Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-08-05
A TOUCHING STORY.
Ugly Sam and why He Reformed "A Promise
20 Dyirg Mother.

10 Dyirg Mother.
de had been missing from the "Po
tomac" for several days, and Cleve
land Tom, Port Huron Bill, Tai
Chicago. and the rest of the boys
who were wont to get drank will
him, couldn't make out what ha,
happened. They hadn't heard tina
there was warrant ont for him
had never known of his being sicl
for day, and his absence from tn
old haunts puzzled them. They wer
in the Hole-in-thesW Wall saloon tn
the other morning, nearly dozen o
them, drinking, smoking, and play
ing cards, when in walked Ugly
Sam.
There was deep silence for a few
moments as they looked at him. San
had a new hat, had been shaved
clean, had on q clean collar and I
white shirt, and they didn't know
him at first. When they saw that i
was Ugly Sam they uttered shout
and leaped up.
"Cave in that hatl' cried one.
"Yank that collar off !" shouted
another.
"Let's roll him on the foorl'
screamed third.
There was something in his look
and bearing which made them hest
tate. The whiskey had almost fadeC
from his face, and he looked sober
and dignifed. His features express
ed disgust and contempt as be look &c
around the room, and then revealed
pity as his eyes fell upon the rec
eyes and bloated faces of the crowc
before him.
"Why, what ails ye, Sam2" in.
quired Tall Chicago, as they al
stood there.
"Pve come down to bid you good
by, boysl" he replied, removing biz
hat and drawing clean banker
chief from his pocket.
"Whatl Hev ye turned preach
err" they shouted in chorus.
Boys, ye know can lick any
two of ye, but | haln't on the fight
any more, and I've put down the last
drop of whiskey which is ever to &C
into my mouth I've switched off
Pve taken the oath. I'm going to be
decent"
"Ssm, be you crazy?' asked Port
Huron Bill, coming nearer to him.
"I've come down here to tell ye al
about it," answered Sam. "Movt
the chars back a little and give ms
room. Ye know I've been a rough
and more too. I've been a drinker
a fighter, a gambler, and a loafer.
can't look back and remember wher
Five earned an honest dollar. The
police hez chased me around like 6
wolf, and I've been in jail and the
workhouse, and the papers has sale
that Ugly Sam was The terror of The
Potomac. Ye all know thie, boys
but ye didn't know l hsd an ole
mother"
The faces of the crowd expressed
amusement.
IL never mentioned it to any of ye
for | was negleoting her," he went
on. "She was poor old woman
living up here in the alley, and if the
neighbors hadn't helped her to fue
and food, she'd been found dead long
ago. l never helped her to cent
didn't see her for weeks and weeks
and | used to feel mean about it
Whom fellow goes back on his old
mother he's a-gittin' purity low, and
| know it. Well, she's dead-5uriec
yesterday l was up there afore she
died She sent for me by Pete, and
when / got there | seen it was al
day with her"
did she say anything?" asked one
of the boys, az Sam hesitated.
"Thst's what ais me now" be
went on. When / went in she
reached out her hand to me, and, says
she's Samuel, Pm going to die, and
| know'd you'd want to see me atore
l passed away | sat down feeling
queer-like. She didn't go on and say
as how | was q loafer, and had neg
lected her and all that, but says she:
Samuel you'll be all alone when Pm
gone. I've tried to be good
mother to you, and have prayed for
you hundreds O. nights, and cried
about you until my old heart was
sorel Some of the neighbors had
dropped in and the women were cry
ing, and tell you 1 felt weakw
He paused for a moment and then
contlnued:
'And the old woman said she'd
like to kiss me afore death came, and
that broke me right down. She
kept hold of my hand, and by and
bye she whispered: Samuel you are
throwing your life away. You've
got it in you to be man, if you'll
ouly make up your mind. | hate to
die and feel that my only son and
last of our family may go to the gal
lows. 1t had your promise that
}Oh VI Wi II OfOf u hOH iSot oho VI y
and be good, it seems as if ] could
die easier. Won't you promise me,
my son? And | promised her, boys
and that's what aiIs me! She died
holding my hand, and | promised tc
quit the low business, and go tc
work. | came down to tell ye, and
now, you won't see me on the Poto-
mac again. I've bought an ak, end
am going up in Canada to Winter.
There was dead silence for mo-
ment and then be said:
"WeiI, boys, LII shake hands with
We all around afore l go. Good-by
Pete-goodby Jack-Tom-Jim.
hope ye won't fling any bricks at me
and shan't never fling at any of ye
It's dying promise, ye see, an III
keep it if it takes a right arm!"
The men looked refectively al
each other after be had passed out
and it was long time before any
one spoke. Then Tall Chicago flung
his clay pipe into corner, and said
"I'll lick the man who says Ugly