Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-26
JOHN CHAPMAN'S DREAM.
He Went to London and Received a Message
in sin uldr way.
Leeds Mercury.


The Swaffham Church, Norfolk, an nm
usually handsome pile for small parish
of between three and four thousand souls
remarkable alike for its dimensions
beauty of architecture and peal of eight
musical bells, was commenced about the
reign of Edward ". and finished about
1910. It is also interesting as having q
curious legend associated with it which
many people suppose to have some foun-
dation in fact. The north aisle and tow
er are said to have been built by one John
Chapman, formerly tinker, but eventu-
ally wealthy parish'oner, who was
churchwarden in 1862, and the following
story was recently told of him in the
course of lecture on dreams ana their
condolences:
He awoke one night with strong in
preston OF his mind, produced by a
dream, that if he went to London and
stood on London Bridge he would hear of
something to his advantage. This was SO
vivIdly impressed upon him that he rous-
ed his wife and cold her the dream, but
her advice was: "Never mind the dream
go to sleep again." This he did, but
again woke up after repetition of it; and
on again waking his wife, and telling her
to this second intim alton, she replied
"Thee stay at home and mind thy pos
and pans"
Again he went to sleep, only to repeat
the dream fol third time: and when he
rose in The morning he told his wife he
had made up his mind to go TO London,
and not all the ridicule of his wife or ad
vice of his friends could turn him from
Go ha cd q nj
miles, and On the evening of the third day
reached the city, staying at cheap lodg-
ing house. Next morning early, he took
up his stand on London Bridge, and stood
all day scanning the faces of the streams
of passengers; but 40 one spoke to him,
and he returned ct night TO his lodging.
Next morning found him again at his
post, and again the continuous stream of
people passed without anyone turning
aside to notice him. AS night fell he be-
gan to feel somewhat uneasy as to the re
ception he should meet with from his wife
in case nothing came of his journey; so
he returned to his lodging determined to
try for the third time. Besides, his dream
had been repeated three times, and that
might mean that he was to be enlightened
on the third day. So when morning came
he went back to his place On the bridge
and stood as he had done before, the only
one among the vast throng who was ap
parently aimless. The day wore slowly
away, evening drew on and he was just
about to quit his post with heavy heart
when stranger accosted him, saying he
had noticed him standing there for sew
eral days, and was curious to know what he
wanted to which he replied that she
came there on the vain errand of a
dream"
"Alas! good FRIEND" said his interroga-
tor, ''if l had needed dreams / might have
proved myself as very fool as thou hast,
for tits not long since l dreamed that at
place called Swafham, in Norfolk. dwells
John Chapman, peddler, who hath tree
at the beck of his house, under which is
buried pot of money"
Thank you, sir" said the peddler, and
Immediately departed. He was not long
In reaching home, and SO soon as his wife