The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-07-03

wei t@{ihWtA Toe NtAEc WUCFe it grew.
Before lhai time the mighty old beech
tree stood. some hundred yards from the
first houses 0f thc village, on grassy
mound, tice sueb rs one never secs ia
these days, because animals plants, trees
ard men, are becoming sma II and mean.
The peasant said the tree dated from
the early Christian era, and that a holy
apostle had hecn massacred beneath & by
The falsc beaiben; that the roots of the
iree bad drunk mp the apostles blood,
which. rising through the trunk and
branches. had made them SO large and
strong Who knows II the legend be
true7 ANYHOW there was certainly one
curious f,ct concerning tie tree. and
everybody IN the village knew about Il
small and great Whoever fell asleep
under the tree and drcamt a dream, that
dream would surely be true So, from
time immemorial, # was called The
Dreaming Beech, and no one knew il by
aby other name. There was, however, n
peculiar condition attached to the dream
ing and If anybody lay down under the
beech with the idea Of dreaming of some
one particular thing, then the dream
would sure be nothing but confusion
and rubbish and nonsense Of all sorts, of
which no one could make either head or
tail Now this was assuredlv rather a
dificult stipulation, because most people
are so very likely TO think OF what lies
nearest the heart; consequently, st the
time this 'storv commenced not a man or
woman had ever tried the plan with suc-
cess. Sill, fer all that, it was not to be
denied but that the tradition Of the
Dreaming Beech was true
One hot summers day, when not a
breath Of mir stirred, poor iourneyman
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
ont for the last time, but alas they were
empty,
What am to do2 be thought to him
self | am tired to death, but no one
will take me in for nothing, and it is
hard to beg, Just then his eyes fell up
on the noble beech tree, on the green
grassy slope; and as II stood only a few
Yards from the road, he laid himself
down under it to rest. A gentle breeze
sprang up and rustled amongst the bran
chcs. whilst here and there CLEAN OF
glittering sunshine fell as the leaves were
moved, disclosing glimpses Of the deep
blue sky beyond. Then the tired wan
derer closed his eyes and slept. Whilst
he was thus soundly sleeping, branch
dropped from the beech tree, with three
leaves on it which fell just on his breast.
lie dreamt that he sat at a table, in a
most coy room; and the table was his
own, and the room, and indeed the
whole house AT the table, leaning OIL it
with both hands, stood young woman,
looking lovingly at him; and that was
his wife. On his knees sat q child, whom
he was feeding with soup, and because
the soup was too hot, he blew upon the
spoon to cool It. Then his wife cried out
laughing, What capital nurse you make !
Jumping about the room was another
child, fat, rosy-cheeked urchin, drag
ging about large carrot, to which he
had tied a string, aud shouting Tally no !
as II it were the finest fox. And both
children were his own.
This was his dream; and it must have
been a very pleasant dream, for his whole
face beamed, in his sleep with happi-
ness.
When he awoke it was almost evening,
aud before him stood a shepherd, smok-
ing. lie sprang mp from the ground,
mncb refreshed; stretched himself, and
yawncd, saying:
Heavens! ifIt were only true! bnt, at
all events, # was pleasant to know how
II would an feely
Then the shepherd came up aud asked
him whence be came, and whittier he was
going, and whether he had ever heard Of
the wonderful Beech?
Having learnt he was as innocent about
ii as new born babe. be exclaimed:
Wen, you're a lucky dog! For anyone
could read in your face YOU were dream
log something pleasant. was looking
at Won for long time, as You lay there
And hc told him the particular virtue Of
the tree. lrs sure to come true, be al
dad. d. certain as that this is a sheep and
that O lamb. Ask the people In the vii
lage ifit f. not SO. Now just tell me
what you dream,.
O!d fellow, answered thc Young man,
gtinniug, that's the way, is Il, YOU ques-
ton strangers IN these parts? mean to
keep my beautiful dream 20 myself, and
eou can't be surprised al that But for
ali thal nothing win come Of f.; and be
realty believed what he he was saying,
for as ha walked towards the village, he
mnrmurca to himself, stuff aud nonsense
old wives tales; ! should ikc to know
hayg ii yrec eoHl9 caiuc by such power!
As he came Into the village he saw
stack .oHl from the roof Of the tlira house
il long polo with a ggldeuerowu dangling
from e. And below at tae door, stood
iba landlord ofJhe Crowu lun. He hap-
pfuca la-t ihcp 70 BE- Ia good humor, for
Be Aal had a very good supper, aud was
feeling, 10 consequence. quite happy aud
genial 80 tie yoang l4b0pf pulled OF
his cap, aud asked for a njghts shelter
The landlord Of ihe Crown looked al lIe
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