Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-05-16
Anecdote Of a Sleep-Wa lker.


During the Revolutionary War, there
was gentleman of large property resid-
ing in Brooklyn, who was addicted to
walking in his sleep. Panic-struck at the
invasion of the enemy, he daily expected
that his dwelling would be ransacked and
pillaged. Under the influence of those
fears, he arose one night, and taking a.
strong box which he never attempted to
lift without assistance, he proceeded down
stairs, furnished himself with lantern
and spade, and in a deep wooded glen
about quarter of mile from his house,
ne buried his treasure, carefully replacing
the sods so as to create no suspicion of
their having been removed. This done,
he returned, undressed, and went to bed.
Next morning he was the first to discover
the absence of his strong box, without
having the slightest remembrance of what
had passed. Enraged at its loss, he imme-
diately accused the domestics of the rob
berry, as no traces of violence were per-
ceptible either on the locks or doors of
his house, that could induce him to sus-
pect strangers. Month after month elaps-
ed, and still the mystery was not solved,
and his family began to want the neces
saries of life without the means Of procu-
ring them.
At that period of public calamity no
money could be raised on real estate, and
|it was the season of the year when agri-
culture had ceased, which left him no
means of support for his family. To aug
ment his misery, his only son lay confined
by a violent fever, without any of those
comforts of life which his situation de-
manded. The mind of the despairine
father was strongly affected by this mel.
ancholy view Of the future; his rest be-
came more frequently broken, and he
would wander from room to room
all night with hurried steps, as if pursued
by an enemy. His wife and daughter
who were accustomed to these nightly
wanderings, never attempted to disturb
him unless they were fearful some acct
dent might befall him. In this case it was
necessary to employ violent means te
awaken him; upon which he would exhi
bit so much fear and distress, that they
usually suffered him to gradually recover
from tile trance, which was succeeded by
drowSiness, after which he would sink
into a light anG natural sleep, which gen
orally continued for several hours.
One night, as his daughter was watch
ing at the couch Of her sick brother, she
heard her father descend the stairs with
quick step, and Immediately followed
him to the woods, trembling with appre
tensions of she knew not what, both fol-
herself and 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 the spot; he then removed the sods
and striking the spade against its iron
cover, he laughed wildly, and exclaimed
" My treasure is safe, and we shall be
happy" And shouldering his heavy burth
en- with the strength of Hercules he stop
ped not as before to replace the sods Of
earth, but snatching up his lantern, pur-
sued his way directly home, to the joy Of
his daughter, who could hardly support
herself from the fears she experienced
wfiivh worv, thet he ssbvus "a 8 iris
own grave, and either commit suicide, or
murder some of his defenceless family
Inexpressible, therefore, was her joy, on
seeing him ascend the stairs and place the
box in its former recess, after which, as
usual, he retired to rest. His wife and
daughter, however, were too anxious to
sleep themselves; the one sat impatiently
watching the dawn of day, the other re
tired to the apartment of her suffering
brother, to relieve his mind by the joyful
event, and the hope OF his immediate re
covery.
When the gentleman rose in the morn
ing, his wife observed the same gloom
upon his .countenance, as he anxiously in
quired about the health Of his son, and
expressed his sorrow at not being able to
procure the comforts of life for his family
which were SO much needed Finding
him totally unconscious Of all that had
passed the preceding night she watched
the effect which the discovery of the box
would have upon his mind and as she ex-
pected, with an astonishment amounting
almost to frenzy, he exclaimed, Who has
done this From whence came this box p
Not until after he had listened to the evil
dence of his daughter could he be con-
WINGED of the possibility of his performing
such an act while asleep.
Suffice it to say, that now health, peace,
and competence were once more restored
to his dwelling, and the result of this bless
ing had salutary effect upon his mind;
and although he still continued his mid
night excursions, yet his friends were
gratiGed to find them less frequent than
formerly, and his future dreams, also, to
judge from his appearance, seemed to par
take Of the mid and serene character OF
his waking thoughts.
A STREET INCIDENT.