Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-03
lcation and News. of the Day.
NO. 30.
A Case of Somnambulency.


During the r 'yolutionary War. there was
gentleman of large property residing il
Brooklyn, Mass, who was addicted t. the
habit of walking in his sleep. Panic stricS-
en- at the invasion of The enemy he daily
expected that his dwelling would be ran
sacked and pillaged. Under the influence of
these fears. he rose one night and taking
box which when awake he never attempted
to life without assistance. he proceeded dosn
stairs, and furnishing hlmself with a lantera
and spade, and in deep woody glen, about
aquarter Of mile from his house, he bur
ried his treasure carefully replacing the sodS
so as 10 create NJ suspicion of their having
been removed This done, he returned. ua-
dressed, and went to he'd. Next morning
he was the first t. discover the absence of
the strong box. without having the slightest
remembrance of what hal passed Enragol
at his loss lac immediately accused his II
mestic If the robbery, as no traces sycrr. te?
ceptiblc either on the doors nor the lo-kS Of
his no iSc, that could induce him to sas1cct
strangers
Months passed away, and still the myste-
ry was not sol ed, an his family began to
want the nc"e<sarics Of life, without the
means of procuring them; at this periol of
public calami y, no money could be raised
on real estate, and il WAS at that season of
the year, when agricutl tlral labor had ceased
which let him no mea,s ofearning support
for his family TO augment his misery, his
only son lay conf ed by violent fever.
without any of those comforts which his sit.
uatiin deman led The mind of his despair
ing f,ther was strongly affected BY this mel
ancholy view of the future, his rest became
IN ire frelu ntiy broken, and he would often
wander fiom room t. room all night with
| hurried and unequal steps, as if pursued by
an enemy. His wife and daughter who were
accustomed 10 these nightly wanderings
never attempted to disturb him unless they
were fearful some accident might bcfail lin;
in this case it was necessary to use the most
violent means TO awaken him, upon which he
would exhibit so much fear and distress that
they usua ~ suffered him to recover gradu-
ally from his rance, which was always sue
ceeded by dro ysiness, after which he would
sink into light and natural sleep, which
wouli generally coainue fJr several hours
One night his daughter was watching at
the courch Of her 81 !, brother; she heard
her father descend the stairs with a Quick
step, AM Immediately following him, she
perceive he had d. essel himself and was
lighting lantern az the hearth After
lighting the lantern he unh0ted the door
AMI loo ed out; he then returned to the
kitchen, and taking the lantern and spade,
he left the house. Alarmed at this circuai-
stance, which was MT usual-although il
sonetim IS occurred. as above related, WITH
out the knowledge of the family she hastily
threw cloak and followed him - the
wool, trembling with apprehension of, she
knew not what, both for herself and her fl
Having gained the place where he hae
three months since buried the box, he Sc
down the lantern SD as to reflect strongly up
on the spot; he then re moved the sodS, and
N striking the ade against its iron cover, ht
! laughed wildly, and exclaimed, my treasure
! is safe, and We shall he happy And shout
I dering his heavy burden with the strength
of Hercules, he stopped not, as before, t,
replace the sods Of earth but snatched ut
4 his lantern and pursued his way directl,
$ home, 20 JOY of hlS daught.r who coalc
scarcely sup ort herself from the fears sh,
| had experienced which were that he wa
| about to dig grave, and either commit sui
j eide, or murder some Of his defrnccleSs fam
c lily. lnexpressibe, therefore, was her 10,
| on seeing him ascend the stairs, and plac
: the box in its former recess /; after which, a
e usual, he retired to rest Ills wife and daugll
S ter, however, were too anxious TO sleep them
y selves the one impatiently watching tn
e dawn ofday. and The other returned TO th
e apartment Of her suffering brother, to reiey
1t his mind by the joyous event, and her cons
l. quent hope of his recovery.
te When he arose in the morning his vii
g observed The same settled gloom on his cour
c, tenancc aS he anxi ,lsly enquircd about tn
u = health of his son, anil expressed his sOrroI
r at not Icing able TO procure those comfor
or fer his family which were so much nccde'
el Findins him perfectly unconscious Of ali III
Id had passed the preceding night she wateht
IN tie effect the restoration of the Lox Won
ne have upon his mind, and as she expected
i, with a<tonshment amounting almost
d, frenzy, he exclaimed, Who has done til
I'd From whence came this box
It Not till he had listened TO the evidence
x his dau yhtcr c,ul,l ne be convinced of {
he possibility of his performing such an a
" while asleep. Suifi;e it now to say, Tia
'e- heaith peace and competence Were on
as more restored to their dwell ing, and /
W result 0 those blessings had stlutary c
an feet upon his mind and although he s.
. Continued his midnight excursions. yet /
Of friends gratiii>d TO find them much L
ty. frequently than formerly, AMI his futu
a dreams also Ito JUL sc from his sppc iran
lr- seemed to partake of the mild, serene ch
acter Of his waking thoughts