The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-09-06
The Sleep Walker.

there was gentleman OF large prop
erty residing in Brooklyn, who was
addicted to the habit of walking il
his sleep. Pauicstruck at the invasion
of the enemy, he daily expected that
his dwelling would be ransacked and
pillaged Under the influence Of these
fears, he rose one night, and taking q
strong box, which, when awake be
never attempted to lift without asst ST.
ance, he proceeded down stairs, fur
nished himself with n lantern and
spade, aud in a deep wooded glen, he
buried his treasure, carefully replac-
ing the sods, so as to create noy sus
pcion Of their having been removed.
This done, he returned, undressed
and went to bed The next morning
he was first to discover the loss of the
strong box, without having the slight
est remembrance of what had passed
Enraged at his loss, he Immediately
accused his domestics of robbery, as
no traces of violence were perceptible
on either the locks or doors of his
7 house, that would induce him to sus-
pect strangers. Month after month
elapsed, and still the mystery was not
solved, and his family began to want
for tie necessaries of life, without
having the means of procuring them.
At that period OF public calamity
no money could be raised on real es
tate. and it was a season when agri-
cultural labor had ceased, which left
him no means OF support for his fami-
ly. To augment his great misery
his only son lay confined with a VIC
lent fever, without any one of those
comforts which his situation demand
ed The despairing father was strong
ly affected by this melancholy view of
the future; his rest became more fire.
quently broken, and he would often
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 dis
turb him, unless they we're fearful
that some accident would befall him.
in this case it was necessary to en-
ploy the most violent means to awak
en- him, upon which he exhibited SO
much fear and distress that they usu-
ally suffered him to recover from the
trance, which was succeeded by drowsi-
ness, after which he would sink into
light natural sleep, which generally
continued for several hours.
One night, as the daughter was
watching at the couch of her sick
brother, she heard her father descend
the stairs with a quick step, and i'm
mediately followed him She per-
ceived that he was dressed, and was
Fighting a lantern at the hearth, after
which he unbolted the door and look
ed out; after this he returned to the
kitchen, and taking the lantern ana
spade left the house. Alarmed at the
which was not usual. .
though it sometimes occurred, as be-
fore related, without the knowledge of /
his friends or family she hastily
threw on a cloak, and followed him to .
the wood, trembling with apprehen-
sion of she knew not what, for both
herself and her father.
Having gained the place where he
had three months since buried the
box, he sat down the lantern so as to
reflect strongly upon the spot; he
then removed the sods, and striking
the spade against the iron cover of the
box, he laughed wildly and exclaimed:
MY treasure is safe, and we shall be
happy" And shouldering his heavy
burden, with the strength of Her
cules, he stopped not, as before, to re-
place the sods or the earth, bat
up his lantern, pursued his
way directly home, to the great Joy
Of his daughter, who could scarce sup
port herself from the fears she had
experienced, that he was about to dig
lis own grave, and commit suicide, or
murder some of his defenseless fami-
y. Inexpressible therefore, was her
oy, on seeing him ascend the stairs,
and place the box in its former recess;
after which, as usual, he retired to
est. His wife and daughter, how !
aver, We're too anxious to sleep them
selves; the one sat impaiiently watch
ng the dawn OF day, and the other re-
urned to the apartment of her suffer !
ng brother, to relieve his mind by tell
ng of the joyful event, and the conse-
Iuent hope OF his speedy and happy
ecovery.
When the gentleman rose in the :
morning, his wife observed the gloom
N his countenance, as he asked about :,
he health of his son, and expressed /;
us sorrow at not being able to pro- :
Idle those comforts for his family
which were SO much needed. Find
ng him perfectly unconscious of all
hat had passed the prec eeding night;
he watched the effect which the res !.
grafton of the box would have upon :
is mind and as she expected, with =.
II astonishment amounting to frenzy. :
e exclaimed: "Who has done this.
thence came the box ?"
Not until he had listened to his o
aughter, could he be convinced of 4,
ne possibility of his performing such '
a act while asleep. Suffice it to say. :
nat now health, peace and compe- n
snce were once moro restored TO his
yelling; and the result of this bless.
lg had a salutary effect upon his :"
ind Friends were orati6nd 70 6n1