The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-01-05

1 cattle he had lett, and his only Wish
was TO be able to leave his books and
return to his former playmstes on the
farm. IL was both painful and irk-
some 10 him to prepare his lessons, for
jhe could never retain anything long
i'm his memory, although he might have
labored for hours TO master his task.
i'm spite of every encouragement on the
part of the master to brighten up the
boys faculties, no signs of improve
come daily more wearied and tired of
the disagreeable struggle he had to
maintain to prepare his lessons. This
state of things went on for some time,
when suddenly an inexplicable change
became manifest in the manner in which
Buckridge prepared the tasks he was
set. He who had been the dullest and
most callous of scholars suddenly be-
came the most correct and perfect in
the school. Formerly he had been un-
able to struggle through his exercises,
but now they were found to be care
fully written and almost faultless. How
he managed it was mystery. During
the day he seemed as listless and mat
tentive as ever. He did not curtail his
hours of play, neither did he give a
minute more to study than formerly.
The key to the enigma was at length
discovered by an accident.
''ln room adjoining the dormitory
where Buckridge slept one of. the
junior masters used to sleep; and one
night fancying he heard noise below
in the school-rOom, he rose to see
whether any one had broken into the
house. Stealing quietly downstairs,
he peeped into the room and caught
sight of Buckridge with lighted lamp
in his hand. Seeing that the boy was
evidently asleep, he was led by curios-
ity to watch his movements. Buck
ridge walked to his desk. took out his
books, arranged them in proper order,
and began to study. The master, think
ing it was trick ON the boys part. shook
and pinched him repeatedly, but with
out avail. The boy was insensible to
everything. Having gone through all
his lessons and mastered them, he
walked up to the principals desk and
went through his imaginary exsmins-
ton with ease. The master informed
the principal of what he had seen, and
it was decided to watch his perform
snce again the next night. Again the
boy rose. stole stealthily down to the
kitchen. lit lamp and repaired to the
school-room. Here he once more
opened his desk and prepared his less
sons, with the addition of writing out
an exercise. This finished. he walked
up TO the masters desk, where he re-
peated his lessons accurately in their
proper succession. He even answered
correctly several questions the master
(was supposed toy put to him; and
having passed through the ordeA he
returned with his lamp to the kitchen,
and finally found his way back TO bed.
''On being questioned next morning
as TO how he became so perfect i'm bis
lessons, he declared he could not say,
for it surprised himself. That his sleep
was real was undOubted, for he knew
nothing of his nightly wanderings; nor
was his vision affected when q strong
light was held up close to his eyes.
There can be no doubt that the worry
attending his studies had preyed upon
his mind, and his brain was still affect
ed by the excitement and anxiety they
caused him, even when his physical
sensibilities were deadened by Sleep"
This story was listened to with keen
attention by the small knot of interest
ed listeners, and 1t was apparent a. the
close of the narrative that there was an
inclination TO doubt the veracity of the
narrator. But Whatever doubts we
may have entertained speedily vanished
when the doctor, good specimen Of
the old-fashioned courtly English gen.
tleman, vsntured to observe that he
was perfectly satisfied ia his own mind
of the genuineness Of the story, for he
had once in his own experience met
with a case offering quite as many re.
markable points as that we had Just
heard described. He was. he remarked.
perfectly ready and willing to narrate
the details of the case, if we cared to
be troubled with q second narrative.
Being assured that we were all eager
to learn the particulars of his story,
the doctor at once began:
"IAwas one Sunday evening in Oc-
tober that received an urgent sum-
mons to 60 round to see q lad in the
employment of a butcher close by.
Apparently, the lad had caused great
alarm by his extraordinary behavior.
1t seems that he had sat down in q
chair during the evening and dropped
asleep. Presently he started up, went
for his whip, put on his spurs, and pro-
ceeded direct to the stable. The saddle
not being in its usual place, he returned
to the house for it, and being asked
why he wanted it, he replied, to go
his rounds. Returning to the stable.
he mounted the horse, without sad
die. AS he was powerfully made, it
was only after considerable struggling
that he was forced from the horse and
taken indoors. At this moment ar.
rived upon the scene. The boy appar.
emily seemed to think himself stopped
at the turnpike gate. Taking sixpence
out of his pocket, he held it out to
pay the toll, and demanded the
change. The sixpence was refurned