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Literary
August 17, 1764
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A poor farmer, facing eviction, dreams of fortune in London. There, a shopkeeper's dream mention leads him home to dig up buried treasure under a pear tree, saving his family and teaching the value of dreams and industry.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The FARMER's DREAM
Notwithstanding the singularity of the following story, it is said to be matter of fact:
In a little village about 20 miles from London, lived an honest, but very poor farmer; he with much ado kept his wife and three children from starving; thus content, and even happy in poverty, they lived; until the cruel avarice of their hard hearted landlord was going to turn them out of their little cot for a quarter's rent, though he well knew the season had been very unfavourable for the industrious husbandman.
During this perplexity, he dreamed, if he would go to a certain place in London, he would hear of something to his advantage. He told his wife this, but she looked on it as the cause of an uneasy mind, and persuaded him from it, until having dreamed it twice again, he determined to go, notwithstanding all the remonstrances of his wife; having therefore gathered as much money as he could to support the family in his absence, he one fine morning set out on his long journey.
The length of the way was beguiled by the surprizing success he should meet with on his arrival in the great metropolis, and though clothed in rags; and only 2s. in his pocket, cheerfully prosecuted his march for two days. At the expiration of which he found himself on that magnificent building, called Westminster bridge.
He then inquired for the street that was to make his fortune for ever, and easily found it. Now was he greatly surprized, to think in so narrow a place, and so mean inhabitants, that it would be possible for him to attain his wished for ends. However, he continued his walk, backwards and forwards, for the space of two days and a half, resolving if possible, not to go back without his errand, nor quit the spot he had often visited in his sleep.
About the close of the second day, a young fellow, from a little hardware shop, asked him, if he wanted any body in that neighbourhood, for he had observed him walking about a considerable time; he long hesitated, at last told him it was in consequence of a particular dream, that he should hear of something to his advantage; the man listened very attentively, and at length smiling, assured him there was nothing worth minding in dreams; sir, continued he, If I had not known better, I might by this time have been digging in farmer Dent's ground at a little village in Bucks, for a considerable sum of money that lies under a pear tree in the middle of the garden. This, my friend, says he, I have dreamt three times over, but as I have no faith in dreams, I shall never trouble myself to go in search of it.
Scarce able to contain his joy at hearing his own name and place of abode mentioned, he thanked him kindly, and promised to seek no longer the vain pursuits of an idle dream, but would return to his anxious family whom he supposed by this time missed his daily labours.
Folly possessed that this was the grand advantage he was to meet with. You may readily imagine he lost no time to gain his little cot, but so great was his prudence, that when he arrived there, he did not, as many poor people would do, directly divulge the secret, but seemed quite composed and easy, rather tired than otherwise, as may be imagined after so long a walk.
However, the children were no sooner in bed and the neighbourhood quiet, than he told his wife the success of his journey, and his determination to try whether it was so or not.
Accordingly they sallied forth with pick axe and spade, in search of this inestimable treasure; long time they dug in vain, until the spade seemed to be stopped in its progress by something hard; this presently revived their almost dying hopes, and they with difficulty raised a large pot, with a copper plate over it, and an inscription in Latin, which you may depend on they did not understand: however, they preserved it for the inspection of some scholars, who frequently came there to taste the farmer's good ale. A second pot of the same kind finished their search. And now rejoicing in their riches, they both agreed there was something in dreams that should be observed.
The good woman spent the best part of the next day in cleaning the money they found, which consisted of old pieces of gold and silver; they then discharged their inhuman landlord, and purchased a farm well stocked, in which I will defy the greatest nobleman to enjoy more solid happiness.
One of the scholars came soon after, & explained the meaning of the words on the plate, which was this:
When this is found, if you so will,
Dig on, you'll find one better still.
I know no better moral to apply to the above, whether true or false, but that an honest industrious man may always find a pot of gold, whether from a pear tree, or the open field, is no matter.
Notwithstanding the singularity of the following story, it is said to be matter of fact:
In a little village about 20 miles from London, lived an honest, but very poor farmer; he with much ado kept his wife and three children from starving; thus content, and even happy in poverty, they lived; until the cruel avarice of their hard hearted landlord was going to turn them out of their little cot for a quarter's rent, though he well knew the season had been very unfavourable for the industrious husbandman.
During this perplexity, he dreamed, if he would go to a certain place in London, he would hear of something to his advantage. He told his wife this, but she looked on it as the cause of an uneasy mind, and persuaded him from it, until having dreamed it twice again, he determined to go, notwithstanding all the remonstrances of his wife; having therefore gathered as much money as he could to support the family in his absence, he one fine morning set out on his long journey.
The length of the way was beguiled by the surprizing success he should meet with on his arrival in the great metropolis, and though clothed in rags; and only 2s. in his pocket, cheerfully prosecuted his march for two days. At the expiration of which he found himself on that magnificent building, called Westminster bridge.
He then inquired for the street that was to make his fortune for ever, and easily found it. Now was he greatly surprized, to think in so narrow a place, and so mean inhabitants, that it would be possible for him to attain his wished for ends. However, he continued his walk, backwards and forwards, for the space of two days and a half, resolving if possible, not to go back without his errand, nor quit the spot he had often visited in his sleep.
About the close of the second day, a young fellow, from a little hardware shop, asked him, if he wanted any body in that neighbourhood, for he had observed him walking about a considerable time; he long hesitated, at last told him it was in consequence of a particular dream, that he should hear of something to his advantage; the man listened very attentively, and at length smiling, assured him there was nothing worth minding in dreams; sir, continued he, If I had not known better, I might by this time have been digging in farmer Dent's ground at a little village in Bucks, for a considerable sum of money that lies under a pear tree in the middle of the garden. This, my friend, says he, I have dreamt three times over, but as I have no faith in dreams, I shall never trouble myself to go in search of it.
Scarce able to contain his joy at hearing his own name and place of abode mentioned, he thanked him kindly, and promised to seek no longer the vain pursuits of an idle dream, but would return to his anxious family whom he supposed by this time missed his daily labours.
Folly possessed that this was the grand advantage he was to meet with. You may readily imagine he lost no time to gain his little cot, but so great was his prudence, that when he arrived there, he did not, as many poor people would do, directly divulge the secret, but seemed quite composed and easy, rather tired than otherwise, as may be imagined after so long a walk.
However, the children were no sooner in bed and the neighbourhood quiet, than he told his wife the success of his journey, and his determination to try whether it was so or not.
Accordingly they sallied forth with pick axe and spade, in search of this inestimable treasure; long time they dug in vain, until the spade seemed to be stopped in its progress by something hard; this presently revived their almost dying hopes, and they with difficulty raised a large pot, with a copper plate over it, and an inscription in Latin, which you may depend on they did not understand: however, they preserved it for the inspection of some scholars, who frequently came there to taste the farmer's good ale. A second pot of the same kind finished their search. And now rejoicing in their riches, they both agreed there was something in dreams that should be observed.
The good woman spent the best part of the next day in cleaning the money they found, which consisted of old pieces of gold and silver; they then discharged their inhuman landlord, and purchased a farm well stocked, in which I will defy the greatest nobleman to enjoy more solid happiness.
One of the scholars came soon after, & explained the meaning of the words on the plate, which was this:
When this is found, if you so will,
Dig on, you'll find one better still.
I know no better moral to apply to the above, whether true or false, but that an honest industrious man may always find a pot of gold, whether from a pear tree, or the open field, is no matter.
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
Fable
Vision Or Dream
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Agriculture Rural
Taxation Oppression
What keywords are associated?
Farmer Dream
Hidden Treasure
Moral Tale
Rural Poverty
Buried Gold
London Journey
Literary Details
Title
The Farmer's Dream
Key Lines
When This Is Found, If You So Will, Dig On, You'll Find One Better Still.
I Know No Better Moral To Apply To The Above, Whether True Or False, But That An Honest Industrious Man May Always Find A Pot Of Gold, Whether From A Pear Tree, Or The Open Field, Is No Matter.