St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-03-21

vs. CO., MlNNESOl N :: n n: =: y |
house in Kippletnngan is now looked up
and I have thrown the key intosthe sea-
When you have lost both gold and lands
when you have not friend to lend you .
baubee, and when you are actually suffer
ling for crust to appease your hunger
break the door open, and you will find 4
certain relief; but if you open the doo1
before the time, I 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. He soon after threw open
his house to all comers. .. His forests fell
beneath the axe. His :chimneys were al
ways smoking; a hundred men sat daily
at his board, and he bought horses and
hounds, and lent money without counting
it, to his dissolute companions. He ejested,
and drank, and gambled, as if he could not
get rid of his substance in all these ways ;
he took no care of Ills affairs, but gave up
the guidance OF them to = bailitf, or stew
ard, named John Of Scales, who was a
knave and a notorious usurer, John cheat
ed his master in a variety Of ways, and put
more than half his rent in his own pocket:
At last, what the heir Of Linn's father
had foresecn came to pass. His money was
all gone, and he had no means of keeping
up his exoesses, except by. selling 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, moreover
heated with wine, when the unjust steward
offered to buy his estate. It was . hard
case, but, after much indecision he agreed
upon the bargain. <'..--': - >..~''
"Give me your gold good John ofScales,
and my lands shall be yours forever" said
the heir Of Linn. 80, -
Then John counted down the good clean
gold, and h:r1 bargain his master had Of
It. For every pound that John agreed,
the land was worth thrae. -: ~
The last mouey went like the first, and
the heir of Linn was a beggar. eHe first
went to the house that had once been his
own, but now belonged to John of Scales,
to seek some relief. He looked into the
window of the great banqueting hall but
there was no feasting going on in it. The
fire was out and the dinner table taken
away, and all was desolate and dismal
"Hele's sorry eheer}' said the heirof Linn.
John would not give him penny, but
told him to go to the friends he had spent
so much money upon foolishly. He did
so, but it did no good. Some pretended
not to know him, and no one would lend
him farthing, or even offer him dinner,
SO he wandered about forlorn and hungry
for two days; for work he could not, and
to beg he was ashamed. At last, in his
extreme misery, he bethought himself of
his fathers dying words: ~ have not
sold the house in Kippletringan yet" said
he, "for no one will buy it. I will go and
break open the upper chamber. My faith
er said I would find relief there, and per-
haps hemeant treasure. Ifitshould prove
so, I will be wiser man than was, and
not waste it on knaves."
To the house then he went, and broke
the door open. He found relief in Iced
There was nothing in the room except a
high stool, and directly over it halter
dangling from hook in the ceiling. Ho
looked up and read these words:
"Ah graceless wretch and wanton fool!
You are ruined forever. This is the only
relief for those who have wasted their pat
rimony, as you have done. Behold then
put the halter around your neck, and
jump from the stool, and save your family
from the disgrace of beggarry" 'l' -
every excellent council" said the heir
Of Linn; tand as I must either hang or
starve, I think I'll take my fathers advice
and hang. 1t is the shortest death Of the
two" ~ .t~:'
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 shower Of gold coin rattling
about his ears. I will not say that ha had
no pain in the neck the next day, but at
that moment he certainly felt none; Joy
rushed into his heart like torrent, at see
ing himself rescued from death and begga.
ry. The space between the ceiling and
the roof contained an onormols treasury.
On the upper side Of the board from which
he thought to suspend himself was fasten-
ed. letter addressed to him. he hastily
tore it open and read as follows: ...