Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-03-31

stream on which these woods were 10
Gated, 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
reported that the lost had been found;
that he had but q moment before en-
tered his room through the window
from which he had taken his flight flew
hours earlier, and that he was then on
the bed, and in n profound stupor.
Entering the lodging apartment, we
found him as the family represented.
The clothing which he had worn during
his unconscious dctour lay upon the
floor, drcnched 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 water
in his face, and to all of which he
laughed again, and exclaimed;
"Do so some morel"
"Whcre have you beenp" inquired.
"In swimming" was the laconic
reply.
"With your clothes onp"
"Certainly. Why should l disrobe
for little bathp You see l could have
the fun of n swim, and at the same time
do the work of n laundrcss.h
With this explanation the boy lapsed
into silence, closed his eyes, and refused
to communicate further. The next
morning he had dreamed of enjoying
a delightful swim" In attempting to
arrange his toilet he missed his vest,
in the pockets of which he had carried
| n IN trI, nnI Il 1,ln N
the search for the lost valuables the
route he was supposed to have taken
the night before was tramped over, but
without success. The place where we
supposed the bath had been taken was
along the highway, and here we be-
lieved the missing garment had been
left, and here was picked up ut day
break by some lucky passer-by.
Possibly q week had elapsed, and
young Roberts had become reconciled 10
the loss of his property, when one
morning, on turning over a.half-bushcl
measure in the barn through which he
had passed on the first nights adven-
ture, the vest, watch, money and all
were found had turned up the prop.
erty where the owner had unconscious
ly hid it.
From the time of his first adventure
the somnambulist rarely remained in
bed an entire night. Scarcely did hi,
head touch the pillow before he would
be asleep, and then up and off. The
novelty wearing off, and confident tha
he could take care of himself, we ceased
to follow him, and only learned of many
of his movements by his own report
after, given in most graphic style, ant
always referred TO as to what he die
yesterday"
When in his somnambulistic stat,
the few faculties which he then com
manded appeared to be intensified. Int
them he was capable of concentratin!
all his mental and physical strength
When awake he was an Indifferent con
versationalist asleep he often becam
brilliant. Naturally rather clumsy, n
a somnambulist he became as agile as
chipmunk. / could measure strengt
with him by daylight and not be ovei
matched; by night | was to him as
pigmy to Titan. When himself, h
rarely if ever betrayed his heart
secrets; he was exceptionally exclusiv,
Sleep would invariably unlock TIL
mental seclusion, and into my ears i
would pour his loves and his hates, h
y sorrows and joys. AT times he W;
jubilant, but generally disheartenet
In his callowness he had cherished
tender passion for little girl playmat
who lived in his old New York HON,
l. Out of sight to her, Roberts was out {
If mind, and Mt sixteen she had Tilted hi
e youthful lover and had married n pros
1t widower. The circumstances wei
), never mentioned by him when awak
@ Sc deep was his chagrin, however, whe
d asleep, that it became the burden of h
d talk. Once he even broached the SUI
|, ject of suicide, saying: Give a razor
t, my trunk. Guess I've made legitima
J, use of it long enough" took ca
|. that the ugly weapon was no long,
d convenient to his purposes.
If One night, after being in bed possib
e half-hour, my companion aros
= dressed, went to the sitting-room,
% the lamp, and, taking up the book, S
d down to read. His extraordinary freal
IS had excited the neighbors, some
1t whom had expressed their desire
lie witness him Mt his best. They we
T. therefore sent for. AS two or three
~ them came filing in, Johnny laid dow
ID his book and began n lively convers
t. ton, answering questions glibly al
IS with degree of intelligence unequal'
ut by any one in his presence. Sudden
le he ceased talking, took up basket
i'd apples which had been left on the tab
of hard by him, and began devouring Il
lg ripe fruit with all the rapacity of
I'd semi-famishcd beast. A moment lat
I'D he seized q pitcher and from it tossed {
ne II quart of water as easily rs
I'd daybreak he would have quaffed ha
Mt glassful. From the bedroom / call
q to him to bring me an apple. He col
a. piled by bring the basket into the roo
and cmptying the contents over Il
,y head, saying: "There are your apple
m take one" Instantly he returned to L
ge sitting-ro room, in the center of which
as threw himself upon the floor and a
vs. sion of all sensibility. Our efforts
ly arouse him were for several minut
n without effect Then suddenly
n sprang to his feet, fastened through
SO rear door and out into II little buildi
ly used as q farm workshop. Roberts W
I'd gone but moment when, as sudden
ms as he had jumped from the floor,
b. burst into the sitting-room, holding
IT. his hands an old army musket. Lev
ing it at our host, Mr.. Manning, n
d. essaying tragic air, he exclaime
nd "Stand back, sir! Another step an,
nd fire." Except Mr.. Manning, we We
1t, all paralyzed with fright. We beliey
ng ourselves at the mercy of one who "
lie betraying all the characteristics of
as desperate mailman. We heard
ne quick click of the weapons hammer
sh il was drawn back, and helplessly n
ks with bated breath expected trage,
ID, when the host coolly walked across
rst room, and, just as the trigger +,
Iy- seized the muzzle of the gun a
ir- wrenched it out OF the sleep-walke
in hand, at the same time explaining II
he knew the weapon to be harmle
as inasmuch as, anticipating such an