HPB-SB-8-340: Difference between revisions

  | status = proofread

  | source title = London Spiritualist

  | source details = No. 365, August 22, 1879, p. 95

{{Style S-Small capitals|In}} the ''Mirror ''for 1833 there is a narration of a remarkable dream that occurred to a tinker of Swaff-ham, in Norfolk, two or three hundred years ago, and which is both traditional and historical, being well known, in its first form, in the place where it occurred, and having been recorded in the legendary chronicles of former times. This tinker, a hardworking, industrious man, one night dreamed that if he took a journey to London, and placed himself at a certain spot on London Bridge, he should meet one that would tell him something of great importance to his future prospects. The tinker, on whom the dream made a deep impression, related it fully to his wife in the morning, who, however, half laughed at him and half scolded him for his folly in heeding such idle fancies. Next night he re-dreamed the dream, and again on the third night; when the impression was so powerful on his mind that he determined, in spite of the remonstrances of his wife and the ridicule of his neighbours, to go to London and see the upshot of it. Accordingly he set off for the metropolis on foot, reached it late on the third day (the distance was p ninety miles), and, after the refreshment of a night’s rest, took his station next day on a part of the bridge answering to the description in his dream, There he stood all day, and all the next, and all the third, without any communication as to the purpose of his journey; so that, towards night on the third day, he began to lose patience and confidence in his dream, inwardly cursed his folly in disregarding his wife’s counsel, and resolved next day to make the best of his way home. He still kept his station, however, till late in the evening, when, just as he was about to depart, a stranger, who had noticed him standing steadfastly and with anxious looks on the same spot for some days, accosted him, and asked him what lie waited there for. After a little hesitation the tinker told his errand, though without acquainting him with the name of the place whence he came. The stranger enjoyed a smile at the rustic’s simplicity, and advised him to go home, and for the future to pay no attention to dreams. “I myself” said he, “if I were disposed to put faith in such things, might now go a hundred miles into the country upon a similar errand. I dreamed three nights this week that if I went to a place called Swaffham, in Norfolk, and dug under an apple tree in a certain garden on the north side of the town, I should find a box of money; but I have something else to do than run after such idle fancies! No, no, my friend; go home and work well at your calling, and you will find there the riches you are seeking here.” The astonished tinker did not doubt that this was the communication he had been sent to London to receive; but he merely thanked the stranger for his advice, and went away avowing his intention to follow it. He next day set out for home, and on his arrival there said little to his wife touching his journey; but next morning he rose betimes, and began to dig on the spot he supposed to be pointed out by the stranger. When he had got a few feet down, the spade struck upon something hard, which turned out to be an iron chest. This he quickly carried to his house, and, when he had with difficulty wrenched open the lid, found it to his great {{Style S-HPB SB. Continues on|8-341}}