Year: 1860

house IN Kippletringan yet" said he, "fo,
no one would buy it. will go and break
open the upper chamber. My father said !
would find relief there, and perhaps he meant
treasure. Fit should prove so will be a
wiser man than | was, and not waste it on
knaves."


To the house, then, he went, aud broke
the chamber door open. He found relief
indeed.


There was nothing in the room except O
high stool, and over it halter, dangling
from hook in the ceiling. He looked up
and read these words


"Ah. graceless wretch and wanton fool
You are ruined forever. This is the only
relief for those who have wasted their patri-
mony as you have done. Behold then-put
the halter around your neck, and jump from
the stool, and thus saye your family from the
disgrace Of beggery."


Very excellentcounse," said the heir Of
Linn, land as must hang or starve,
think III take my fathers advice, and hang.
It is the shortest death of the two"
! SO he mounted the STOOL fastened the hal
ter around his neck, and swung off.
| But the heir of Linn was not to die So
! The board into which the hook was driven
gave way with his weight, and he fell on the
floor, with a shower of gold coin rafting
about his ears. Twill not say that he ielt
no pain in the neck the next day, but at
that moment he certainly felt none. Joy
rushed into his heart like torrent, at see
ing himself rescued from death and beggary.
The space between the ceiling and the roof
contained an enormous treasure. On the
upper side of the board from which he
thought to suspend himself, was fastened a
letter addressed to him. He hastily.tore it
open and read as follows:


"My dear son, know your character,
and no eXpostulation or advise can wean YOU
from the desperate course you are pursuing.
Nothing but misery, sharper than death can
work the cure on you. If therefore, your
misfortunes and sufferings should be so
grievous that you prefer death to their erdu
rance, you will not rashly encounter them
again. You have made the trial, take my
gold, redeem your lands, and become bet
ter man"


The heir of Linn did not leave the spot
without putting upa prayer to heaven for
the soul of a parent whose admirable wisdom
had discovered the means, of raising him
from beggary and despair to affluence, and
ofweaning him from the follies and vices
which had so disgraced his character. To
evince his gratitude, he resolved to amend
his life from that day forward, and become
al fathers 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
character. He therefore kept his..newly dis
covered wealth a great secret, until he heard
that John of Scales was to give great en-
tertalnment, 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 ne was in beggar's rags. He
appealed to the charity ofthe company. say
ing he was starving To one he said, .'vou
have dined at my board thousand times
will you deny me the crumbs which fall from
your own?" To another he said, II gave
you pair of steeds and trappings." And
to another; 81 lent you thousand pounds
and never asked you to repay me-" and so
to all the rest of company. But instead of
remembering his favors, they reriled him
and called him aspendthrift, beggar, and all
manner of vile names. Some said it was a
shame that such a wretched looking object
should be suffered to come among them
and one to whom, more than all the rest, his
purse had been open, called upon the ser
wants to thrust him out of doors.


But one man took his part. TWAS mas
ter Richard Lakeland, a poor younger son
of wealthy gentleman. He stood up and
said, II never ate at the board of the heir of
Linn | never rode his horses, or shared his
purse, or received Z favor Of him to tie
amount of a farthing. But what then? He
was worthy gentleman when he had the
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 a gentleman, no man shall
lay a finger on him while wear sword"


4 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.
fought to relieve my necessities, for you
have grown rich upon my ruin, and gave
you good bargain for my lands"


Then John of Scales began to revile him
and to declare that he lad given him much
more than the lands were worth; for he did
not like to be reminded Of i,is extortion be-
fore so goodly accompany.


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


"Perhaps | viii find friends who will lend
me the sum-therefore give promise under
your hand and seal, and | will sec what can
be done"


John of Scales knew that but few people