Year: 1873

More than n hundred years have
passed since IT was struck by lightning
AMI split from top 10 bottom, and the
plough has well furrowed the place
where il grew. Before that time the
mighty old beech tree stood, some
hundred yards from the first houses of
the village, on a grassy mound, tree
such a. one never sees Ia these DAYS.
because animals, plants, and men, are
becoming small and mean.


The peasants said the tree dated
from the early Christian era, and that
holy apostle had been massacred be-
meath il by the false heather 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 concern
ing the tree, and everybody in the viii
lase knew about it, small and great.
Whoever fell asleep under the tree and
dreamed dream, that dream would
ouiClN NoAiiC bAaNs A'cS 'ANAAA eiAhN
memorial, it was called the Dreaming
Beech, and no one knew it by any
other name. There was, however, Il
peculiar condition attached to the
dreaming, and if anybody lay down
under the beech with the idea of dream
ing of some particular thing, then the
dream would be 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 assuredly rather difficult stipula-
ton, because most people are SO very
likely to think of what lies nearest the
heart consequently, at the time this
story commences. not man or woman
had tried the plan with success. Still.
for all that, it was not to be denied but
that the tradition of the Dreaming
Beech was true.


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


"What am l to do:' he thought to
himself. IL 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 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 anc
there a CLEAN of glittering sunshine
fell as the leaves were moved, disclos
ing glimpses of the deep blue sky be
yond. Then the tired wanderer CLOSED
his eyes and slept. Whilst he wa.
thus soundly sleeping, branch drop
ped from the beech tree, with thre,
leaves on it, which fell just on hi
breast. He dreamed that he sat at
table, in a most cosy room; and th'
table was his own, and the room, anC
indeed the whole house. At the table
leaning on it with both hands, stood
young woman. looking lovingly at him


and that was his wife. On his knee
sat child, whom he was feeding witt


soup. And because the soup was to-


hot he blew upon the spoon to cool il
Then his wife cried out, laughing
"What q capital nurse you make !!


Jumping about the room was anothe
child, q fat, rosy-cheeked urchin, drag
ging about large carrot, to which b


had tied string, and shouting ou


"Tally no !" as il he was the finest fox


And both children were his own.


: This was his dream; and it mus


have been a very pleasant dream, fo
. his whole face beamed, in his sleeI
with happiness.


When he awoke it was almost ever


ing, and before him stood shepherd