Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-06-21
THE DREAMING BEECH.

From Chambers JouInal.l
More than hundred years have passed
since It was struck by lightning and split
from top to kOtlUm, and the plough has
well furrowed the place where 1t grew.
Before that time the mighty old b ech
tee stCo I, some hundred yHtds lr m the
nrst houses Of the village, Oh II grassy
mound, IL tree such as one never sees 10
these days, becau,e animals, plants, trees,
and men, are becoming small and mean.
The peasants sald the the tree dated
from the early Christian era, and that a
holy apostle had been massacfed beneath
1t by the false heather; that the roots of
tee had drunk up the apostles blood,
which rising through the trunk aud
branches, had made them so large and
strong. Who knows if the legend be
true Anyhow there was certainly one
curious fact concerning the tree, and
everybody In the village knew about it,
small and great. Whoever fell asleep
under the tree and dreamt a dream, that
dream wOull surely come true. SO,
from time immemorlal, II was called the
Dreaming Beech, and no one knew II by
auy other name. There was, however, II
peculiar condition attached to the dream
Ing, and II anybody lay down under the
beech with tue idea of dreaming Of some
one particular thing, then the dream
would sure to be nothing but confusion
and Rubbish and nonsense of all sorts,
Of which no one could make either head
or tail. Now this was assurcdly rather
difficult stipulation, because most poo
pie are SO very likely to think OF what
lies nearest the heart consequently, at
the time this story commences not man
nj Ind fFtgH the Tlur with
success. Still, for all that, Il was not TO
be denied but that the tradition of the
Dreaming Beech was true.
One hot summers day, when not a
br,ath of air stirred, poor journey
came wandering along the road. Things
had gone very badly with him for many
years in foreign parts. When he reached
the village be turned his pockets inside
out for the last time, but, alas they were
empty.
"What am to do 70 he thought tc
himself, " am tired TO death, but nc
one Nill take me in for nothing, and il il
hard 10 beg Just then his eyes fell
upon the noble beech tree, on the green
grassy slope and rs II stood only few
yards from the road, he laid himself
down under il to rest. A gentle bre, Il
sprung up aud rustled amongst the
branches, whilst here and there gleaE
Of glittering sunshine fell az the leavei
were moved, disclosing glimpses OF th'
deep blue sky beyond. Then the ureS
wanderer closed his eyes and slept
Whilst he was thus soundly sleeping,
q braAch dropped from the beech tree
with three leaves on Ii, which fell just Of
bis breast. He dreamt that he sat at
table, IN a most cozy room and th
table was bis own, and the room, an
indeed the whole house. At the table
leaning on II with both hands, stood I
yong woman, looking lovingly at him
and that was his wife. On his knees ga
child, whom he was feeding with soup
aud because the soup was too hot, h
blew upon the spoon TO cool il. Then hl
Wife cried out laughlngly, "What cap
ial nurse you mHkel" Jumping abou
the room was another child, fat rosy
checked uiehin, dragging about a larg
carrot, 10 whlsh be had tied string
and shouting out ITALY ho ~ as II
were the finest fox. Aud both chlldre
were bis own.
This was his dream and II must hay
been very pleasant dream, for b
whole face beamed, in bis tleep, wit
happiness,
ANh ~ ANOhb u Mhn hlNioeh hhNhtAi
snd before him stood a shepherd, amoi
ing' He sprang up from the groun'
much refreshed stretched hlmself an
pwnvd saying
Heavens If II were only true but
eh events, II vas pleasant TO know ho
would all feel %
Then the shepherd came up aud ask'
MIN whence he came, and whi,her
was gong, and whether he had ey
heard Of the wonderful Beech
Having learnt be was as innoce
about Il as a new born babe, he e
claimed:
We'll, you're a lucky dog For anyol
could read in your face you were drear
ing something pleasant. / was lookil
at you for a long time, as you lay there
and he told him the peculiar virtue Of &
tfee. "lL's sure TO come true," ;" he adde
as certain as that this is a SHEEP and th
lamb. Ask the people in the village
us not SO. Now lust tell me what y
dfe amt.
"old fellow,' Answered the you
man, Rrinning, CHATS the way, islt, y
question strangers in these parts : me