The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-12-04
somnambulism and Prophetic Dreaming.

lady having been interested in the Pc
rus,l of an article on somnambulism, publish
cd in the chronological Journal some time
since. communicates the following interesting
fact. as among the particulars of her own
psychological experience. After speaking Of
acour,e of unwitting psychological infrac-
tons and vctmzation, by which she lost her
health and became a confirmed dyspeptic, she
proceeds thus:
1T was at this period. when the enfeebed
orrans rejected the most simple nourishment,
and the morbid appetite was more ciamor-
ous than when in health, that became quite
noted for sleep-walking. | would get up at
night, 90 softly into the pantry, and help my
rlf plcntifully to all the good things | could
find The momeut | awokc in the morning,
commenced vomiting. and threw up many
things that knew posifirt'yI had never swal-
lowed. of course had no knowledge of
what uiu IN NY Siccp.
This was a constant practice for some
weeks. Ny friends became greatly alarmed.
They thought was playing off the srossest
deception. What else could they think .
In vain they threatened and entreated Vain
were all my protcstations of innocence. The
proof of my guilt was before US; and vet, in
the sincerity ofmy soul, l could say, In this
thing am innocent
One night. after several week, of pa;~c,,
anxiety, my father, as he lay awake, heard a
slight noise upon the stairs. Getting up to
see what it might be, he saw me in my night
dress stealing along toward the pantry. He
saw a glance that was utterly unconscious
OF what was doing. He did not wake me.
however but waited to see what would do.
entered the closet and made hearty meal.
and he said he never in his life saw a person
cat when it seemed to do them so much good.
iIr said he was very much amused to see
how much art | used to remove all evidence
Of nv nights work and so effectualy did |
do tins, that no one ever suspected it till
was caught in the act. Next morn | awoke
as usual, too sick to raise nv head from the
pillow; and O,hOw thankful was |, when nv
father entered the room with smile. saving
he could explain the mystery
For many years after this, on retiring at
night, had strong cord fastened around
m',and secured to the bed post in such way
that could not remove it myself. How ma
ny times awoke and found myself tugging
away with might and main to break the re-
siralnlns cord If this was omitted. was
sure to get up and do some kind of mischief.
AT one time | broke all the teeth from val
naOIe hair comb; another time l prepared
breakfast, made the coffee, and after arrang-
ins everything more properly than l could
HaSN done 1t when was awake, called the
l"my' and wept because they did not come.
Inns was the last of my sleep-walking. From
WIS 'lihc was not permitted to sleep in a
room alone
but now comes the strangest part of my
s"F!' From that period up to the present
''Ac' l nave very often seen in my sleep
''A"''roon' that after few weeks or days
''"SP'red IN exact accordance with my
.,eanh Atone time dreamed that horri-
,'e disease had Frustrated one of our neigh
a lady that was then in good health.
q" IN my sleep the doctors horse stand at
VIZ gale saw the lady die, and heard my SIS
~, ~, express their fears of taking the disease
"ey went in to dress the CORPSE. But l
"''sn' they did 90, and that one of them
"' Tue disease; | saw har in dark room
'"' whole person covered with a loatbsome
'''on l saw her get better, 60 to the door
' ''he cold Then came relapse, but in a
"''"nat different form. Then one and an
"' o' our family came down with the
'''' terrible disease, until we were all sick
8. "er The neighbors stood aloof for fear
"e 'on'as'on; and we we're left almost A.
'ne IN our affliction.
'ucA was the dream; l related it in the
-''SS' but thought no more of it. Two
- passed by, and the same lady was tax
,,d.' win measles in its most malignant
;.,, 'yn'as'ous form. The neighbors all fled
t.. ",y T, house in terror, except my two sis
:, Inc lady died, and then heard arain
,,,1n 1ue remarks about dressing the corpse
aa ,; u'''d IN my sleep. spoke of it at
d,1. s "s strange coincidence, and one
e,n~ 's'a she wondered if the rest would
IT. ''pe also. Suffice 1t to say, it did, even
=, !. -''s' tFltllng particular. NY sister took
and was very sick. Recovering.