Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-03-29

the sleeper. In sixty seconds, probably
less time, [ was distanced, and with
circumstances attending it, the somnam-
bulist had disappeared in the darkness
of the woods beyond.
Thoroughly alarmed, I returned to the
house, aroused the sleeping family, the
head of which, d Mr.. Manning, together
with near neighbor, started with me
in search Of my unconscious companion.
We secured the woods III which he had
disappeared. Finally, on the banks of
| the Kalamazoo River, a stream on which
these woods were located, we found
some of the clothing of the missing boy
fastening to our home for instruments
with which to drag the river for the
drowned body, our joyful surprise can
only be imagined, when, on entering the
house, the family had reported that the
| lost had been found; that he had but a
moment before entered hisroom through
the window from which be had taken his
flight few hours earlier, and that he
was then on the bed, sDd in I. profound
stupor.
Entering the lodging apartment, we
| found him as the family represented.
The clothing which he had worn during
his unconscious detour, lay upon the
floor, drenched by his midnight bath in
| the river. We sought at once to arouse
the sleeper. We shook him, and then
raising him up in bed, dashed cold wa
ter in his face, and to all of which he
laughed, and on opening his eyes,
laughed again, and exclaimed:
do so some more
"Where have you been s." / inquired.
"In swimming" was the laconic re-
ply.
''With your clothes on ?"
Certainly. Why should I disrobe
for little bath? You see [ could have
the fun of a swim, and at the same time
do the work of laundress."
With this explanation the boy lapsed
into silence, closed his eyes, and refused
to communicate further. The next morn
ing he had dreamed of enjoying de-
lghtful swim" In attempting to ar
range his toilet, he missed bis vest, In
the pocket of which he had carried q
watch and considerable money. In the
search for the lost vaIuables the route he
was supposed to have taken the night be-
| fore was tramped over, but without sue
cess. The place where we supposed the
bath had been taken was alongside the
| highway, and here we believed the miss
! ing garment had been left, and here was
picked up at daybreak by some lucky
passer-by.
| Possibly a week had elapsed, and
young Roberts had become reconciied to
the loss of his property, when one morn
ing, on turning over half bushel
measure in the barn through which he
had passed on the first night adventure,
the vest, watch, money and all were
found. [ had turned up the property
where the owner had unconsciously hid
| it,
From the time of his first adventure,
the somnambulist rarely remained in bed
an entire night. Scarcely did bis head
touch the pillow before he would be
asleep, and then up and off. The novelty
wearing off, and confident that he could
take care of himself, we ceased to follow
him, and only learned of many of his
movements by his own reports after,
given in most graphic style, and always
referred to as to what he :" did yester-
day."
When in his somnambulistic state, the
| few faculties which he then commanded
appeared to be intensified. Into them
he was capable of concentrating all his
mental and physical strength. When
awake he was an indifferent converse
tionalist; asleep he often became bril-
liant. Naturally rather clumsy, as a
somnambulist he became as agile as a
chipmunk. / could measure strength
with him by daylight and not be over
matched, by night [ was to him as G.
pigmy to a Titan. When himself, he
rarely, If ever betrayed his hearts Sc
crets; he was exceptionally exclusive
Sleep would invariably unlock this men
tai seclusion, and into my ears he would
pour his loves and his hates, his sorrows
and Joys At times he was iubilant,
but generally disheartened. In his cal
/ iowness he had cherished tender pas
sion for little girl playmate who lived
In his old New York home. Out of
sight to her, Roberts was out of mind,
and at 16 she had Tilted her youthful
lover and had married prosy widower
| The circumstances were never mentioned
| by him when awake. So deep was his
chagrin, however, when asleep, that it
became the burden of his talk. Once he
even preached the subject of suicide,
saying, GIVE a razor in my trunk.
Guess I've made a legitimate use of it
long enough" / took care that the ugly
weapon was no longer convenient to bis
purposes.
One night, after being in bed possibly
half-hour, my companion arose,
dressed, went to the sitting room, Lit the
lamp, and, taking up book, sat down
to read. His extraordinary freaks had
excited the neighbors, some of whom
had expressed their desire to witness
him at his best. They were therefore
sent for. As two or three of them came
filing in, Johnny laid down his book and
began lively conversation, answering
questions glibly and with degree of in
telligence unequalled by anyone in his
presence. Suddenly he ceased talking,
took up basket of apples which had
been left on the table hard by him, and
began devouring the ripe fruit with all
the rapacity of semi-famished beast.