuaded TO- return, and after a
while to repair to bed and compose herseIfto
slecp. She did not awake till IL O'clock the
next day.
She frequently Calls asleep when in the
midst of some employment (as she did shVt
time since when pairing apples;) and 1t is re-
markahle that ia such instances, although she
NAV have been in paroxysm during most of
the night and doing variety Of things, when
she awakes she not only does not remember
any thiog that has occurred, but her mind in
stantly reverts Ia what she was doing when
she fell asleep; and it seems to her, although
otherwise employed, as if she was dung the
same thing: and so strong is this impression,
that for a long time after she awakes, her
mind is constantly recurring to that employ
ment, and it requires a strenuous effort on her
part to accommodate her feelings and give
her attention to any other object or business.
This characteristic of the case shows, as we
have before stated, that it is some what anala-
gous to cases Of insanity, where there are ln-
cid intervals. During some Ofthe parOxysms.
she arpears very much like an insane person,
and then it is very difficult to control her,
At such times, she moves about quickly from
place to place, talks much aud IN facetious
manner, and is quite sly and artful in her Coz
duct.
A few nights ago, when under the influence
of a paroxysm, she arose and came down
from her chamber, and among other things
that she did, took a piece Of cloth and made
with her needle bag, for the purpose, as she
said, of boiling in it a squash for dinner; and
when she had finished it, searched about the
house To end one, but not succeeding, she put
a piece Of meat into it, and placed it in ves-
sci of water over the. FIRE. While sewing the
bag, her eyes were most of the time closed,
and she threaded her needle twice, once when
her ewes were entirely shut, aud o0ce in a
place where there was not sufficient light by
which she could have seen to thread it. This
fact appears mysterious, and indeed almost
Incredible, but Il is well attested, that there
can be no doubt Of its truth. Facts Of this
kind, we believe, are accounted for by physi-
ologists, on the superstition that there isa de-
termination Of blood to The head, stimulating
the brain, the organ of sensation, and in this
wav increasing ia high degree the acuteness
and decacy Of the senses.
Last Sunday night she got up, and while "a
sleep went through the whole process fget
ting dinner for the family. With her usual
nealness, she prepared the different vegeta-
bles and boiled them; then set the table.
placing the dishes Of food and other articles as
they should be placed, getting bowl OF milk
for one of the family who was in the habit OF
taking that food for her dinner. She then
got bowl of bread and milk for herself and
ate it, saying that she would do as 8. did, and
take that for her dinner that day. She then
VuL UP luc StuIIlSS III NHCH pOpCt P'uSSSA nAoe
the Ere and arranged the furniture, &c. just (
as she does before retiring for the night. and
then went to her chamber. After that. she
sang with a distinct and melodious voice. the
most Of Bruce's Address, I" Scots aohG ha' Nth
Wallace bled, &c. She has never been known
by any OF the family to sing before, and says
she does not know how to sing; but thinks
she probably heard this song when quite
young. as she remembers one or two lines of
the FIRST verse.
The phenomena presented by this case, we
should think, would be exceedingly interest
ing to the members Of the medical profession,
and indeed TO all who love 10 study the sci
ence of physiology or Of mind.
The Hampshire Gazette adds the annexed
particulars. There is something exceedingly
strange and unaccountable in this matter -
She is from Brattleboro'. is 10 years Of age,
well educated, modest and discreet, quite cor
pulent, and subject TO headache. She lives
in respectable family in Springfield, and her
extraordinary doings while asleep have at
tractcd many visitors from that and other
towns. Her performances last week were
more astonishing and unaccountable than any
preceding acts, and seem 10 Confound reason
and philosophy. On Tuesday morning. one
Of her parOxysms commenced while she was
getting wafer at the pump, and continued un.
I'll Friday morning, excepting two or three