The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-03-25
st1 al torisiaaI.l
The Modern Heir Of Linn.
BY ,. Q. WHITwELt.

Then hear my dyibg counses, and bind them to your
i heart;
These large and fAir pO''esSiOn1, unoumbersd and
give you, and you only, for you are all to me.
any son, this word decsitful, isready to ensnare-
Ofallia false entertainments, warn you 10 beware
But al these words are useless, read it in your
Long says are doomed to IiO, long nights to revol
high.
"Then hear me, and remember when you have
spent my gold, aa
When ali your means are squapdered, and all your
lands are sold,
When al the friends deSett you, that reveled in
And when ZEN your guilty folly you bitterly dsplore.
I" Remember, then, this packet. which l to you
confde,
And bear i e the Hermit, on yOnder mountain side;
To him and his assistance, do you your cause com.
mend,
He long has been your fathers, 60 make him 100
your friend.
''What msy.b done to help you, the hermit best
God be with you 10 trouble; my dearest son, arewel'
When thus the sire had spoken, he yielded up his
breath,
And Aldervals's late owner lay cold and stiff in
death.
Alengthened line of mOurnerS, the funeral pOmp dis
played,
With dOwucast look walked WELLBoRN in sable
deep arrayed,-
But when the train, returning, had swept the
er By,
His heart was swellsd with triumph, though tears
were in his eye.
Ere many days were over, the young mans tears
were dried;
Ere many weeks were counted, the sables laid aside;
Flowed high the sparkling goblet, the dice box shook
amain,
And Aldervale's rich owner was all himself again.
In deep and late carOusas, he drank the brightest
wine,
OF Burgundy's rich vnsyard, and Of the island vine;
The went by hundreds, yet with the pendthrft
heir,
Who paid or lent the money was neither thought nor
care.
Nor fair nor wealthy lady could his attention win,
From Graspalps brazen daughter, the Damsel Of the
The landlord took the mOney--ths damsel filed the
cup,
The broad domains of Wellborn were quickly swal-
lowed up.
With gathered force descending, how swiftly moves
the ball,
Down to the pit Of ruin, how rapid is the fall
The gallant and the gentle on WsllbOrn ceased to
| smile,
COnsorted he with rufians, the vilest Of the vile.
He who had lately revelled on wine or highest strain
And culled the richest vintage Of xeres and Cham
Now drank the base pOtatiOnS, the country still
supplied,
-Four years were past in reveI, and all his wealth
Nor knew the wretched spendthrft to whom his sub
stance went
He wandered, poor and ragged, where he had ruled
The lardlord and his daughter both, drove him from
the door.
AS he in hunger wandered, exposed to rain and
wind,
His fathers dying counsel came suddenly to mind;
He took the heTmps letter, and rising from despair,
| He sought the distant mountain, to ind shelter
there.
He travelled to fountain full flowing 10 the brink,
maiden stood beside it, and offered him to drink
! Her face was stained with fTecklss, her eyes were
turned askew.
She seemed in form and feature, most loathSoms to
the view. tas
The cup was purest crystal, yet still the foule't
/ draught,
1t seemed to the young spendthrih. that ne had ever
i quaied;
She answered to his question, "My sire, doth
\ yOnder DWELL
am his only daughter, the Maiden Of the Well"
Young Wellborn, turning from her, walked toward
Il the mountain cave,
The old man ha { way met him, and Surly welcome
gave; -,
While they were long converting, was WellbOrn i'll
II at ease,
AT last spoke out the hermit, my terms with you
are these: 5.
"YOu first must sign this promise, by which you DO
II agree
Il Till one years end in service to bind yoursefto me,
Aud then wed my daughter, and live with her till
II DEATH"
Il Young Welborn dropped his eyelid, and grOaned
II and gaspsd for breath.
He thought such fate however, was better than the
So signed away his freedom, and made himself
II slave
The hermit gave him shelter and garb ofruStic wear
His bed was Of the rye-straw, his food the eOaTseSt
II fare.
II A long and weary twelve month he laborsd on the
Each dsy HI. food less bitter, less irksOme grew his