Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-05-30

Keeping up his eXcesses, except by SELL
ing his land but no one was rich enough
to buy them except John Scales, and
every one knew how he came by his
money. The young Laird was despe-
rately in want Of cash topay his gambling
debts, and was moreover heated with
wine, when the unjust steward offered to
buy his estate. 1t was hard case, but
after much discussion he agreed upon the
bargain.
.'Giye me your gold good John Scales,
and my lands shall be yours forever"
said the heir Of Linn. :
Then JonT couated down the good
clean gold, and hard bargain his mas
ter 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 a beggar. He first
went to the house that had once been his
own, but how belonged to John Scales,
to seek some relief He looked at 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.
Here's sorry cheer" said the heir of
Linn.
John would not give him penny, but
told him to 60 to bis friends he had spent
so much money upon so foolishly. He
did so, bat it did no good. Some pre-
tended not to know him and none would
lend him even farthing, or even offer
him a dinner, SO he wandered about for
lorn and hungry for two days; for work
he could not and to beg he was ashamed.
At last, in his extreme misery, he be-
thought himself of his fathers dying
words. {" have not sold the house in
Kippletringan yet, said he, " for no one
would buy it. / will go and break open
the upper chamber My father said l
would find relief there, and perhaps he
meant
To the house he went, and he broke
the chamber door open. He found re-
lief indeed
There was nothing in the room but a
high stool, and directly over it halter
dangling from hook in the ceiling He
looked up and read these words;
All graceless wretch and wanton
fool! You are ruined forever. This is
the only relief for those who have wasted
their patrimouy as you have done Be-
hold, then; put the halter round your
neck, and jump from the stool, and save
your family from the disgrace ofbeggary."
Very excellent counselr' said the
heir of Linn, and as | must either hang
or starye, l think I will take my fathers
advice and hang. 1t is the shortest
death Of the two"
So he mounted fastened the halter
round 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 be
fell on the floor, with a shower of gold
rafting about his cars! / 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 torrent, on see
ing himself rescued from death and beg
gary. The space between the ceiling.
and the roof contained enormous trcasu-
p y. On the upper part of the board from
which he thought to suspend himself,
was fastened letter addressed to him
He hastily tore it open, and read as fol-
lows:
Z" Ny dear son, know your character,
and no expostulation or advice can wean
you from the desperate course you are
pursuing Nothing but misery sharper
than death can work the cure. If, there
fore, your misfortunes and suferings
should be so gricyous that you prefer
death to their endurance, you will not
rashly encounter them again. You have
made the trial take my gold and re-
deem your lands and become better
man"
The heir Of Linn did not leave the
spot without Offering up a prayer to hea-
ven for the soul Of a parent whose admi-
rable wisdom had discovered the means of
raising him from beggary and despair to
aflluence, and Of weaving him from the
follies and vices which had 50 disgraced
his character. TO cyinco his gratitude,
he resolved to amend his life from that
day forward, and became all fathers
heart could wish.
But he first thought he would make
ono more trial Of bis false friends on
whom he had wasted his time, his sub
stance, and bis character lie therefore
kept his newly discovered wealth great
secret, until he heard that John Scales
was to give a grand entertainment, and
all the lords and ladies were to be there
When the heir Of Linn entered his IA
theirs hall, it was crowded with richly I
dressed gentry, but ho was in beggar's
rags lie appealed to the charity Of the
company, saying he was starving. To
ono be said, you have dined atmy board
a thousand times; will you deny me the
crumbs that fall from your table y To
another, Z" gave you a pair Of steeds
and trappings And to another he said,