Year: 1861

ears. l will not say that he felt no pain the
next day, but at that moment he certainly felt
none. Joy rushed into his heart like 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 from 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 expostulations or advice can wean you from
the desperate course you are pursuing. Moth
ing but misery sharper than death, can work
the cure on you. If therefore, your misfor-
tunes and sufferings should be so grievous that
you prefer death to their endurance, you will
not rashly encounter them again. You have
made the ial; take my gold, redeem your
lands and become better man.


The heir of Linn did not leave the spot
without putting up prayer to Heaven for the
soul of parent whose admirable wisdom had
discovered the means of raising him from beg
gary and dispair to affinence, and of weaning
him from the follies and vices which had so
disgraced bis character. To evince his graft
tude, he resolved to amend his life from that
day forward, and become all that a father s
heart could wish.


But he first thought he would make one
more trial of his false friends on whom he had
wasted his time, his substance, and his charac-
ter He therefore kept his newly discovered
wealth great secret, until be heard that John
of Scales was to give great entertainment,
and all the lords and ladies of Galway were to
be there.


When the heir of Linn entered his fathers
hall, it was crowded with richly dressed gentry
but he was in beggar's rags. He appealed TO
the charity of the company, saying he was
starving. To one he said, you have dined at
my board a thousand times will you deny me
the crumbs which fall from your own ?" To
another, I gave you pair of steeds and
trappings." And to another he said, lent
you thousand pounds, and never asked you
to repay me :" and so on to all the rest of the
company.


But instead of remembering his favors, they
reviled him and called him a spendthrift, and
all manner of vile names. Some said it was a
shame that such wretched looking object
should be suffered to come among them; and
one to whom more than all the rest, his purse
has been open, called on the servant to thrust
him out of doors.


But one man took his part. 1t was Mr.
Richard Lakeland, a younger son of wealthy
gentleman. He stood up and said, g. never
ate at the board of the heir of Linn never
rode his horses, nor shared his purse, or receiv.
ed favor Of him to the amount OF farthing
But what then? He was worthy gentleman
when lie had means. | have twelve golden
mobiles, and that is all possess in the world,
and there are six of them at the service Of the
man whose hand was never shut to the poor.
And as am gentleman, no man shall lay
finger on him while | wear a sword


A glad man was the heir of Linn to find one
man worthy to be his friend He took the six
mobiles and advanced toward John Of Scales,
who was standing at the end Of the hall attired
in gorgeous apparel.


You at least" said the heir of Linn, "ought
to relieve my necessities, for You have grown
rich on my ruin, aud gave you good bar
gain for my lands"


Then the John of Scales began to revile him
and TO declare that he had given him much
more than they were worth for he did not
like to be reminded of his cxtortons before so
goody company


Nay" said he to the heir Of Linn, g if you
will but return me half of what paid for your
fathers estate, you shall have it back again. -


Perhaps l will find friends who will lend
me the sum-therefore give promise under
your hand ard SEAL and will see what can be
DONE"


John of Scales knew that but few people of
the country had so much money even if it were
q common thing to lend money TO beggar,
and he Just saw what reliance was to be placed
upon friends in such case. He had not the
least idea that the heir of Linn would ever be
the owner of the hundredth part of the sum-
He therefore called for pen, ink and paper,
and sat down before the company and wrote
the promise, and right scoffingly gave it to his
former master


Then the heir of Linn strobe to the window
and opened it, and took bugle from letter
garbentine and blew it till the joists and raj.
tiers shook with din. Presently fair troop Of
servants rode up, we'll armed and mounted,
leading mule with them laden with treasure.
They dismounted and brought the bags of gold
into the hall.


My fathers lands are my own again, cried
the heir Of Linn joyously, and before the com.
pany had recovered from their astonishment,
he had counted down to John of Scales just
the sum he had agreed to take Then turning
to his servants, he said


Scourge me this viper out of the house Of
Linn with dog whips" And it was immedi-
ately done.


The company crowded around him to con-
graduate him on receiving his patrimony, and