American citizen., 1879-01-25
THE STORY OF A LUNAr1c.

The Confederate force of Gen. Early
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
retreat and infused new courage into
the disordered mass. Our battery
reached knoll to the left of the pike,
and numbered in front of timbered
slope, on the brow of which the Confed-
crates had posted heavy battery. The
infantry line on our front was adyauc-
ing splendidly. 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
slumber. Slowly my scattered senses
gathered from dim Inconsistencies.
and ~ thought assumed definite form
the scene of the battlefield again flashed
before me.
"Whas of the chargeP'' 1 inquired
anxiously, 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 talk now, Charley; you will
. t. N
voice of my wife. In q moment rea-
hzed that l was home, on the shores of
the northern lake. glanced through
the window, and the waving branches
associated with my thoughts of the bat
tie scene were not there, but the snow
lay heavily on the fields glisteDing in
the sunshine. Many months has passed
away, blank period in my existence.
Al / recovered my strength and COM
prehension learned the critical ordeal
1 had passed in surviving a severe
wound that had caused q fracture of the
skull and necessitated the operation of
trepanning.
Still many more months elapsed be-
fore was again abroad. The war was
ended, and the people were rejoicing in
the restoration of peace. 1 was tender
cd and accepted the old position had
resigned in response to the call of arms
-teacher of mathematics in the acade-
my of my native town.
The routine of the position was fami.-
lar enough, but close attention to its
duties shortly developed the fact that
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
braip, and the right and left lobes ap-
peared to operate independently, and
take separate and distinct cognizance of
emotions and sensations conveyed by
the medium Of the senses. Every
thought seemed to have its Duplicate,
necessary to q complete impression.
When I studied single problem, and
the solution occurred, immediately
would follow the solution again, as il
emAnating from . second mind acting
In conjunction, and always little slow
er in its perceptions. This derange-
msnt, yexatious and confusing at first,
continued to increase as devoted N.Y.
self TO mental labor, until finally was
to abandon my position in |
the academy
The necessity was indeed a hardship,
as it left me without means of susten-
snce. My brave and devoted wife bore
up nobly under the afiiiction, and in
sisted that ! should indulge the repose
that my critical position demanded.
Meantime she turned the fine musicsl |