Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-03-30
A Professors Dream.

Mr. Hart. in charge OF the oxford Uni
versity Press. awoke one night from a
horrible dream. He thought that thieves
had broken into his house and stolen the
first folio OF Shakspere's plays This was
not a mere romantic and antiquarian
fancy; for the original, genuine first folio.
was actually at that moment in his house,
or rather had been as far as he knew,
and its theft was as serious as the
disappearance of the royal Koh-i-noor.
Wishing TO reproduce II he got per-
mission to take Il from it's custodians,
Professors Jowett and Max Muller.
He was obliged to give heavy bonds. to
promise close personal supervision over
the precious treasure, and every moment
1t was not in actual use to keep 1t locked
In a freproof safe.
On getting thoroughly awake after his
alarming dream, he remembered to his
horror that for the first time he had not
put 1t into the safe. Hastily throwing
on some clothing. in fear and trembling
he made his way to the room where the
work was being done. He fearfully
entered the room and lit a match.
The cold sweat covered him as he
realized that the book was gone. He
looked about to see how the burglars had
entered and got away. There was no
trace OF either. Everything was locked
and undisturbed. He searched every
where. but could see nothing Of 1t. Great
was his trepidation. for only one hope re-
NAMED: Some one might have replaced
1t in the safe. But how. inasmuch as he
was the sole guardian OF IT, he could not
comprehend.
However, with this CLEAN Of hope he
approached the receptacle; but was 50 agi-
tated that he had to sit down to recall
the combination OF the lock, which had
momentarily escaped him.
His treThor on opening 1t was succeeded
by great joy. There lay the treasured
folio in its accustomed place. He could
not imagine who had done him the favor.
but he expected to hear from 1t later.
His adventures and apprehensions were
by no means finished. He heard voices
outside. His dream was a prophecy thenl
He hastily shut the door of the safe and
hid the key to the inner drawer behind
the wainscot. By this time he could hear
the marauders at the outside door. There
was silence, some more mumbled words,
and then much to his relief they went
away On his way back he heard them at
the front door OF his residence. Then he
was partially relieved at hearing them
ring Burglars were not in the habit OF
entering a house with so much formality.
They might indeed be ready to knock him
over or to rush him. He therefore opened
II only as far as the chain-lock permitted.
Instead OF two ruffians, there stood the
two professors, the guardians OF the folio.
I'VE dreamed" remarked one OF them,
that the folio was missing, and that you
told us thieves had broken in and stolen
II. We met each other on our way to
each others houses and came right here
to see about It."
Come in" said he cheerfully, land
Wen soon see about it."
He led the way to the other room,
opened the safe, produced the key, and
exposed the volume with the air OF say
ing: What do you take me for, any
how?" He even ventured at poking a
little sly fun at the midnight prowling OF
/ two venerable professors.
AS they turned away, however, one
Of them said: isn't that an unsafe place
to leave that key? The lock is an ordin-
airy combination and easily might be dis
| covered"
In self defense he had to tell the whole
story OF his own dream and set them
| cogitating upon the strange coincidence,
But whether he actually left the book out
and walking In his sleep had come down
and replaced 1t in the safe and gone back
! to bed to dream OF its being stolen, he
never knew.-[New York Tribune Sunday
Magazine.