Reading a .TXT map in a text game

[Blizzarddog]

I want to have a text game map that looks like this:

***********
*+++---------*
*--------------*
*------- &----*
* -----#------*
***********

Then have the program run like this:
if the square the user is on is a + sign, then heal him/
If the square is &, give him a gun,
if the square is #, take 25 health from him.

How could i do that.