DREAM CAME TRUE

Evening Star, Issue 23862, 17 April 1941, Page 12

DREAM CAME TRUE

NORFOLK MAN WAS “ DIRECTED " STORE OF HIDDEN TREASURE Oan a dream really guide a person to do certain things which often turn out to be profitable ? The. question is asked in a London journal and the writer goes on to say that most of us will probably reject such an idea, but now and then we come across stories which seem to support the theory that dreams can be profitable. . ■ v. One of these , is told in the . town chronicles of Swaffham. Norfolk. In the little market square, before Hitler’s threats removed all names and signposts from the face of the countryside, stood a memorial bearing , the town’s name, and underneath the effigy of a certain John Chapman .and his dog. Abound this man, who is said to have been a pedlar by trade, the tale has been woven. One night he had a vivid dream in which he was advised to visit London. There, on a particular corner of the bridge, a stranger would approach him and. give, hijni. .paMtaliL- .AcLvice acgiudr

ing his future. As the dream was identically repeated on successive nights, John Chapman decided to go to London to see if there were anything in it. Arriving at the capital, ho proceeded to the place indicated in his dream. Strangely enough, be recognised it immediately, although bo bad never been there before. 11c waited there a whole day, but nothing happened. Again the second and third days went by in vain, and be finally decided be would be more sensible in returning Pome •fust as ho was about to leave the bridge _a stranger approached him and asked if he were expecting any one, as he had noticed him waiting there for three days now. Nothing loth, Chapman related the whole story behind his long vigil, only intentionaly omitting tho name of his town. The stranger was highly amused. “ Don’t be such a fool,” he scolded; “ just be sensible and return home. You will get much richer by going about your \vork. 1 have bad a similar dream, and if I were such a credulous person as you seem to be I. should now Pe in Norfolk, in a small town called Swaffham, I believe. There 1 was to dig under an oak tree behind a pedlar’s house, and if f were lucky enough 1 would discover a treasure worth a forl ihc,

“ But I am not so foolish as to make such a fruitless journey, although I also have had the same dream several nights running. Just be like me and ignore such superstition!” Hiding his intense interest in the stranger’s story, Chapman thanked him for his advice and set off for home, where he was soon digging under the oak tree in his garden. To his amazement, he unearthed a large metal jar, filled to the brim with gold coins. Chapman could haraly contain himself. but, nevertheless, carefully hid the coins, putting the jar itself among his own stock. One day a customer pointed out to him an inscription on the jar which Chapman himself had overlooked. It was in Latin, and the obliging customer translated it as reading, '■ Underneath me there is another, even larger than 1 No sooner was Chapman alone than he was digging again at tho same spot, and quickly unearthed a second jar, which, as promised, was twice the’ size of the first one. and likewise filled to the brim with gold. So the pedlar of Swaffham received a handsome divalent on his particular dream. By way of showing his appreciation be caused the ruined north aisle of the Cbmvli of St. refer and Paul to be rebuilt. ...