The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-05
A STORY THAT TOUCHES THE HEART.
Ugly SAM AND WHY HE REFoRMED-A PROMISE
TO A DYING MOTHER.
From the Detroit Free Press

From the Detroit Free Press
He had been missing from the Potomac
Tor several days, and Cleveland Tom, Por
Huron Bill, Tall Chicago, and the rest of thu
boys who were wont to get drunk with hin
couldn't make out what had happened They
hadn't heard that there twas, q warrant out fol
him, had never known Of his being sick for a
day, and his absence from the old haunts puz.
zled them. They were in the Hole-in-the-
Wall saloon the other morning, nearlya dozen
of them, drinking, smoking and playing
cards. when in walked Ugly Sam.
There was deep silence for moment as
they looked at him. Sam had new hat, had
been shaved clean, had on clean collar and
a white shirt, and they didn't know him at
first. When they saw that it was Ugly Sam
they uttered shout and leaped up.
.'Cave in that hatr' cried one.
sYank that collar off /" shouted another.
sLet's roll him on the floor y screamed q
athird
There was something in his look and bear
snp which made them hesitate. The whisky
red had almost faded from his face, and he
looked sober and dignified. His features ex-
4pressed disgust and contempt as he looked
around the room and then revealed pity as
a1is eyes fell upon the red eyes and bloated
faces of the crowd before him.
"Why, what ais ye, Sam?" inquired Tall
Chicago, as they all stood there.
"Tve come down to bid you good-by,
boys" he replied, removing his hat and
drawing clean handkerchief from his
pocket.
"What! Hev ye turned preacher they
shouted in chorus.
"Boys, We know 1 can lick any two of
ye, but amt 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
of. I've taken an oath. I'm going to be
decent!
"Sam, be you crazy?' asked Port Huron
Bill. coming nearer to him.
*.Tve come down here to tell we all about
it, answered Sam. "Move the chars back a
little and give me ROOM Ye all know I've
been rough, and more, too. I've been a
,drinker, a fighter, gambler, and loafer. II
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 workhouse, and the papers has |
said that Ugly Sam was the terror OF the Po- |
know had an old mother"
The faces of the crowd expressed amaze
ment.
~ never mentioned it to any of ye, for
was neglecting her" he went on. ''She was
n poor old woman, living up here in the al
aey, and if the neighbors hadn't helped her
10 fuel and food, she'd have been found dead
dong ago. never helped her to cent
didn't see her for weeks and weeks, and
goes back on his old mother he's a-gettin'
purty low, and know 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 I
boys as Sam hesitated. I
'Thats what ais me now, he went on. {
4'When went in she reached out her hand to
me, and says she: Samuel, I'm going to die, {
and knowd you'd want to see me afore !
passed away! I sat down, feeling queer-like. {
She didn't go on and say as how was a Ioafer,
and had neglected her, and ali that, but says
she: Samuel, you'll be all alone when I'm
gone. I've tried to be good mother to you, {
and have prayed for you hundred O. nights,
and cried about you till my old heart was sore!
Some Of the neighbors had dropped in, and {
the women were crying, and ted you, boys,
I felt weak p
He paused for q moment, and then con-
nued: a
'And the old womon said she'd like to kiss I
me afore death came, and that broke me right 6
down. She kept hold OF my hand, and by t
and-by she whispered: Samuel, you are a
throwing your life away. You've got it in you q
to be man, if you'll only make up your q
mind. hate to die and feel that my only c
son and the last Of our family may 90 to the Il
gallows If I had your promise that you'd G.
turn over a new leaf, and try and be good, it 81
seems as if I'd die easier Won't you pro Il
mise me, my son? And promised her, "
boys, and that's what ais me She die hold b
ng my hand, and promised to quit the low Of
and go to work. came down to NJ
ell ye, and now you won't see me on the tn
'otomac again. I've bought an ak, and am Ii,
,oing up in Canada to winter"
There was dead silence for moment and tr
hen he said FRI
"Well, boys, I'll shake hands with We all
round afore go. Good-by, Pete-good-by ep
hope We won't fling any mi
tricks at me, and shan't never fling at any HI
fye. It's dying promise, ye see and iii lir
eep it, if it takes o right ARM of
The men looked refectively at each other tn
fter be had passed out and it was long As
me before anybody spoke. Then Tall Chi Tn
ago flung his clay pipe into a corner, and
nd:
''Ill lick the man who says Ugly Sam's head do
MT level T. ae
''So'll /" repeated the others. 80 80
Doing the Doctors. ara
The story goes that an American girl, who co,
me years ago went to Europe to study medi- ca,
ne, was refused admission to German uni. wo
rsity because she was q woman. She had MI