Year: 1873

1 y
full dream to myself, and you cam
be surprised at that. But for al
that, nothing will come of it," and
he really believed what he was say
ing, for as he walked toward the vii
lage, he murmured to himself, "Stuf
and nonsense! Old wives tales! ]
should like to know how q tree could
come by such power"


As he came to the village he saw
stuck out from the roof of the third
house a long pole with a golden
crown dangling from it. And below
at the door, stood the landlord oil
the Crown Inn. He happened just
then to be in good humor, for he had
had a very good supper, and was
feeling in consequence, quite happy
and genial. So the young laborer
pulled off his cap, and asked for a
nights shelter. The landlord Of the
Crown looked at the smart lad, in
his dusty, ragged clothes, from top
to toe, and then kindly nodding,
said to him:


@Sit down here in this arbor;
dare say there's a bit Of bread and
cheese and a jug of beer to spare ye,
and truss of straw in the loft at
night,


WhereupOn he went into the house
and sent out his daughter with the
bread and cheese and beer, and she
sat down beside the young man and
asked him to tell her of the foreign
lands, and in return told him all the
village gossip, and how the corn
stood, and when the next dance at
the Crown would be.


Suddenly she rose, leaned toward
the stranger, and said:


"Pray tell me what those three
leaves are, sticking out of your
waistcoat.


The young man looked down and
found the twig with the three leaves
which had fallen upon him while be
slept. 1t was caught in the flap Of
his waistcoat.


1T must have fallen from the great
beech tree just outside the village"
he replied, Il had a nap underit."


The girl listened attentiYely, wait
ing to hear what he would next say.
when he had ceased speaking, she
began to question him narrowly, till
she had ascertained that he had
fallen asleep under the great beech
tree, and that, moreover, he knew
nothing of the wonderful power and
properties attached to the tree. For
he was q sly dog, and pretended to
know nothing.


As soon as she had done question
ing, she went and drew him another
jug of beer, and pressed him to
drink, telling him all the lovely
things she had herself dreamt, and
what a pity it was they had never
come true.


just then the shepherd came
from the field, driving his sheep
through the village.


AS he passed the Crown Inn, he
saw the two sitting in the arbor in
earnest converse, and he stood still
q moment and said:


"Ah, yes, he'll be sure to tell you
the beautiful dream, though l can
get nothing out of him" And then
drove on his sheep.


When the girl found, do what she
would, she could not learn anything
about the dream, her curiosity knew
no bounds, and atlast she could con-
troll herselfno longer, and asked him
outright what he had dreamt while
sleeping under the beech.


Then the young man, who was a
mischievous rogue, and in very high |
spirits about his pleasant dream,
with Il sly wink and look said:


''Ahl had most glorious dream,
which must come true, but 1 dare
not tell you what it was"


But she worried and teased him
so, that at last he drew his chair
toward her, and told her quite
gravely:


Il dreamt 1 should marry the |
daughter Of the landlord of the |
Crown Inn, and that after a bit, 1 |
should become landlord myself"


On hearing this the girl grew as
white as lilly and then as red as a
rose, and then got up and walked |
back into the house. Then after
some little time she came again, and |
asked ifhe had really dreamt it, and |
was quite in earnest.


"To be sure" said he; "she who |
appeared to me in the dream was
most certainly like YOU"


The girl went into the house
and did not return. She walked |
straight to ler own room; and |
thoughts flowed through her brain,
like water that runneth apace. First
one idea, then another, chased it !
away till back came the first
thoughts. there was no end to the |
confusion? "He knows nothing
about the tree" she said to herself, |
che dreamt it, and whether | wish it |
or no, it will surely come to pass;
there's no possibility of changing |
that" With this she went to sleep |
and dreamt the whole night of the
young man. When she awoke the |
next morning, she knew his face by
heart, so often had she seen it in |
her dreams during the night. And |
he was a very good looking fellow,
too.


The young man had slept soundly
on his bed Of straw. Dreaming
Beech, dream, and all he had said to
the landlords daughter were alike
forgotten. He stood at the door of
the tap-room, and was justs shaking
the landlord hand, and wishing him
"good bye" when the girl entered.
On seeing him ready to start, an in
describable feeling came over her,
and she could not let him go.


Father" she said, "the beer has
not yet been tapped, and the young
man has nothing to do; couldn't he