The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-17


Then John counted down the money in clean
gold, and hard bargain his master had of it.
For every pound that John agreed to pay the
land was worth three.
The last money went like the first, and the
heir of Linn was beggar. He first went to
the house that had once been his own, but now
belonged to John of Scales to seek some relief
lie looked at the window of the groat banquet
ing hall, but there was no feasting going on in
it, The fire was out and the dinner table ta-
ken away, and all was desolate and dismal
"Herc's sorry cheer" said the heir of Linn.
John would not give him penny, but told
him to go to his friends that he had spent so
much money upon foolishly. lie did so, but
it did no good. Some pretended not to know
him, and none would lend him even farthinc,
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. l have
not sold the house in Kipplctringan yct," said
he "for no one would buy it. l will 90 and
break open the upper chamber. My father
said [ would find relief there, and perhaps he
ment treasure. If it should so prove, will be
knavcs."
TIC the house then he went, and broke
the chamber door open. He found relief in
deed.
There was nothing in The room but high
stool, and directly over it halter dangling
from hook in the ceiling. lie looked up and
read these words;
All gracelcss 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 round your neck, and jump from the stool,
and save your family from the disgrace of beg
gary"
Every excellent CONSUL" said the heir of
Linn, sand AS | must either hang or starvc,
think I'll take my fathers advice and hang.
1t is the shortest death of the two.
So he mounted and fastened the halter
around bis neck and kicked the stool from
under.
But the heir Of Linn was not so to die.
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. l will not say he felt no pain on the
next day, but at that moment he certainly felt
none. Joy rushed to his heart like a torrent,
at seeing himself rescued from death and beg
gary. The space between the ceiling and the
roof contained an enormous treasury. On the
upper side of the board with which he thought
to suspend himself, was fastened letter ad-
dressed to him. He hastily tore it open and
read as follows:
"My dear son know your character, and
no cxpostuIation or advice can wcan you from
the desperate course you arc pursuing. Moth
ing but misery sharper than death Can work
the cure. If, therefore, your misfortune and
sufferings should be so grievous that you pre-
fer death to their endurance, YOU will not
rashly encounter them again. You have
made the trial; take my gold and redeem
your lands and become better man.
The heir of Linn did not leave the spo-
without putting up prayer to heaven for the
soul of parent whose admirable wisdom had
discovered the means of raising him from bep-