Year: 1873

THE DREAMING BEECH.


More than hundred years have pass
ed since it was struck by lightning am
split from top to bottom, and the plov
has well furrowed the place where
grew. Before that time the mighty ol,
beech tree stood, some hundred yards
from the first houses of the village, Oh
a grassy mound, tree such as one
never sees in these days, because AMI.
mails, plants, trees, and men are becom-
ing small and mean.


The peasants said the tree dated from
the early Christian era, and that holy
apostle had been massacred beneath il
by 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, great and small. Whoever
fell asleep under the tree, and dreamt a
dream, that dream would surely come
true. So from time immemorial it was
called the Dreaming Beech, and no one
knew it by any other name. There was,
however, peculiar condition attached
to the dreaming, and if anybody lay
down under the beech with the idea OF
dreaming some 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 as
suredly rather difficult stipulation,
because most people are so very likely
to think of what lies nearest the heart.


One hot summers day, when not a
breath of air stirred, poor iourneyman
came wandering along the road. Things
had gone very badly with him for many
years in foreign parts. When he reach
ed the village he turned his pockets in
side out for the last time, but, alas
they were empty.


"What am I to do?" he thought to
himself "I am tired to death, but nc
one will take me in for nothing, and il
is hard to beg" Just then his eyes fell
upon the noble beech tree, on the green
grassy slopel; and as it stood only few
yards from the road, he laid himseh
down under it to rest. While he was
soundly sleeping branch dropped from
the beech tree, with three leaves on it,
which fell just on his breast. He dreamt
that he sat at table, in a most cozy
room, and the table was his own, and
the room, and, indeed the whole house
At the table, leaning on it with botL
hands. stood young woman, looking
lovingly at him and that was
his wife. On his knees sat 6
child, whom he was feeding
with soup, and because the soup was
too hot, he blew upon the spoon tc
cool it. Then his wife cried out, laugh.
ingly, "What a capital nurse you
make !" jumping about the room was
another child-a fat, rosy-cheeked ur.
chin-dragging about large carrot, tc
which he had tied string, and shout.
ing out, Tally no !! as if it were the
finest fox. And both children were his
wn.


This was his dream; and it must have
been very pleasant dream, for his
whole face beamed, in his sleep, witt
happiness.


When he awoke it was almost evening
and before him stood shepherd smok
ing. He sprang up from the ground
much refreshed, stretched himself, and
yawned, saying:


Heavens ! if itwere only true but
at all events, it was pleasant to know
how it wonld all feel p'


Then the shepherd came up and
asked him whence he came, and whittier
he was going, and whether he had evel
heard of the wonderful Beech?


Having learned he was as innocent as
newborn babe, he exclaimed


"Well, you're lucky dog For any
one could read in your face you were
dreaming for long time as you lay
there" And he told him the peculiar
virtue of the tree. cts sure to come
true" he added. "Now, just tell me
what you were dreaming"


cold fellow" answered the young
man, grinning, that is the way, is it
you question strangers in these parts
I mean to keep my beautiful dream tc
myself, and You can't be surprised a
that. But for all that nothing will come
of it. Stuff and nonsense! I should
like to know how tree could come by
such power ~


As he came into the village he saw
stuck from the roof of the third house
a long pole, with golden crown dang
ling from it. And below, ct the door
stood the landlord of the Grown Inn. HI
happened to be in good humor, for ht
had very good supper, and was feel
ing quite happy and genial. So tn,
young laborer pulled off his cap ant
asked for nights shelter.


The landlord of the Crown I'M
looked at the smart lad in his dusty
ragged clothes, from top to toe, ant
then kindly nodding, said to him:


"Sit down here in this arbor. / dar,
say there's bit of bread and chees'