The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-12-20
Select Story.
MY EXPERIENCE AS A LUN.
ATTIC.

had gained the mastery in the Shenan-
doah Valley. and our demoralized bat
talions were falling back precipitately
through Winchester.
Sheridan dashed upon the scene, and
his presence, like spell, checked the re-
treat and infused new courage into the
disordered mass. Our battery reached a
knoll to the left of the pike, and unlim
bered in front ola timbered slope, on
the brow of which the Confederates had
posted heavy battery. The infantry
line on our front was advancing splen-
didly, and saw the cleaning crest of
bayonets fall when the order came for
charge on the double quick.
Bright sunshine was streaming
through the open curtain, and seemed to
have awakened me from prolonged slum
Der. Slowly my scattered senses gathered
from dim unconsciousness, and as
hought assumed definite form the scene
of the battle field again flashed before
me.
%What of the charger l inquired, anx
iously, making desperate effort to rise
The sharp unnatural tone of my own
voice startled me and my strength was
unequal to rustic even the covering Of
my couch.
do not try to talk now. Charley, you
will be stronger very soon." 1t was the
voice of my wife. In a moment I real
lied that was at home, on the shores Of
he northern lake. / glanced through
the window, and the waving branches
associated with my thoughts of the bat
lie scene were not there, but the snow
lay heavily on the fields glistening in the
sunshine. Many months have passed
away, blank period in my existence.
AS I recovered my strength and com
prehension 1 learned the critical ordeal
Ihad passed in surviving q severe wound
hat caused q fracture of the skull, and
necessitated the operation oftrepanning.
Still many more months elapsed before
I was again abroad. The war was end
ed, and the people were rejoicing in the
restoration of peace. I was rendered
and accepted the old position / had re-
signed in response to the call of arms
teacher of mathematics in the academy
of my native town.
The routine of the position was fanil-
lar enough, but close attention to iti
duties shortly developed the fact thai
my nervous system had not recovered
from the severe shock it had sustained
and my mental powers were impaired
As nearly as / could define the effect
produced, the injury seemed to have in
terrupted the harmonious action of the
brain, and the right and left lobes ap-
peared to operate independently, and
take separate and distinct cognizance O
emotions and sensations conveyed by The
medium of the senses. Every though
seemed to have its duplicate, necessary
to a complete impression. When
studied single problem, and the solu-
ton occurred, Immediately would follow
the solution again, as if emanating from
second mind acting in conjunction ant
always a little slower in its perceptions
This arrangement yexatious and CON
. fuslng at first, continued to increase az
devoted myself to mental labor, unit
finally 1 was compelled to abandon m.
position in the academy.
The necessity was indeed o hardship
as it left me without the means Of susie
|, nance. My brave and devoted wife bor
up nobly under the affection and insiste'
that / should indulge the repose that NJ.
critical position demanded. Meandm
she turned the fine muacal faculties &C
quired in better days to good account
and we continued to live comfortably 70
q time on the proceeds of her labol
Comfortably, did sayi No, it grieve'
me constantly to see her toll 80 arduoul
!, iy,with the double responsibility of house
! hold cares. And ] knew that her as
sumed cheerfulness was the cover {
Z painful solicitude she experienced O
my behalf
Fl This snxietyldid not favorably affet
& my arrangement 1t grew more marke
!, and depressing. Vague fears haunte
!. me by day, and narrowed the lon,
{ sleepless hours of night The strane
s perception Of double intellect becam
i 30 Ear defined that the senses were syn
! pathetic. The sounds that reached m
af ear were repeated, as il by echo tas
r and touch were fnciful and erratic, an
ct night weird, fantastic forms fitted b