Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1849-03-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE HEIR OF LINN.
BIZ WILLIAM }. sNELLrNo.

'
There is beautiful Scotch ballad by thi,
title that never saw but once in my life
but It made very strong impression on me
/ As the ballad is not to be found, Il will en-
deavOr to tell the story in plain prose,
The Laird of Linn, in Galway. was one Of
the richest landed proprietors in Scotland
| Besides his lands and dwellings,, he had ,focks
I and herds and good store Of gold. More
over, he was a man of frugal and parsimoni.
dus disposition, so that the gentlemen Of
Galway avoided bis company, and the whole
country cried shame on him Nevertheless,
his riches grew and increased to mighty
sum, AID there was no telling what heaps OF
treasures he had snugly concealed
The Heir of Linn did not marry till late
IN life, aud his wife died within year after
their marriage. Though naturally of a no.
BILE and generous temper, he was wild, reck.
less, and extrayagant Seeing and hearing
his father ridiculed every day, for his miser.
ly temperand habits, he resolved at all events
not to be like him, and spent all he could Law
his hands upon among low and dissolute COM
panions, in drinking aud riotous living. So
true is 1t that one extreme often produces
monstratcd with him he only q grew s. worse
and worse as he grew older and older
At last the Laird of Linn lay on his death
bed. He had outliyed all his near relations,
and he had no friends, 50 that hs was in q
his prodigal heir Previous to his dealt. he
called the Heir Of Linn to his bedside, and,
spoke to him thus:
my son, when my lips are cold in death,
and my tongue silent in the grave, know
how 1t will be with you. You will spend all
the substance of your ancestors. and all the
gold l have got together, in dissination and
extravaganza. Nevertheless, do not wish
my son to live beggar Therefore. give
heed to my dying command, and if you dis
regard It, may fathers curse cling to YOU.
\ GU know the upper chamber of MY house in
hippietrIngar. 1t is now locked up, and
have thrown the key into the sea When
you have lost both gold and land-when YOU
have not friend that viii lend you hawbee.
and when you are actually suffering for a
crust to appease your hunger, break the door
open, and you will find certain relief but if
you open the room before that time, / say
again, may fathers curse cling to you.n
With these words the old man fell back
on his pillow and died
The Heir of Linn did not gricye lone for
his parent. He soon threw opeu lis house
to all comers. His hrest fell beneath the
axe, bis ch!mneys we're always smoking,
hundred men sat daily at his board. and be
bought him horses and hounds, and ,lent
money without counting to his dissolute COM
panlons. lie feasted and drank, gained, and,
as 1T he could not get rid of his substance
fast enough in these ways, he took no care of
his affairs, but gave up the guidance of them
to bailif or steward named John Of the
Scales, who was knaye, and a notorious
usurer. John cheated his master in various
ways, and put more than half his rents and
moneys into his own pockets.
At last, what the Heir Of Inns father
had foreseen, came to pass. His money was
all gone, and be had no means Of keeping up
his excuses, except BY selling his lands, but
there was no one rich enough to buy them
except John Of the Scales, and eyery one
new how he came by his money. The Young
Laird was in desperate want Of cash to paw
his gaming debts, and was moreover heated
with wine, when his unjust steward offered
10 buy his estates. 1t was q hard case, but
after much reluctance, he agreed upon bar
gain. 1Give me your gold, good John Of
The Scales, and my lands shall be yours for
ever" said the heir of Linn.
Then John counted down the good yellow
gold, and a hard-bargain his master had for
& For every pound that John gave for it,
The land was well worth three.
The last money went like the FIRST and the
Heir Of Linn was beggar. He first went
10 the house that had once been bis own, but
now belonged TO John Of the Scales, to seek
some relief He looked in nt the window of
he great banquetting hall, but there was no
leasting going on in it The FIRE Was out, the
dinner table was taken away, and all was
desolate and dismal Here's sorry cheer
said the Heir Of Linn.
John would not give him penny. but told
him to 60 to the friends he had spent his
money upon 30 foolishly. He did 50. but it
did no good Some Of them pretended moi
q know him, and not one would lend him
fartning, OF even offer him q dinner. So he
wandered about forlorn and hungry, for two
days. ior work be could not, and "a her he
vas ashamed A last, in extreme misery.
he 1e;ho1ght himself Of his fathers dviir
words. II have not sold the old hons n
kipplcfripgar yet said ho. afor Io onc iii
buy u ! vii 80 and break open tie nnner
chamber: Ny father told ne / skoaId fnd
relief there, and perhaps he meant sre,r1r,
# 1. ]. SHOULD prove g, VIZ b wiser nan