public Map<String, String> loadProperties(String propertiesFile) throws Exception {
  Properties properties = new LinkedProperties();
  properties.load(getClass().getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream(propertiesFile));
  return new LinkedHashMap<String, String>((Map) properties);
}

private class LinkedProperties extends Properties {

  private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;

  private Map<Object, Object> linkMap = new LinkedHashMap<Object, Object>();

  @Override
  public synchronized Object put(Object key, Object value) {
      return linkMap.put(key, value);
  }

  @Override
  public synchronized boolean contains(Object value) {
      return linkMap.containsValue(value);
  }

  @Override
  public boolean containsValue(Object value) {
      return linkMap.containsValue(value);
  }

  @Override
  public synchronized Enumeration<Object> elements() {
      throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Enumerations are so old-school, don't use them, "
              + "use keySet() or entrySet() instead");
  }

  @Override
  public Set<Entry<Object, Object>> entrySet() {
      return linkMap.entrySet();
  }

  @Override
  public synchronized void clear() {
      linkMap.clear();
  }

  @Override
  public synchronized boolean containsKey(Object key) {
      return linkMap.containsKey(key);
  }

}