The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-27
WHY u6Ly SAM REFORMED.
from the Detroit Free Press.)

drunk with him, couldn't make out what
had happened. They hadn't heard that
there was warrant out for him, and his
absence from the old haunts puzzled them.
They were in the Hole-in.the-Wa all saloon
the other morning, nearly a dozen Of
them, drinking, smoking, and playing
cards, when in walked Ugly Sam. .
There was deep silence for few mo-
ments 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 that it was Ugly Sam they uttered a
shout and leaped up:
ssCave in that hat!' cried one.
ssYank that collar off?' shouted an.
other.
sLet's roll him on the floor !" 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 dignified.
His features expressed disgust and con.
tempt 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. 49,.
s.Why, what ails ye, Sam?'' inquired
Tall Chicago, as they all stood there:
1--WE come down to bid ye good.by,
boys !" he replied, removing his hat and
drawing a clean handkerchief from his
pocket.
"What! Hev ye turned preacher 2"
they shouted in chorus.
"Boys, ye know I can lick any two OF
ye, but hain't on the fight any more,
and I've put down the last drop Of whis
ky which is ever to 60 into my mouth !!
I've switched off: I've taken an oath.
I'm going to be decent -
t'Sam. be you crazy?'' asked Port
Huron Bill, coming nearer to him.
give come down here to tell we all
about it, answered Sam. ''Move the
cha RS back little and give ME room.
We all know I've been rough, and more,
too. I've been a drinker, a fighter, a
gambler, and loafer. I 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 terror of the Potomac.
Ye all know this, boys. but ye didn't
know had an old MOTHER.
The faces of the crowd expressed
amazement.
II never mentioned it to any Of ye, for
was neglect1ng her." he went on. "She
was poor old woman 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 fellow goes back on his old
mother, he's a-gittin' purity low, and
know it. Well, she's dead-buried yes
terhay! was up there afore she died
She sent for me by Pete, and when got
there seen it was all day with her.
"Did she say anything!" asked one o
the boys, as Sam hesitated.
"That's what ais me now," he went on
|"When I went in. she reached out hel
hand to me, and, says she: Samuel, In
going to die, and know'd you'd want t,
see me afore I passed away! sat down
feeling queer-like. She didn't go on ant
say as how l was 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 hundred o
nights, and cried about you until my OLE
heart was sore!' Some of the neighbor.
had dropped in, and the women were cry
ing, and, tell you, l felt weak!'
He paused for moment, and then con
tinued:
"And the old woman said she'd like tt
kiss me afore death came, and that broke
me right down. She kept hold of my
hand, aud by and by she whispered
Samuel. you are throwing your life away
You've got it in you to be man, if you 1
only make up your mind. I hate to die
and feel that my only son and the last Of
our family may 60 to the gallows. If
new leaf, and try and be good, it seems as
ifId die easier. Won't you promise me
my son = And promised her, boys, and
that's what ais me She died holding
my hand, and promised to quit the low
business, and to 60 to work. I came
down to tell ye, and now, you won't SET
me on the Potomac again. I've bought
an ak. and am going up in Canada to
winter.'
i There was dead silence for moment
and then he said:-
"Well, boys, III shake hands with y.
all around afore 60. Good-by. Pete
good-by, Jack-Tom-Jim. I hope y,
won't fling any bricks at me, and shan
never fling at any Of ye. It's dying
promise, yc see, and I'll keep it if it take!
a right arm!'
The men looked rehectively at each 9th
er after he had passed out, and it was
long time before any one spoke. Then
Tall Chicago flung his clay pipe into :
corner, and said:--
s.I',l lick the man who says Ugly Sam