The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-07-11
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From the Boston Herald.
THE HEIR OF LINN.
BY WILLIAM SMELLING.

! There Is as beautiful Scotch ballad by
this title. as ! ever saw in my life; bul it
made a very strong impression "n me. As
the ballad hv is NOT 10 he found. ! will en-
deavnr to tell the story in plain prose.
The Laird Of Linn, in Galway, was one
ofthe riches,slandcd proprictors in Scotland.
Besides the lands and dwellings, he had
Aocks and herds and good store of god.
Moreover, he was a man of frugal and par
simoninns disposition. 50 that the men OF
Galway avoided his company, and the coun-
try side cried shame on him. Nevertheless.
his riches grew and increased to mighty
sum- and there was no telling what heaps Of
treasure he had snngly concealed
The Laird of Linn did not marry till late
| in life, and his wife died within year after
their marriage She left him one child, a
son who was The Joy and plague Of his exis
lcnce. Though naturally Of noble and
generous temper. he was wild. reckless and
extra7agant. Seeing and hearing his father
ridiculed every day, for his misery temper
and habits, he resolved at all events not to
be like him, and spent all he could lay his
hands upon among low and dissolule com.
panons, in drinking and riotous living. So
| true it is that one extreme often produces
the other. 1t was in vain that his father
demonstrated with him; he only grew worse
as he grew older.
AT last the Lard Of Linn lay on his DEATH
bed. He had ouiIived all his near relatives.
and he had no friends, so that he was obliged
to leave all his substance to his son; and be-
s.dc, next to his gold, he loved his prudigal
heir. Previous to his death, he called the
Heir of Linn TO his bed; ;s'dc' and thus spoke
to him:
"My son, when my lips are col! in death,
and my tongue silent in the grave. know
how it will be with you. You will spend all
gold got together in DISSIPATION and ex-
,ravagancc Nevertheless. ] do moi wish my
son to live bcggar. Therefore give heed
10 my only diving command, aud If YOU dis
regard it, may fathers dying curse cling
TO you. You Know The upper chamber of
my house in Kipperingan. 1t is now lock-
ed up and have thrown the key in the sea.
When yon have lost both gold and land,
when you have not friend who will lend
you bawbce, and when you are actually
suffering for a crust to appease your hun
ger, break the door open. and you will find
certain relief; but if You open the room
before the lime, ] say again, may fathers
curse cling TO you."
With these words the old man fell back
and expired.
The Heir of Linn did moi grievc long for
his parent. He soon after threw open his
house to all comers. His forest ali fell be.
ffcatI Ble aka s,is chiDncys were always
snfnkink. hundfed men sat at his board, and
he bought him horses and hounds. and len,
money without counting to his dssolule com.
panons.' He feaslcd. aud drank. and gam.
hIe'; and as ifhe could st get rid of his sub.
stance last enough in all these ways he took
no care of his affairs, but gave the guidance
Of them to bahR or steward named John
of Scales, who was knave aad a notorious
usurer. John cheated his nastGr in various
ways, and put more than half his repfs and
money INTO his own pocket
A, last what the Heir Of Einn's father had
foreseen came 10 pass. His money was all
gone, and he had no means of keeping up
his excesses except by selling his lands, but
there was no one rich enough to buy them
excepting John of Scales, and every one
knew how he came by his money. The
young Laird was in desperate want Of cash
to pay his gaming debts, and was moreover
heated with wine, when this unjust steward
offered to buy his estate. 1t was hard
case, but, after much discussion, ho agreed
upon the bargain.
"Give me your gold, good John Of Scales
and my lands shall be yours, forever" said
the Heir of Linn.
Then John counted down the good red
gold, and hard bargain his master had
made of 1t. For every pound that John
agreed, the land was well worth three.
1 The last money was like the first, and the
Heir of Linn was beggar. He first went
4 to the House that had once been his own