The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-09-12
THE SLEEP WALKER

THE SLEEP WALKER.
During the Revolutionary War there
was gentleman Of large property resdina
in Brooklyn, who was addicted to the hab
it OF walking in his sleep Panic-struck
at the invasion Of the enemy. he daily ex-
pected that his dwelling would be ransack-
ed and pillased. Under the influence OF
=. these fears, he rose one night, and taking
strong box, which, awake. lie never at
tempted to lift without assistance, he rro-
ceeded down stairs, furnished himself with
lantern and spade, and in deep wooden
glen, about quarter Of mile from his
Eouse, he buried his treasure, carefully re-
placing the scds, 50 as to create no suspi-
clon OF their having been removed. This
done, he returned, undressed and went to
bed. Next morning lie was the first to
discover the loss ci the strong box, with
ont having the slightest remembrance Of
what had passed. Enraged at his loss. he
lmmedlate.y y accused his domcstics Of rob-
berry, as no traces Of violence were pegcep-
tible OH either the locks or doors Of his
house that would induce him to suspect
strangers. Month after month elapsed.
and still the mystery was not solved, and
his family began To want for the nccessa-
RES OF life, without having the means Of
procuring them.
At that period of public calamity, no
money could he raised on real estate. and
it was a season when agricultural labor
had ceased, which left him no means Of
support for his family. 10 augment his
misery, his only son lay confined BY yio-
lent fever, without any # those comforts
which lis situation demanded. The de-
spalring father was strongly affected by
this melancholy view OF the future; his
rest became more frequently broken, and
he would often wander from room to room
all night, with hurried steps, as I pursued
by all enemy. HIS wife and daughter, who
were accustomed to these nightly wander
ings, never attempted to distmrb him, un-
less they were fearful that some ac-
cldent would beiall him; in this case it
was necessary to employ the most violent
means to awaken him, upon which he ex
| hibited SO much fear and distress that
they usually suffered him to recover from
the trance, which was succeeded by a
drowsiness, after which he would sink in
to light and natural sleep, which gencr-
ally 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 a
quick step, and Immediately followed him.
She perceived he was dressed, aud was
lighting lantern at the hearth, after
which he unboltcd the door and looked
out; after doing this he returned TO the
kitchen, and taking the lantern and spade,
left the house. Alarmed at the circum-
stancc-which was not usual. though it I
sometimes occurred as before related, !
without the knowledge of his friends or
famlly-she hastily threw on cloak, and
followed him to the wood, trembling with /
apprehension of she knew not what. for
both herself and her father.
Having gained the place where he Lad,
but three months since, deposited the box.
he set down the lantern so as to reflect I
strongly upon the spot; he then removed |
the sods, and striking the spade against
the iron cover Of the box, he laughed Wild
ly and exclaimed: My treasure is safe,
and We shall be happy and shoullcring
his heavy burden, with the strength Of a
Hercules, he stopped not, as before, to re-
place the sods or the earth, but snatchlng
up his EASTERN, pursued his way directly
home, to the great joy Of his daughter, who
could scarce contain herself from The fears
she had experienced that he was about to
dig his own grave. and commit suicide, or
murder some OF his deicnccless family
lnexpressible, therefore, was her joy on
seeing him ascend the stairs, aud 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, and the Other
returned to the apartment of her suffering
brother, to relieve his mind by telling of ,
the joyful event, and the hope of his speedy {
recovery.
When he rose in the morning his wife ,
observed the gloom on his countenance, as
he asked about the health of his son. and
expressed his sorrow at not being able to {
provide those comforts for his family which {
were SO much needed. Finding him per {
ectIy unSconscouS ofall that had passed {
he preceding night, she watched the eff {
ect which the restoration of the box f.,
would have upon his mind, and, as she ex
lected, with an astoDshmeut amounting
o frenzy, he exclaimed "Who has done |
his; ; whence came the box Z" /
Not until he had listened to his dauch- |
er could he be convinced of the possibility /
Il his pcrlormng such an act while asleep |
'uiiIce 1t to say, that now health, peace i
hu competence were once more restored /
o his dwelling; and the result of this /
leSsIng had salutary effect upon his /