Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-07-05
THE DREAMING BEECH.

MORE than hundred wears have passed
since it was struck by lightning and split
from top to bottom, and the plOw has well
furrowed the place where it grew. Be-
fore that time the mighty old beech tree
stood, some hundred yards from the first
houses of the village, ona grassy mound,
tree such as one never sees in these
days, because animals, plants, trees, and
men, are becoming small and mean.
The peasants said the tree dated from
the early Christian era, and that holy
apostle had been massacred beneath it by
the false heathen; that the roots of the
tree had drunk up the apostles blood,
which, rising through the trunk and
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 un-
der the tree and dreamt a dream, that
dream would surely come true. So, from
time immemorial, 1t was called the
Dreaming Beech, and no one knew it by
any other name. There was, however, a
peculiar condition attached to the dream
beech with the idea of dreaming of some
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 assuredly rather a
difficult stipulation, because most people
are so very likely to think of what lies
nearest the heart consequently, at the
time this story commences not a man or
woman had ever tried the plan with sue
cess. Still, for all that it was not to be
denied but that the tradition of the
Dreaming Beech was true. ,,..,.-,,.i
One hot summers day, when not a
breath of air stirred, a poor jOurneyman
came wandering along the road. Things
had gone very badly with him for many
years in foreign parts. When he reached
the village he turned his pockets inside
out for the last time, but, alas! they were
empty.
aWhat am I to do?'' he thought to I'm.
self, sT am tired 70 death, but no one viii
take me in for nothing, and It is hard to
beg" Just then his eyes fell upon the
noble beech tree, on the green grassy
slope; and rs 1t stood only few yards
from the road, he laid himself down under
tito rest. A gentle breeze sprang up and
rustled amongst the branches, whilst
here and there a CLEAN of glittering sun.
shine fell as the leaves were moved, dis
closing glimpses of the deep blue sky be.
yond. Then the tired wanderer closed
his eyes and slept. Whilst he was sound
~ sleeping. q branch dropped from the
beech tree, with three leaves on it, which
tell just on his breast. BE dreamt that
ne sat at table. in most cosy room; and
the table was bis own, and the room, and
indeed the whole house. At the table
leaning on It with both hands, stood 8
young woman. looking lovingly at him
and that was his wife. On his knees sat !
child, whom he was feeding with soup. ant
because the soup was too hot, he blew upor
the spoor tn cool It, Then his wife criet
ont. 1sughingIv. "what a capital nurs.
Won make!" Jumping about the room
was another child, 3 fat, rosy-cheeket
uIchn; dragging about n large carrot. I,
wnich ne had tied string. and shouting
OUT Tally ho," as If II were fox. Ant
oo,n children were his own.
Ihis was his dream; and II must hav
eeen very pleasant dream. for his who'll
1ace beamed. in his sleep, with happiness
when he awoke it was almost evening