But let Trewinion's heir observe Never from the right to swerve, If from God's pure laws he stray Trewinion's power shall die away; His glory given to another; And he be crushed by younger brother. Then his son, though born the first, By the people shall be cursed. And for generations three Trewinion's name shall cursed be, Trewinion's heir must never hate, Never from this law abate. Trewinion's son must e'er forgive Or 'twill be a curse to live. If he take unlawful ways, Dark, indeed, shall be his days. His loved one taken by his brother, His power given to another, Who will surely seal his doom, Unless he claim the powers of wrong. The course cannot be turned aside While evil feeling doth abide. -------- Let these words be ever read, Ere Trewinion's lord be dead, To the true and lawful heir, And so Trewinion's blessings share. "It seems very curious, father," I said, when he had finished. "It is poor poetry, and has little or no meaning." "I will say nothing about the poetry," replied my father; "no doubt it seems to you poor, silly doggerel; but I have no doubt of this, Roger, your interest and mine lie in abiding by what it says." "But it seems so vague, father," I urged. "Not so vague, Roger. Your grandfather took to unlawful ways. He kept a smuggling vessel, which in some cases ought to have carried a black flag, and the maiden he loved was given to another, who died of a broken heart. For twenty years my father's life was a curse. His mind was filled with the most horrible fancies. Dark dreams haunted his pillow, and then, although he married my mother, he was until the day of his death harassed by difficulties and crushed by oppressors." "And did he die happy, father?" My father looked very strange as I asked this question, and for a moment did not reply. Then he said, slowly: "Roger, my boy, I was with him at the last, and never shall I forget the scene. It was as if a terrible dread rested upon him; and he seemed to feel an awful presence in the room. "'Can I do anything for you, father?' I asked. "'Send for the parson, Roger,' said he, 'and let him give me rest, or the curse that rests on me will rest on you.' "It was midnight, and no one would dare to go, so I rode away alone to the vicarage. It was an awful ride. The powers of darkness seemed to know my object, for the elements were against me and I heard terrible howling along the sea coast; but I feared lest the curse of the Trewinions should fall upon me. The vicar was afraid to come when I told him about my father; but I threatened to drag him thither by the hair of the head if he refused. At length I got him to ride in front of me, and we came to my father. "Ah, Roger, his cries were fearful! 'Take away Trewinion's curse!' he screamed, and he looked as though he saw angry spirits around him.