The Grenada Sentinel

Curing a Somnambulist.

In a small village across the bay resides a well-known clergyman and his family, which is composed of numerous sons and daughters, his wife and himself. One of the sons, who is just approaching manhood, has been in the habit since infancy of walking in his sleep. Every effort has been made to break him of his somnambulistic tendencies, but without avail. He would arise from his couch at all hours of the night, wander from one part of the building to another, wend his way to the porches and piazzas, and was sometimes found perched upon the roof of the house. A short time ago it was decided by the head of the house that the somnambulist should occupy the same couch with his elder brothers—and the latter was instructed in case the boy indulged in any of his former antics, to administer severe punishment in the shape of a forcible application of the sole of a slipper upon his body. The elder son gratefully accepted the task and promised to carry out his instructions to the letter. In order to show that he was not neglectful of the duty imposed upon him it is only necessary to relate the following incident: One night short time ago, when both of the brothers were wrapped in the deep slumbers of early morn their paterfamilias imagined that he heard sounds of disturbance in the chicken-yard at the rear of the house, and, fearing that his hen-roost might be despoiled entered the room where the boys were sleeping, and, opening the window, peered out into the darkness to ascertain whether his apprehensions were correct. The elder son, who was sleeping on the outside of the bed thought the figure at the window was that of his brother, and, forgetting, in his zeal, to ascertain if his bed-fellow was quietly reposing or not, leaped from his couch, seized the ever-ready slipper, and administered a severe castigation upon the party in undress at the window. Before the astonished father could turn, he had received some four or five heavy and stinging blows, and was so surprised and astonished that for a few moments he could hardly speak a word. The son, when he realized the situation was almost paralyzed, and the scene was ridiculous in the extreme. When the circumstances were explained, however, the clergyman fully appreciated the joke, and narrates it with great gusto to his friends and acquaintances.

San Francisco Alta Californian.