634 SLEEP-WAKING. 



Vision might here have existed sufficiently to show him his 

 way, though the state of his brain suggested to him imaginary 

 forms ; or he might have made his greetings by habit, without 

 fancying he saw individuals. 



" A female servant in the town of Chelmsford, surprised the 

 family at four o'clock one morning, by walking down a flight of 

 stairs in her sleep, and rapping at the bed-room door of her master, 

 who inquired what she wanted ; when, in her usual tone of voice, 

 she requested some cotton, saying that she had torn her gown, 

 but hoped that her mistress would forgive her : at the same time 

 bursting into tears. Her fellow servant, with whom she had 

 been conversing for some time, observed her get out of bed, and 

 quickly followed her, but not before she had related this pitiful 

 story. She then returned to her room, and, a light having been 

 procured, she was found groping to find her cotton box. Another 

 person went to her, when, perceiving a difference in the voice, 

 she called out, That is a different voice that is my mistress ;' 

 which was not the case, thus clearly showing that she did not 

 see the object before her, although her eyes were wide open. 

 Upon inquiry as to what was the matter, she only said that she 

 wanted some cotton, but that her fellow servant had been to her 

 master and mistress making a fuss about it. It was now thought 

 prudent that she should be allowed to remain quiet for some 

 short time, and she was persuaded to lie down with her fellow 

 servant that she might then awake in her accustomed manner. 

 This failing in effect, her mistress went up to. her room, and 

 rather angrily desired her to get up and go to her work, as it 

 was now six o'clock : this she refused, telling her mistress that 

 if she did not please her she might look out for another servant, 

 at the same time saying she would not rise at two o'clock, 

 pointing to the window, to injure her health for any one. For 

 the sake of the joke, she was told to pack up her things, and 

 start off immediately, but to this she made no reply. She re- 

 buked her fellow servant for not remaining longer in bed, and 

 shortly after this became quiet. She was afterwards shaken 

 violently, and awoke. She then rose, and seeing the cotton 

 box disturbed, demanded to know why it had been meddled 

 with, not knowing that she alone was the cause of it. In the 

 course of the day several questions were put to her in order to 

 try her recollection, but the real fact of her walking was not 



