Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-09-19
THE HEIR OF LINN.
BY WIN. J. SMELLING.

The Laird Of Linn, in Galway, was
one Of the richest landed proprietors in
Scotland. Besides bis lands and dwell.
lings, he had fiocks and herds, and
good store ofgold. Moreover, he was a
man of frugal and parsitnonious dispo.
sition, so that the gentlemen Of Galway
avoided his company, and the whole coun.
try side cried shame on him. Neverthe.
less, his riches grew and increased to
mighty sum, and there was no telling
What heaps of treasure he had snuglY
concealed.
The Laird of Linn did not marry till
late in life, and his wife died within a
year after their marriage. She left him
one child, son, who was the Joy and
plague Of his existence. Though natu.
rally Of noble and generous temper he
was wild. reckless, and extravagarit.-
Seeing and hearing his father ridicuIed
every day, for his misery temper and
habits, he resolved ct all events not to be
like him, and spent all he could lay his
hands upon, among low and dissolute
companions, in drinking and riotous liv>
ing. So true it is that one extreme of.
ten produces the other. 1t was in vain
that his father demonstrated with him:
he only grew worse and worse as he grew
older and older.
At last the Laird Of Linn lay on his
death bed. He had out lived all his near
relations, and be had no friends, so that
he was in a manner obliged to leave all
his substance to his son; and besides,
next to his gold, he loved his prodigal
heir. Previous to his death, he called
the Heir of Linn to his bedside, and thus
spake to him:
my son, when my lips are cold in
death, and my tongue silent in the grave.
| know how it will be with you. You
will spend all the substance of your an.
cestors, and all the gold l have got to-
gelher, in dissipation and extravaganza.
Nevertheless, | do not wish my son to
live beggar. Therefore, give heed to
my only dying command, and if you dis
regard it, may fathers curse cling to
you. You know the upper chamber of
my house in Kippletringan. 1t is now
locked up, and have thrown the key in
to the sea. When you have lost both
gold and land, when you have not friend
who will lend you a bawbee, and when
you are actually suffering for crust to
appease your hunger, break the door
open, and you will find certain relief
but ifyou open the room before that time,
say again may fathers curse cling to
you"
With these words, the old man fell
back on his pillow and expired.
The Heir of Linn did not grieve long
for his parent. He soon threw open his
house to all corners. His forests fell be-
meath the axe, his chimneys were always
smoking. hundred men sat daily at his
board, and he bought him horses and
hounds, and lent money without counting
to his dissolute companions. He toasted
and drank, and gained, and. as if he coulc
not get rid Of his substance fast enough
in all these ways, he took no care of hi
affairs, but gave up the guidance ofthen
to a bailiff or steward named John of tn,
Scales. who was . knave and notori
GUS usurer. John cheated his master il
various ways, and put more than half hi
J. Erents and moneys into. his own pocket.
Al last, what the Heir Of Linn fathe
had foreseeA came to psss. His none
was all gone, and be had no means {