Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-12-20
THE LAST GIFT.

dlsslpated son OF whom ne was very
proud, and who gave him a great
deal of anxiety. on account OF his
habits. Yet the son was not thorough
ly bad, for he loved his father and
would do anything to help the poor.
His very faults arose from his kind
ness of heart.
When the father was about to die
he called his son to his bedside and
said:
My son, l am about to die, and l
must leave you all my estates and
fortune. know you grieve to have
me go, and yet l know you to be a
spendthrift. You will waste this
money and perhaps know the pangs
of poverty. When the darkest day
arrives go into the woods on my do
main and unlock the door of the lit
tie hut that has been built there.
You will find there what you most
need. Swear that you will never
strive to discover the secret before
the time comes. 1t would undo all
my efforts to save you, if you should.
Swear, then, my SON."
The boy took an oath upon his
fathers sword -hilt, which was in the
form Of cross, and at the same time
declared what he believed to be the
truth-that, losing his dear parent,
life would cease to have any charms
for him. An hour afterward his
father breathed his last upon his
breast.
For many days the young man gave
himself up to grief. For long while
he spent his time in sighs and tears
and sad regrets, but at last youth
and high health prevailed over sor
row. He sought his old company
more than ever, now that he was
master of such great wealth, and be-
fore long, with boon companions, the
beggars who assailed him on every
side with piteous tales-to which he
never turned deaf ear-high living
and sumptuous apparel, the poor
young fellow ran through his fortune.
In his distress he turned to them to
whom he had been most kind. He
asked slight loans Of friends on whom
he spent thousands. They were re-
fused. AS rats desert a sinking ship,
his boon companions left him. The
beautiful women, whose hands he
had filled with jewels, had no smiles
for him, now that he could no longer
give them expensive gifts, and his
steward, to whom he had been very
kind and who had made his fortune
by robbing his master, took advan-
tage of his distress to get his estate
into his hands.
Now, indeed, the darkest hour had
come, and he should not break his
VOW to his dying father by seeking
the old hut in the woods, OF which
ever he wore the key above his heart.
Indeed, he had on that bitter night
in which the steward shut the door
of his raternal mansion upon his re-
treating form no other shelter from
the biting blast. He might have.per-
ished on the road but for this poor
resting place.
Reaching the hut, he put the key
in the lock and opened the door. 1t
had been closed so long that it re-
quired much strength, and the dust
fell about him as he entered. By the
light of the lantern which he carried
he saw that it was a wretched, un-
furnished and desolate place; the
walls were green with damp and the
ceiling crossed with beams. From
the centre Of this ceiling swung a ring,
from which depended long cord, to
which placard covered with writing
was suspended.
The young man advanced, and
holding the lantern high, read these
words:
MY Dear Son: have always given
you advice Since you have come
here, it is plain you have neglected
it. Yet l offer you more
Your money is gone your friends
have turned their back on you your
lady loves have followed them, and
your old home is gone. You see
know ALL, who speak to you from
the grave. But here is a trusty friend
in this stout rope-a friend who will
help you out Of your trouble. Mount
the box beneath, tie it about your
neck, commit your soul to Heaven
and hang yourself. Take my last ad-
vice, as an obedient son should"
The poor young man having read
this, leant his head againstthe smould-
ering wall and burst into tears.
MY poor father evidently foresaw
the future" he sobbed. ''All else is
gone-friends, fortune. love. This
rope alone remains l will take his
advice, and God have mercy on my
sinful SOUL"
Then he mounted the box, tied the
rope about his neck, and took the
fatal leap. AS he did so, down he
went upon the floor beneath, the fast
ening of the rope had given way, and
something hit him sharply on the
head.
When he collected his senses he
found that it was leather bag,
which seemed full Of gold. To it was
secured card on which this was
written: