Year: 1873

Then the shepherd came up and ask
ed 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 limo
/ cent about it as q newborn babe, lie
! exclaimed:


''Well, you're lucky dog For any
one could read in your face you were
dreaming something pleasant. | was
looking at you for long time. as YOU
lay there And he told him the pecu.
liar virtue of the tree.


Its sure to come true" he added
las certain As that is sheep and that
a lamb. Ask the people in the village
if it is not so. Now just tell me wha,
YOU dreamt."


"Old fellow" answered the Young
man, grnning, "that's the way, is it,
You question strangers in these parts
l mean 10 keep my beautiful dream to
myself. And YOU cant be surprised
at that. But for all that nothing will
come of it, and lie really believed
what he was saying, for as he walked
towards the village he murmurcd to
himself, "Stutr and nonsense, old
wives tales i | should like TO know
how tree could come by such power y


As he came into the village he saw
stuck ou: from the roof of the third
house a long pole and golden crown
dangling from it. And below at the
door, stool the landlord of the Crown
Inn. lie happened just then to bc in
good humor, for he had very good
supper, and was feeling, in conse-
quencc, quite happy and genial. 30
the young lahorcr pulled oil his cap.
and asked for a nights shelter. Tie
landlord Of the Crown looked AZ tie
smart lad. in his dusty. ragged clothes.
iiom top 10 toe, and then kindly no l.
nIng. SAID 10 him:


''>it down here iR this agbor | dare
say there's ht Of bread and cheese
aai iI- ~ beer 10 spare for Sc. and
a truss oi straw ia the TOO, Al night"


NAtrcupon lac went into the house.
ahd scnt out h., daughter with the
bread AMI cheese ami beer. and She sat
down beside the Young man and asked
h,m TO tell Lcr Of the foreign anis,
and IA return told him all the village
gossip. and how the corn stood. aud
when the next dance at the Crown
would be.


suddenly she rose. leaned toward
FNs.s - ----HF


Pray tell me what those lhrec
leaves are, sticking out of your waist
coat.


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


The girl listened attentlvely, wait
ing 10 hear what he would say next
When he had ceased speaking she be-
gan 10 question him narrowly. till She
had ascertained beyond doubt that
he had really fallen asleep under the
great beech tree, and that, moreover,
he knew nothing of the wonderful
power and properties attached 10 the
tree. For he was a sly dog. and pre-
tended 10 know nothing.


As soon as she had done question
Ing, she went and drew another Jug OF
beer, and pressed him TO drink telling
him all the lovely things she had her
self dreamt. and what 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 a moment,
and said:


"Ah, yes, nell be sure to tell YOU
the beautiful dream, though | can get
nothing out Of him." Aud then he
droye 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 at last she could control
herself no longer, and asked him out
right what he had dreamt while sleep
ing under the beech.


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


"Ah. l had most glorious dream,
which must come true but | dare not
| tell YOU what it was"


But she worried and teased hun SC
| that at last he drew his chair toward.
her, and told her grayelv:


Il dreamt | should marry the daugh
ter of the landlord of the Crown Inn
and that after bit / should become
landlord myself"


On hearing this the girl grew a.
white as a lily and then as red as
rose, and got up and walked back int,
the house. Then, after some little
time she came back again, and asked il
he had really dreamt it, and was quit,
in earnest.


10 be sure, TO be sure," said he
'.she who appeared to me in the dream
was, most certainly, just like you!'


Then the girl went again into til,
house, and did not return. She walked
straight to her own room and thought
flowed through her brain like wate
that runneth apace. First one idea
then another then another chased i
away till came back the first thoughts
Th ere was no end to confusion.


''He knows nothing about the tree,
she said to herself, she dreamt it, ant
whether wish it or no, it will surel,
come to pass there's no possibility O
changing that" And with this sh
went 70 bed, and dreamt the Who'll
night of the young man. When sh
awoke the next morning she knew hi
face by heart, SO often had she seen i
in her dreams during the night. An,
he was a very good-looking fellow too


The young man had slept soundly O
his bed Of straw. Dreaming Beech
dream, and all he had said to the land
lords daughter were alike forgotten
He stood at the door of the taD-room
, and was just shaking the landlord
hand, and wishing him goodbye whe
the girl entered, On seeing him read