The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-26
PUNISHED BY A DREAM.
Pnysical Changes Wrought by the
Anguish of Nightmare.
From Ole Indianapolis NeiCs.

Anguish of Nightmare.
From, the Indianapolis Netcs
1 read with great interest the recent opin-
ion of a physician expressed in your paper
to the effect that death sometimes occurs in
sleep from fright in nightmare. thought
some Of your readers might be interested in
my case, for can relate an experience that
seems to be phenomenal.
am q years old, robust and sound, and
never know of premature age coming on
any of my people. Yet am gray and old
far beyond my years 1t all came about in
a single night. When l was a boy, hun
cry, poor and forlorn, was tempted into
crime. | saw in a window open packages
OF rich candies. By stepping inside the door
and watching my opportunity could reach
one OF them. / thought nobody was looking,
but when snatched one and fed l ran
straight into the arms of a policeman on
the pavement outside. / had good mother,
and the thought came that had betrayed
her and ruined myself. | was almost crazed
with remorse. / begged to be released, but
the officer did his duty. Next day when
was brought from Jail and put on trial |
saw among the motley crowd in the police
court man who did not seem to belong
there. He proved to be the owner of the
store from which | had stolen the candy.
When found this out my fright was in
creased. You can imagine my surprise
that this gentleman, when called as a wit
ness, withdrew all charges against me and
asked the court as a personal favor, to dis
charge me. Tbs request was granted. My
new friend called me to one side after the
trial, heard my story and seemed to have
faith in my promises. He even took me into
his store and advanced me from one position
to another as the years rolled on, and finally
made me chief clerk and gave me the keys
Of the safe.
One night, just year ago. found my
self down at the store at late hour. We
had received a large sum of money after
banking hours, and this had been placed in
the safe in my keeping. For some reason
was tempted to go down town that night
l wandered into the store, sat down awhile
and finally opened the safe. l was trembling
violently all the time-why | would not
confess until the conviction forced itself
upon me that l was about to commit my
second burglary. An Internal desire for
that money had complete control of me.
Finally took out the money, put it into
my pockets and locked up the safe. Then
went to work in clumsy manner to conceal
the crime. Thought / could pry Off the
lock, and thus make believe that the safe
had been robbed by experts. l was sweat
ing at this felonious task when | heard a
step behind me, followed by voice:
What in the world are you doing.
Johnp'
1t was the voice of my old employer and
old friend-the man who had saved me from
prison and who had given me a chance in
the world. Great heavens How suffered.
Cold blood sweat stood out on me, and the
thought OF my treachery was agonizing
beyoud human endurance. was suffering
all the torture that DR.. Jekyll must have
known in being transformed into Mr.. Hyde.
| felt the very elements of my body chang
ing. Oh, the glorious relief, sweet delight,
when found that all this real suffering
had been in nightmare only and that vas
still the trusted employe of just man. Yet
when looked into the glass next morning
found that the snow which comes
upon ordinary mortals in old age had
whitened my head during That struggle in
my sleep.