The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-06-30

HurFa for caase--0f all causes the beat!
Hurra for Old Abe Honest Abe Of the West!
EDAusD c. STIpaAS-
THE HEIR OF LINN.
There is ss beau,iful Scotch ballad by
this title as l ever saw in my life; it made
. very strong impression upon me; but as
the ballad is not 70 be found, will endeavor
to tell the story in plain prose
The Laird of Linn, in Galway, was one
Of the richest landed proprietors in Scot
land. Besides the lands and dwelling, he
had Hocks and herds, and good stock of
gold. Moreover, he was man of frugal
and parsimoDious disposition, 90 that the
men OF Galway avoided Lis company, and
the whole town cried, shame on him. New
ertheless, his riches grew and increased to
a mighty sum, and there was no telling
what heaps of treasure he had snugly con-
cealed.
The Laird Of Linn did not marry till late
in life, and his wife died within year after
bis marriage. She left him one child, a
son, who was the Joy and plague OF bis ex-
istence. Though naturally Of noble and
generous temper, he was wild, reckless and
extravagant. Seeing and hearing bis father
ridiculed every day for his miserly temper
and habits, he resolved at all events not to
be like him, and spent all he could lay his
hands on among low, dissolute companions
in riotous living-so true it is that one e1-
treme often produces another. 1t was In
vain that his father demonstrated with him |;
be only grew worse as hs grew older.
A. last the Laird of Linn lay on his DEATH
bed. He had outlived all his near relations
and he had no friends, SO that he was
obliged to leave all his substance to his son
and beside, next to his gold he loved his
nrodigal heir. Previous to his death he
called the heir Of Linn to his bedside, and
thus spoke:
"My SOD, when my lips are cold in death,
and my tongue silent in the grave, ! know
how il will be with you. You will spend
all TIE substance Of your ancestors, and all
the gold have got together, in dissipation
and extravsgapce. Nevertheless, | do not
wish my son to live beggar. Therefore
give heed to my only dying command, and
If you disregard it, may fathers dying
curse cling to you. The upper chamber OF
my house in Kipplesringsn is now locked up
and have thrown the key into the sea-
When you have lost both geld and lands,
when you have not a friend who will lend
you baubee, and when you are actually
suffering for crust to sppease your hunger,
break open the door and you will find Ger
tain relief, but if you open the door before
that time, say again, may fathers curse
cling to you."
With these words the old man fell back
and expired.
The heir of Linn did not grieve long for
his parent. lie soon after threw open his
house to oil corners. His forests fell be-
meath the axe. His chimneys were always
smoking. Ahundred men sat daily at his
board, and he bought horses and hounds,
and lent money without counting it to his
disso olute companions he jested snd drank
and gambled, as if he could not get rid Of
his substance in all these ways, he took no
care of his affairs, but gave up the guidance
of them to bailif or s:eward named John
Of Scales, who vas knave and notorious
usurer. John cheated his master in a va
riety Of ways, and put more than hall his
rent into his own pocket.
At inst what Che heir Of Linn's father
had foreseen caIie to pass. His money
was all gone and he had no means OF keep
ing up his excuses except by selling his
lands; but no one was rich enough to buy
them except John Of Scales, and every one
knew how he came by his money. The
Young Laird was desperately in want OF
cash to pay his gaming debts, and was
narrower. heated with wine when the un-
lust steward offered to buy his estate. It
vas a hard case, but after much discussion
hs agreed npon the bargain.
.stiiye me your gold, good John OF Scales
and nv lands shall be yours forever, SAID
the heir OF Linn.
Than John counted down the good, clean
coIL and a hard bargain his master had of
4. For every pound that John agreed, the
land Was worth three.
The las, money went Ike the hrss, ana
the heir of Linn Was beggar. lie hrst
went to thS house that had once been his
own, but now belonged to John OF Scales, to
seek some relief. lie looked into the win
dow Of the great tanquetins ball, but thsrs
was no feassing going on in 1t. The hre
was out and the dinner table taken away,
and ali was dssols,s and dismal. ''Hsre's
sorry cheer," said the heir OF Linn.
John wouldn't give him penny, but told
him to 60 to the friends he had spent so
much money upon foolishly. He did so,
hu, it did no good. Some pretended not
4, know him, and no one would lend him a
f,r,hins. or even offer him dinner, so he
wandered abou, forlorn and hungry for two
aay.; fo- work Ne could not and to beg he
"a. ashamed. At las, in his extreme
misery, he be,houghs himself of his fathers
tv;n, words. sI have not sold the house
in Kipple,rinsan ye,," said be, ''for no one
vouli buv il. will 60 and break open the
nnner chamber. NJ father said would
6ud relief there, and perhaps he meant
treasure. If il should prove 80 | will be
wiser nan than was, and not waste it on
t,.v~.0
To the horse then be went, and broke the
chamber door open. He found reiief,
indeed.
There was ro.hine N the room except
high ssooi. and directly over il halter
issrliug from hook in the ceiling. lie
looked IN and read these words:
~Ah sraceiess wretch and wanson fool
You are rriaed forever. This 10 the only
relief sor those Who have wasted their pat
rinons as you have done. Behold then
pu. the halter around your neck, and jump
from the stool and thus save youf family
from the she Disgrace Of bsggarT."
"yery excellent counsel" said the he':
Of Linn, ssspd - must hang or starre,
think I'll take ~ fathers advice and hang.
10 10 sas shosses. death Of .the two."
So be moEnsed, fastened the kalses
around his neck, and kicked the stool from
under.
Bot the heir Of Linn was not to die 90.
The board into which tie hook vas driven
gave way vish his weight, and be fell %
the 6esc vish . shoues of geld coin rassiins
about his ears. will net SAY shas Be fsil
20 paia ia ths seek the ss1s day, but q
thai meness be certainly felt noae. Joy
rushed .nso his heays like . tosfsss, .: see
M hiuself rssceea from aeash asa bee4Asy
TIE spaes bssweea he eeilise md The rel
eeossssed IN susr1cus tveassre. On tos
vspss sids q ~ bessA frsn vhsca d