The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-07-28
SLEEP WALKERS.


During the Revolutionary War there was
gentleman of large property residing in
Brooklyn, n. Y, who was addicted 10 the
habit Of walking in his sleep, Panic-struck
at the invasion of the enemy, he daily expect
ed that his dwelling would be ransacked and
pillaged. Under the influence of these fears
he rose one night, and, taking a strong box,
which awake he never attempted to lift with
out assistance, he proceeded down stairs,
furnished himself with a lantern and spade
and. in a wooded glen. about quarter of a
mile from his house, he buried his treasure,
replacing the sods so as to create no suspicion
of their having been removed. This done, he
returned, undressed, and went to bed
Next morning, he was the first to discover
the loss Of his strong box, without having the
slightest remembrance of what bad passed
EnragPd at his loss, he Immediately accused
his dOmestics of robbery, as no traces were
susceptible on either the lock OF doors Of the
house that could induce him to suspect stran-
gers.
Month after month elapsed, and still the
mystery was not solved, and his family began
to want tie necessaries of life without hav-
ing the means to procure them.
At thatperiod of public calamity no money
could be raised on real estate, and it was at
that season of the year when agricultural la
Dor had ceased, which left him no means of
securing a support for his family To aug
ment his misery his only son Law confined bv
1 a violent fever, without any one of those
comforts which his situation demanded. The
/ despairinQ father vas strongly affected bv
| this melancholy view of the future his rest
became more frequently broken, and he
would often wander from room to room all
night with hurried and unequal steps, as II
pursued by an enemy. His wife and dauph-
ter, who were accustomed to these nightly
wanderings, never attempted to disturb him
| unless they were fearful some accident might
befall him in this case it was necessary tc
employ the most violent means to awaken
him, upon which he would exhibit such fear
and distress that they usually suffered hin
to recover from the trance, which was sue
ceeded by drOwsiness, after which he would
sink into light and natural sleep, which
generally continued for several hours.
One night, as his daughter was watching
at the side of her sick brother, she heard hei
father descend the stairs with quick step
and Immediately followed him. She per
ceived that he had dressed himself, and wa.
lighting q lantern at the hearth, after which
he unbOlted the door and looked on: : he ther
returned to the kitchen, and, taking the Ian
tern and spade, he left the house. Alarmed
at the circumstance-whic was not usual
though it sometimes occurred, as above re
lated, without the knowledge of his famil,
she hastily threw on n cloak, and followed
him to the wood, trembling with apprehen
sion of, she knew not what both for hersel
and her father.
Having gained the place where he ha,
three months since buried the box. he Sc
down he lantern so as to reflect strongI,
upon the spot he then removed the sods
and, striking the spade against the iron GOV
er, he laughed wildly, and exclaimed: "NI,
treasure is safe, and we shall be happy yP'
And, shoudering his heavy burden will
the strength Of Hercules, he stopped, not a
before, to replace the sods of earth. hu
snatching up his lantern, pursued his wa,
directly home, TO the great Joy of his daueh
ter, who could scarcely support herself frnn
the fears she had experienced, which wer,
that be was about to dig his own grave. aut
commit suicide, or murder some of his de
fenceless family. InexpressibIe. therefore
was her Joy on seeing him ascend the stair
and place the box in ! $ former recess : afte
which, as nsual, he retired to rest. His wifi,
and daughter, however, were TOO anxious Il
sleep themselves and the one sat impatient
ly watching the dawn of day, and the othe
returned to the apartment of her suffering
brother, to relieve his mind by the joyfu
event, and her consequent hope of hi
speedy recovery.
When the gentleman arose in the morn
ing his wife observed the gloom upon hi.
ceuntenance as he asked about the health o.
his son, and expressed his sorrow at not be
ing able to procure those comforts for hi:
family which weIe so needed. Finding hin
perfectly unconscious of all that had passed
during the preceding night. she watched the
effect which the restoration OF the box would
have upon his mind and, as she expected
with an astonishment almost amounting tc
frenzy, he exclaimed
who has done this? Whence came thit
box %
MOI until be had listened to bis daughter
0ouiu ne be convinced Of the possibility OF
ms performing such an act while asleep.