Year: 1873

/


More than hundred years have passed
since it was struck by lightning and split
from top to bottom, and the plough has
well turrowed the place where it grew.
Before that time the mighty old beech tree
sood. some hundred yards from the first
houses OF the village, on grassy mound,
Il tree such as one never sees in these
days, because animals. plants, and men.
are becoming small and mean.
The peasants said the tree dated from
he early Christian era. and that holy
apostle had been massacred beneath it by
the false heather: that the roots of the
tree bad 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 il,
small and great. Whoever fell asleep un.
der the tree and dreamed dream, that
dream would surely come true. So, from
time iInmemorial, 1t was called the Dream
ing Beech, and no one knew it by any
other name. There was, however, Pc
eniiar condition attached to the dreaming.
and IL anybody lay down under the beech
with the idea of dreaming of some partic-
ular thing, then the dream would be sure
to b" nothing but confusion and rubbish,
and nonsense of all sorts, of which no one
could make either head Or tail Now this
was assuredly rather difficult stipulation,
because most people are so very likely to
think of what lies nearest the heart con-
sequently, at the time this story COM
mences, not man or woman had tried
the plan with success. Still, for all that.
il was not to be denied but that the tradi-
ton of the Dreaming Beech was true.
! One hot summers day, when not a
breath of air stirred, a poor journeyman
came wandering along the road Things
hld gone very badly with him for many
years in foreign parts. When he reached
the illagc he turned his pockets inside
out fof the last time, bur, alas they were
empty.


= What am to do?' he thought to him
self. II am tired to death, but no one
will take me in for nothing, and it is hard
10 beg Just then his eyes fell upon the
noble beech tree, on the green grassy
slope; and as it stood only few Yards
from the road, he laid himself down under
it to rest. A gentle breeze sprung up and
rustled amongst the branches, whilst here
and there CLEAN of glittering sunshine
tell as the leaves We're moved. disclosing
glimpses of the deep blue sky beyond.
Then the tried wanderer closed his ewes
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. He dreamed that he sat
at table. in most cosy room; and the
| table was his own, and the room, and in
deed the whole house. At the table, lean.
ing on 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,
dragging about large carrot, to which
he had tied string. and shouting out
Tally ho. " as if it were the finest fox.
And both children were his own.


This was his dream; and it must have
been very pleasant dream. for his whole
face beamed, in his sleep, with happiness
When he awoke it was almost evening,
and before him stood shepherd, smoking.
He sprang up from the ground, much re-
freshed; stretched himself, and yawned,
saying:


Heavens if it were only true but, at
all events. it was pleasant to know how it
would all feel"


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


Having learnt that he was as innocent
abont it as n newborn babe. he exclaim-
ed:


well, you're Il lucky dog! For any
one could read in your face you were
dreaming something pleasant. was look
ing mt you for a long time, as You lay
there" And he told him the peculiar
virtue of the tree


"its sure to come true" he added, ''as
certain as that is a sheep and that lamb.
Ask the people in the village if it is not so,


Now just tell me what you dreamtn


"Old fellow" answered the young man.


grinnng, THAT'S the way, is it, you ques-
tion strangers in these parts mean to


keep my beautiful dream to myself. And


Won can't he surprised at that But for


all that uothng will come of it," and he


really believed what be was saving. for


mpred ~ himself, .'Stuff and nonsense


old wives tales | should like to know


how II tree Cuuld come by such power


A, II, c..lnu into the village he saw stuck


ont from the roof of the third house long


pole and golden crown dangling from it.
And below at the door stood the landlord
of the Crown Inn. He happened just then
to be in good humor. for he had very
good supper, and was feeling, in conse-
que .ec quite happy and genial. So the
young laboIer pulled Off his cap, and
asked for Il 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 Il bit of bread and cheese and
jug of beer to spare for ye, and truss OF
straw in the loft at night"


Whereupon he went into the house, and
sent ont 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, andtin return told him
all the village gossip. and how the corn
stood, and when the next dance at the
Crown would be.