The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-03-27
THE STORY OF A LUNAT1c.

HE COnfeder8te fOrce OF General Ear
ly had gained the mastery in the Shenan-
doah Valley. and our demoralized bat
talions were falling back precipitately
through Winchester. AZ
Sheridan dashed upon the scene,
and his presence, like q spell, checked
the retreat and infused new courage in
to the disordered mass. Our battery
reached q knoll to the left of the pike,
and unlimbered in front of timbered
slope, on the brow Of which the Con-
federates had posted heavy battery.
The infantry line in our front was ad-
vancing splendidly and l saw the gleam-
ing crest of bayonets fall when the or
der came for . charge on the double
quick.
Bright sunshine was streaming
to have awakened me from prolonged
slumber. Slowly my scattered senses
gathered from dim Inconsistencies,
and as thought assumed definite form
the scene Of the battlefield flashed be-
fore me. ---
"What of the charger I inquired,
anxiously, making desperate effort to
rise.
The sharp, unnatural tone of INV own
voice startled me, and my strength was
unequal to rustic even the covering Of
my couch. ~
Do not talk now, Charley; you will
be stronger very SOON" Il was the
voice of my wife. In q moment rea-
: lized that 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 glistening in
the sunshine. Many months had
passed away, q blank period in my ex-
istence.
As 1 recovered my strength and COM
prehension / learned the critical ordeal
Il had passed in surviving . severe
wound that had caused fracture of
the skull and necessitated the operation
of trepanning.
Stll many more months elapsed be-
fore was again abroad. The war was
ended, and the people were rejoicing
in the restoration of peace. was ten
dered and accepted the old position I
had resigned in response to the cali to
arms-teacher of mathematics in the
academy of my native town.
The routine of the position was ia
miliar enough, but close attention to
its duties shortly developed the fact
that my nervous system had net recov-
cred from the severe shock it had sus-
tanned. and my mental powers were
impaired.
As nearly as / could define the effec,
produced. the injury seemed to have
interrupted the harmonious action OF
the brain. and the right and left lobes
appeared to act 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 . complete impression.
When / studied single problem. and
the solution occurred, Immediately
would follow the solution again, as 4
emanaHsd from q second mind acting
in conjunction, aud always q little
slower in its perceptions. This de.
rangement, vexatious and confusing al
first, continued to increase as devoted
myself to mental labor. until finally ]
was compelled to abandon my position
in the academy.
The necessity was indeed hardship
as II left me without q means of sus.
tenance. My brave and devoted wife
bore up nobly under the affliction, and
insisted that I should indulge the re.
pose that my critical position demand.
ed Meantime she turned the fine
musical faculties acquired in better
days to good account, and we continued
to live comfortably for a time on the
proceeds of her labor. Comfortably,
did saye No, it grieved me constant
ly to see her toll SO arduously with the
Arr1kxI<z st~sIs<u - II
cares. And know that her assumed
solicitude she experienced on my be.
half.
This anxiety did not favorably affec,
marked and depressing. Vague fears
long, sleepless hours of night The
strange perception of q double intellect
became so far defined that the senses
were sympathetic. The sounds thai
reached my ear were repeated, as if by
echo; taste and touch were fanciful
and erratic. and at night weird. fan
tastic forms fitted before my eyes, and
real objects assumed the semblance oi
what they were not. and drove me ia
the verge OF delirium; while the effort
constantly exerted to retain nv reason
only the more prostrated the mental
powers.
Unfortunstely. my malady reached q
stage at which / seemed to realize both
physical and mental double existence.
At times could distinctly see the form
and features of my second self. directly
confronting and gazing upon my more
immediate self. And then my own
voice addressed me, and we conversed
together-myseh and my second self
now condoling in common misery, and
than In tantalizing and horrible impre.
cations.
The tsrribls dslusion became un-