The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-17
THE HEIR OF LINN.
BY WILLIAM j. SMELLING.

There is as beautiful Scotch ballad by thi
title as l ever saw in my life, it made vcr,
strong impression upon me; but as the ballae
is not to be found, will cndeavor to tell tn,
story i'll plain prose:
The Laird of Linn, in Galway, was .one O
the richest landed proprietors in Scotland
Besides the lands and dwellings,, he had flock
and heards, and a good stock of gold. More
over, he was a man of frugal and parsimoniou
disposition, so that tho men of Galway avoided
his company, and the whole town cried shame
on him. Nevertheless, his riches grew and in
creased to mighty sum, and there was NJ
telling what heaps of treasure he had con
ccaled.
The Laird of Linn did not marry till late il
life, and his wife died within year after hi
marriage. She left him one child, son, VIII,
was the JOY and plague of his existence
Though naturally Of a generous temper, he wa
wild, reckless and extravagaut. Seeing ane
hearing his father ridiculed every day for his
miserly temper and habits. he resolved at al
events not to be like him, and spent all he
could lay his hands on among low, dssolute
companions, in riotous living-so true it il
that one extreme often produces another
1t was in vain that his father demonstrated
with him; he only grew worse as he grew
older.
At last the Laird of Linn lay on his deatl
bed. He had outlivcd all lis near relations
and he had no friends, so that he was obliged
to leave all his substance to his son, and be
sides, next to his gold he loved his prodiga
heir of Linn to his bed side, and thu
spoke:
"My son, when my lips arc cold in deatl
and my tongue silent in the grave, 1 krov
how it will be with you. You will spend al
the substance of your ancestors, and all th'
gold l got together, in dissipation and extrava
gancc. Nevertheless, do not wish my Sol
to live a bcggar. Therefore give heed to IN,
only dying command, and if you disregard it
may fathers diving curse cling to you. Th
upper chamber of my house in Kipplctringal
is now locked up and the key thrown into th'
sea. When you have lost both gold and lands
when you arc actually suffering for crust t.
appcase your hungar break the door open
and you will find a certain relief, but if yo,
break the door open before that time, say
again, may fathers curse cling to you.'
With these words tn old man fell back ant
expired.
The heir of Linn did not grieve long fo
his parent. He soon after threw open hi
house to all corners. His forest fell beneath
the axe. His chimneys were always smoking
hundred men sat daily at his board, and h'
lought horses and hounds, and lent money
without counting it to his dssolute compan
ions; he jcsted and drank and gambled as if h
could not get. rid of his substance in all thcs
ways he took no care of his affairs, out gave
up the guidance of them to bailiff or stewart
named John of Scales, who was a knave and
notorious usurcr. John cheated his master il
variety of ways, and put more than half hi
rent in his own pocket.
At last what the heir of Linn's father ha
foresccn, came to pass. His money was al
gone, he had no means of keeping up his ex
cesses except by selling his land; but no on
rich enough to buy them except John of Scales
and every one knew how he came by hi
money. The young Laird was desperately il