ality than myself; and I don’t think I ever forgot a dream in my life. I once dreamt I cannot remember how many years ago my guardian angel stood at my bed-side, in the shape of a youth, with golden locks, and two silver wings at his shoulders. He spoke to me:—‘Berthold,’ said he, treasure up the words I utter, that not one of them may be forgotten. A great treasure is des tined to become yours, which you must dig up, and which shall make you comfortable all the rest of your life. Tomorrow evening, when the sun is descending, take a spade on your shoulder, cross the river, keep on the right-hand till you pass the cloister of St. John, then take your way through the court of the cathedral, and you will come to a garden that has this remarkable token, four stonesteps leading from the street toitsentrance. Stay there till the moon rises, then press with all your strength against the slightly-fastened door, and it will give way: enter boldly, and walk on to the vine. Behind it, on the left, a tall apple-tree rises above the low bushes beneath. Go to the root of this apple-tree, with your face turned towards the moon, and you will perceive, about three yards from you, two rose-bushes. There dig, three spans deep, till you come to a stone plate: beneath it the treasure lies buried in an iron chest. You will find it heavy and unwieldy, but do not despair of getting it up, for it will reward all your labour, if you find the key which is hidden under the chest.”
Francis stared with astonishment. He knew from this minute description that the garden was one which formerly belonged to himself.
“And did you not go there and dig?” asked he, while he strove to appear quite unconcerned.
“Pooh!” exclaimed the old soldier—“Why should I give myself unnecessary trouble? It was nothing but a dream. The night is no man’s friend. I have no fancy for having any thing to do with ghosts and treasure-digging.”
“Very true,” replied Francis, and drew out his only remaining piece of silver coin. “There, old man,” he continued, “take this, and drink my health with it. Do not fail to be upon this bridge every day: we shall meet again, I hope.”
The gray-headed cripple, who had not received such alms for many a month, invoked a thousand blessings upon the head of his benefactor, and limped away to a public-house where he made merry; while Francis, animated with new-born hopes, hurried back to his lodgings.
On the following day he got every thing in readiness that was necessary for his treasure-digging, and conveyed it to the proper place shortly before sunset. With an impatient longing he then waited for the rising of the moon. As soon as she shone with sufficient brightness to distinguish objects, he began his labour cheerily. All at once his spade struck against something hard, and in about a quarter of an hour a large chest became visible. With indescribable joy he continued to labour away till he got it out of the earth—opened it with the key which he found beneath it—and who shall describe his raptures as he perceived bag after bag standing together, not one of which contained less than a thousand gold pieces?
His father, to guard against unfore seen reverses of fortune, had buried a portion of his wealth in this garden, where, in the latter part of his life, he passed much of his time. Probably it was his intention before his death to have apprized Francis of it, but he was called away so suddenly that he carried his secret with him to his grave.
Francis now began to consider how he might best convey this wealth to his lodging without being perceived. It was too much to carry all at once. He hid the greater part of it, therefore, in the hollow of an old tree, that stood upon a common. As much as he could take with him he did, and at the end of three days he had managed to remove the whole of it. He then hired a better house, clothed himself in suitable apparel, and ordered a thanksgiving to be offered up in the cathedral for a traveller returned to his native city after a prosperous arrangement of all his affairs.
He appeared again upon the exchange, and began a traffic, which in a few weeks so enlarged itself that he took spacious premises in the market-place, employed book-keepers and numerous agents, and attended unweariedly to business. His former flatterers and parasites began to gather round him; but he had grown wise by experience-not one of them could get footing in his house.
