Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-31
WHAT AILED UaLY SAN.


Detroit Free Press.
lie had been missing from the HPotOmac'
for several days, and Cleveland Tom, Port
Huron Bill, Tall Chicago, and the rest OF
the boys who were wont TO get drunk with
him couldn't make out what had happened.
They hadn't heard that there was a war
rant out for him, had never known Of bis
being SICK for day, and his absence from
the ola haunts puzzled them. They were
in the HOle-in-the-Wali saloon yesterday
morning, nearly dozen Of them, drinking,
smoking and playing cards when in walked
Ugly Sam.
There was deep silence for a moment As
they looked at him. Sam had new hat,
had been shaved clean, had ON a clean col
lar and white shirt, and they didn't know
him at first. When they saw that it was
Ugly Sam they uttered a shout and leaped
up.
aCave in that hat" oied one.
"Yank that collar Off" shouted another.
@Let's roll him on the floorF' screamed a
third.
There was something in his look and
bearing which made them hesitate. The
Whisky-red had almost faded from his face,
and he looked sober and dignifed. His
features expressed disgust and contempt as
be looked around the room, and then re-
Vealed pity as his eyes fell upon the red
eyes and blOated faces Of the crowd before
him.
"Why, what ails ye, SAM" inquired
Tall Chicago, as they all stood there.
s1've come down to bid YOU goodbye,
boysp' he replied, removing his hat and
drawing clean handkerchief from his
pocket. sa-esses --sasass-.s
"WhaG Hev ye turned preaeiler?n they
shouted in chorus.
"Boys, ye know can lick any two Of ye,
but hain't on the fight any more, and I've
put down the last drop of whisky which is
ever to 90 into my mouth I've switched
of. I've taken an oath. I'm going to be
decent"
eSam, be you crazy?" asked Port Huron
Bill, coming nearer to him.
sI'ye come down here to tell ye all about
it," answered Sam. @Move the chairs back
little, and give me room. Ye all know
I've been rough, and more too. I've been
drinker, fighter, a gambler, and lOafer.
| can't look back and remember when I've
earned an honest dollar. The police hez
chased me around like a wolf, and I've
been in Jail and the wOrk-house, and the
papers has said that Ugly Sam was the ter
rOr Of the Potomac Ye all know this,
boys, but ye didn't know had an old
mother
The faces of the crowd expressed amaze
ment.
81 never mentioned it to any of ye, for
was neglectng her," he went on. -ssSne
was poor old body, living up here in the
alley, and if the neighbOrs hadn't helped
her to fuel and food, she'd have been found
dead long ago. / never helped her to cent
didn't see her for weeks and weeks, and
used to feel mean about it. When fel-
Ter goes back on his old mother he's a.
gittin purity low, and 1 know it. Well,
she's dead-buried yesterday, l was up
there afore she died. She sent for my
Pete, and when | got ere ! seen it was all
day with her.
"Did she say anything?n asked one Of
the bows as Sam hesitated.
"That's what ails me now," he went on.
"When | went in she reached out her hand
to me, and, SAYS she: Samuel, Tm going
to die, and know'd you'd want to see me
afore l passed awayr | sat down, feeling
queerlike. She didn't 60 on ana say as
how was lOafer, and had neglected her,
and all that, but says she: Samuel, you'll
be all alone when I'm gone. I've tried to
be a good mother to YOU, and have prayed
for yOu hundreds o. nights, and cried about
you till my old heart was sOrep Some of
the neighbOrs had dropped in, ard the
women were crying, and l tell you boys L
fel. weakI'
He paused for a moment, ard then con-
tinued:
"And the old woman said she'd like to
kiss me afore death came, and that broke
me right down. She kept hold Of nay
hand, and bye-and-bye she whispered:
Samuel, you are throwing your lite away.
You've got It in you TO be man if You'll
only make up your mind. hate to die
and feel that my only son and the last Of
our family may 60 to the gallOws. If had
your promise that you'd turnover new leaf
and Try and be good, it seems as if I'd die
easier. Won't you promise me, my sOn%
And promised her, boys, and that's what
ails me, She died holding my hand, and l
promised to quit this low business, and 90
TO work. came down to tell ye, and n, "
YOU won't see me on the Potomac again.
I've bought an AK, and am going up in
Canada to winter"
There was dead sileree for a moment,
and then be said:
"Well. boys, I'll shake hands with ye all
around afOre 1 60. Goodbye Pete-goOd-
bye Jack-TOm-Jim. l hope ye won't
fling any bricks at me, and l shan't never
fling at any of We. It's a dying promise,
We see, and I'll keep it if it takes 4 right
ar1nr'
The men looked refectively at each other
after he had passed out, and it was long
time before any one spoke. Then Tall
Chicago flung his clay pipe into a corner
aid said:
all lick the man who says Ugly Sans
head isn't level y