The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-12-09
Anecdote OF u sleep Walker.

assistance, he proceeded down stairs, fur
nished himself with a lantern and spade,
and in deep wooden glen about quarter
of mile from his house, he buried his trea.
sure, carefully replacing the sods, so as to
create no suspicion of their having been re-
moved, This done, he returned, undressed,
| and went 10 bed, Next morning he was the
first 10 discover the absence of the strong
box, without having the slightest romem-
brance of what had passed, Enraged Mt
his loss, he Immediately accused his do.
mestics of robbery, us no traces of violence
wero pcrceptible on either tho locks or
doors of his house, that could induce him
TO suspect strangers. Month after month
elapsed, audstill,ho mystery was not solved
and his family began to want the necessa
ries of life, without having the means of
procuring them. At that period of public
calamity, no money could be raised on real
estate, and i, was at that season of tho year
when agricultural labor had ceased, which
lott him no means of earning support for
his family. TO augment his misery, his
only son lay confined by violent fever,
without any one of those comforts which
his situation demanded. The dispairing
father was strongly affected by this mclan-
choly view of the future his rest became
more frequently and he would often
wander from room 10 room all night, with
hurried and unequal steps as if pursued by
an enemy, His wife and daughter, who
were accustomed TO these nightly wander.
ings, never attempted 10 disturb him, unless
they were fearful some accident would be-
fall him; i'll this case il was necessary 10
employ tho most violent means 10 awaken
him, upon which he would exhibit so much
fear and distress, that they usually suffered
him 10 recover from the trance, which was
succeeded by drowsincss, after which he
would sink into light and natural sleep,
which generally continued for several
hours.
One night as his daughter was watching
nj the couch of her sick brother, sho heard
her father descend tho stairs with quick
step, and Immediately followed him. She
perceived he had dressed himself, and light
ing Il lantern at the hearth, after which he
unbolted the door and looked out; he then
returned TO the kitched, and taking the Ian
tern and spade, he left the house. Alarm
cd ut the circumstance-which was, not
usual, though i, occurred, as above related,
without the knowledge of his iamily-she
hastily threw on cloak and followed him
to the woods, trembling with apprehension
of she knew not what, both for herself and
her father.
Having gained the place where he had
three months since buried tho box, he set
down the lantern so as TO reflect str rgly
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 shoulderng his heavy burden with the
strength of Hercules, he stopped not, as
before, 10 replace the sods of the earth, but
sna,ching 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 to dig his own grave and com.
nit suicide, or murder some of his defence.
less family. lneXpressible, 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 impatienty
watching the dawn of day, and the other
returned 10 the apartment of the suffering
brother, to relieve his mind by the joyful
event, andI her consequent hope of his
speedy recovery.
When the gentleman arose in the morn
ing, his wife observed the gloom upon his
countenance as he asked about the health
of his son, and expressed his sorrow at not
being able to procure those comforts Tor his
family which were so much needed. Find
ing him perfectly unconscious of all that
had passed the preceding night, she watch
ed the effect which the restoration OF the
box would have upon his mind; and as she
expected, with an astonishment almost
amounting TO frenzy, he exclaimed: "Who
has done this s?-whence came the boxW
Not until he had listened TO his daughter
could he be convinced of the possibility of
his performing such an act while asleep
Suffice it to say, that now health, peace and
were once more restored TO his
dwelling, and the result of his blessing had
a salutary effect upon his mind; and al
though he still continued his midnight ex-
cursions, yet his friends were gratified to
find them less frequent than formerly, and
his future dreams also, TO Judge by appear
ances, seemed to partake of the mild serene
character OF his waking thoughts
-$S<~>----
New MoDE OF STOPPING A HoRsE.--A lew |
days since, fiery young horse, attached to
a light carriage in which two young men
were seated, took fright at the noise OF
locomotive, at the railroad depot in Lancas-