The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-07-11
Anecdote Of q Sleep Walker.

Anecdote of a Sleep Walker.
During the Revolutionary War there was
gentleman Of large property residing in
Brooklyn who was addicted to the habit Of
walking in his sleep. Panic-srnck a, the
invasion of the enemy, he daily expected
thu, his dwelling would be ransackel and
pillaged. Under the influence OF these
fears, he rose one night, and taking strong
box, which awake he never attempted TO
liz without assistance, he proceeded down
stairs, furnished himself with lantern and
spade. and in deep wooded glen abou,
quarter OF a mile from his house he buried
his treasure, carefully replacing The sods, so
as 10 create no suspicion of their having been
removed. THIS done, he returned, undrcss.
ell, went 10 bed. Next morning no was first
TO discover the loss Of the strong box, with
out having The slGhies. remembrance Of
wha, had passed. Enraged at his loss he
immediately accused his domes.ics Of rob.
berry, as no traces Of violence were percep,-
/ lille on either the locks or doors Of the house
that could induce him to suspect strangers.
Month after month elapsed, and still the
mystery was not solved, and his family be
gan to want the necessares Of life, without
having the means of procuring them.
AZ tina, period Of public calamity, no mon
cy could be raised on real estate, and i was
a. that season Of the year when ngricultur-
al labor had ceased, which left him no
means OF earning support for his family
To augment his misery, his only son lay
confined by violen, fever, withou, any one
Of those comforts which his situation de.
mauded. The despairing father was strong
" affected by his melancholy view of the
future; his rest became more frequently
broken, aud he would often wander from
room to room all night with hurried and un-
equal steps, a. il pursued By an enemy,-
His wife aud daughter, who were accus-
toned 10 these nightly wauderings, never
attempted 10 disturb him unless they were
fearful some accident would befall him; in
this case !; was necessary to employ The
most violent means 10 awaken him, upon
which no would exhibit 50 much fear aud
distress that they usually suffered him to
recover from the trance. which was succeed
ed by drowsiness, after which he would
sink into light and natural sleep, which
generally continued for several hours.
One night as his daughter was watching
at the couch OF her sick brother, she heard
her father descend 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
no unbol,ed the door and looked out; he
then returned to the kitchen, and taking
the lantern and the spade, hc left the house,
Alarmed q, the circumstance-which was
not usual, though il sometimes occurred, as
above related, without the knowledge oil his
family-shc hastily threw on cloak aud
followed him 10 the wood, trembling with
apprehension of what she knew not, both
for herself and her father.
Having gained the place where he had
three months since buried Tho box, he sat
down In, lantern so as to reflect strongly
upon the spot; he then removed the sods,
and striking the spade against lis iron cover,
he laughed wildly and exclaimed: "My
treasure is sale, and wo shall be happy."-
And shouldelinc his heavy burden with the
strength Of Hercules, he stopped not, as
before, TO replace the sods Of tho earth, but
snatchibg up his lantern pnrsued his way
direeily home, to the great joy OF his daush-
ter, who could scarcely supper, herself from
the fears she had experienced, which were
that no was abou: to dig his own grave aud
comrni, suicide, or murder SONS Of his de.
fsnceless family. IneSprcssible, therefore,
was her JOY on seeing him ascend tho stairs
and place the box in its former recess at
ter which as usual, he retired to rest. His
wife and daughter, however, were TOO aax.
ious TO sleep themselves; the one sa, i'm
patiently watching tho dawn of day, and
The other returned 10 the apartment Of her
suffering brother, to relieve his mind by The
Joy fol event and her cOnseqdea, hopc Of
hi, speedy recovery. .-
When the gentleman arose in The morn
ins, his wife observed tie gloom upon his
counienancc as he asked about the health |
Of his sou. and expressed bis sorrow at not
being able TO procure those comfort, for his
family which were so much needed Find
ing him perfectly unconscious OF all 'ha
had passed the preceding night, she watch /
ed the effect which the test ration Of the
box would have upon his mind; a9d as she
expected, with un aslonishmen' amounting
almost 10 i,enzy, he cxcla'med.-"Who has
done ihi, whence came the boxp' \
30, until he had listened 10 his deaush
Ter could he be convinced OF the possibility
o, nj, performing such an act while asleep
Suffice Il to say, thai now health, peace and
were once moro restored to bis
dwelling, and the result Of this blessing had
, salu,ary sfsc, upoa his mind; and al
bou,h he still continued his mid,ighi ex-
va. nj. friends were gratihed 10