The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-07-11

open the upper chamber. My father said I
would find relief there and perhaps he meant
treasure. IF it should prove SO, will be
| wiser man than I was, and not waste it on
knaves.' To the house then he went, and
broke the chamber door open. He found re-
lief indeed.
There was nothing in the room except q
high stool, and directly over it halter dangled
| from hook in the ceiling. He looked up and
read these words:
ooh graceless wretch and wanton fool |!
You are ruined forever. This is the only re-
lief for those who have wasted their patrimony
as you have done. Behold then-put the hal
ter around your neck, and jump from the stool
and save your family from the disgrace of
beggary."
Linn, "and as 1 must either hang or starye, 1
think I'll take my fathers advice and hang.
1t is the shortest death of the two"
So he mounted, fastened the halter around
his neck, and kicked the stool from under.
But, the heir of Linn was not to die so.
The board into which the hook was driven
gave way with his weight, and he fell on the
floor with a shower of gold coin rattling about
his ears. I will not say that he felt no pain
in the neck the next day, but at that moment
heart like torrent, at seeing himself rescued
from death and beggary. The space between
the ceiling and the roof contained an enormous
treasury. On the upper side of the door from
which he thought to suspend himself, was fast
ened letter addressed to him. He hastily
tore it open and read as follows:
"My dear son, I know your character, and
no expostulation or advice can wean you from
the desperate course you are pursuing. Moth
ing but misery sharper than death, can work
the cure on you. If, therefore, your misfor-
Il L. 41o%,
death to their endurance, you will not rashly
encounter them again. You have made the
trial; take my gold, redeem your lands, and
become better man."
Tie heir of Linn did not leave the spot
without putting up prayer for the soul of
man whose admirable wisdom had discovered
the means of raising him from beggary and
despair to afluence, and of weaving him from
the folies and vices which had so disgraced
his character. To evince his gratitude, he re-
solved to amend his life from that day for
ward, and become all fathers heart could
wish.
But he thought he would make one more
trial of his false friends on whom he had vast
ed his time his substance, and his character.
He therefore kept.his newly discovered wealth
grett secret, until he heard that John of
Scales was to give great entertainment, and
all the lords and ladies of Galway were to be
there.
When the heir of Linn entered his fathers
hall, it was crowded with richly dressed gen
try, but he was in a beggar's rags. He ap-
pealed to the charity of the company, saying
he was starving To one he said you have
dined at my board thousand times; will you
deny me the crumbs which fall from your own
To another, ''I gave you pair of steeds and
trappings." And to another he said, "I lent
you thousand pounds, and never asked you
to repay me-" and SO on to the rest of the
company. But instead of remembering his ia
vors, they reviled him and called him spend
thrift, beggar, and all manner of vile names.
Some said it was a shame that such wretch
ed looking object should be suffered to come
among them and one to whom, more than all
the rest, his purse had been open called for
the servant to thrust him out of doors.
But one man took his part. 1t was master
Richard Lakeland, poor younger son of
wealthy gentleman. He stood up and said, 81
never ate at the board of the heir of Linn; I
never rode his horses, or shared his purse, or
received favor to the amount of farthing.
But what then He was worthy gentleman
when he had the means / have twelve gold
en- mobiles, and that is all possess in the world,
and there are six of them at the service of the
man whose hand was never shut to the poor.
And as / am a gentleman, no man shall lay a
A glad man was the heir of Linn to find
one man worthy to be his friend. He took
the six mobiles and advanced towards John of
Scales, who was standing at the end of the
hall attired in gorgeous apparel.
"You, at least" said the heir of Linn,
"ought to relieve my necessities, for you have
grown rich on my ruin. and / gave you good
bargain for your lands"
Then John Of Scales began to revile him
and declare that he had given much more
than the lands were worth, for he did not like
to be reminded of so goodly a company.
"Nay," said he to the heir of Linn, ''if you
will but return to me half of what I paid for
your fathers estate, you shall have it back
again"
"Perhaps I will find friends who win lend
me the sum-therefore give me promise un-
der your hand and seal, and will see what can
be DONE"
John of Scales knew that but few people
of that country had so much money, even if it
were common thing to lend money to beg
gar, and he had just seen what reliance was
to be placed upon friends in such a case. He
had not the least idea that the heir of Linn
would ever be the owner of the hundredth part
of that sum. He therefore called for pen, ink
and paper, and sat down before the company
and wrote the promise, and right scof6ngly
gave it to his former master.
Then the heir of Linn strobe to the window
and opened it, and took bugle from latter
ed gaherdine and blew it till the joists and
rafters shook with the din. Presently fair
troop of servants rode up, well armed and
mounted, leading mule with them laden with
| treasure. They dismounted and brought the
bags of gold with them into the hall.
"My Fathers lands are my own again, !" cried
the heir of Linn joyously, and before the COM
pany had recovered from their astonishment,
he had counted down to John of Scales just
the sum he had agreed to take. Then turn
ing to his servants he said:
"Scourge me this viper out of the house of
Linn with dog whips" And it was immedi-
ately done.
The company crowded around him to con-
gratulate him on receiving his patrimony, and