The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-02-24
A TOUCHING STORY.
Ugly Sam and why hc RefOrmed-A
Promise TO n by ing Mother.

He had been missing from the ''Po-
tomac' for several days, and Cleve-
land 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
warrant out for him, had never known
of his being sick for a day, and his
absence from the old haunts puzzled
them. They were in the Hole the
Wall saloon the other morning, nearly
a dozt of them, drinking, smoking,
and playing cards, when in walked
Ugly Sam.
There was deep silence for a few
moments as they looked at him. Sam
had a new hat, had been shaved clean,
had on a clean collar and white shirt,
and they didn't know him at first
When they saw it was Ugly Sam they
uttered shout and leaped up.
Gave in that hiatt" cried one
''Yank that collar of = shouted an
other.
Lets roll him on the fioor,' scream
ed third.
There was something in his look
and bearing which made them hesi-
tate The whisky red almost faded
from his face, and he looked sober
and dignifed. His features expressed
disgust and contempt as he looked
around the room, and then revealed
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.
We come down to bid you good
by, boys!' he replied. removing his
hat and drawing a clean handkerchief
from his pocket
What. Hev We turned preacher?"
they shouted in a chorus.
"Beys. ye know l can lick any two
of ye, but | haint on the fight any
more, and I've put down the last drop
of whisky which is ever TO go into my
mouth. I've switched off I've ta-
ken an oath. I'm going to be decent
Sam. be yer crazy?' asked Port
Huron Bill, coming nearer to him.
I've come down here to tell We all
about it, answered Sam. Move the
chars back little and give me room.
Ye all know I've been rough, and
more too. I've been a drinker, a
fighter, a gambler, and loafer. /
cant look back and remember when
I've earned an honest dollar The
police hez chased me around like q
wolf. and I've been in Jail and the
workhouse. and the papers has said
that Ugly Sam was the terror of the
Potomac. Ye all know this, boys, but
We didn't know / had an old mother
The faces of the crowd expressed
amazement
Il never mentioned it to any of We,
for / was neglectine her. he went on.
She was q poor old woman. living up
here in an 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' I
see her for weeks and weeks, and |
used to feel mean about it. When
fellow goes back On his old mother
he's a-gitten' purity low, and knew it.
Well, she's dead-buried yesterday,
| was up there afore she died. She
sent for me by Pete and when l got
there | seen it was all day with her"
did she say anything?' asked one
of the boys. 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, I'm going to die, and
know'd you'd want to see me afore
passed awayr l sat down, feeling
queer-like. She didn't go on and say
as how / was loafer. and had neg
lected her. and all that, but says she:
Samuel, you'll be alone when I'm
gone. I've tried TO be a good mother
to you. and have prayed for you hun
dreds o nights, and cried about you
until my old heart was sorer Some
of the neighbors had dropped in, and
the women were crying, and I'll tell
you felt weak
He paused for moment. aad then
continued.