The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-03-03
lDotroit Free Press.
HIS DIVING MOTHER SAVED
HIM.
A TOUCHING STORY.

Potomac 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 Il warrant out for
INN, hadn't known Of his being
sick for u day, and his absence
from the old haumts puzzled them.
They were in the Hole in thc-Wall
Saloon the other morning, nearly q
dozen of them, drinking, smoking
and playing cards, when in walked
Ugly Sam.
There was dccp silence for u
moment as they looked at him. Sam
had q new hat, had boen shaved
clean, had Oh Il clean collar and n
white shirt, and they didn't know
him at first. When they SOW that
it was Ugly Sam they uttered u
shout and leapcd up.
"Cavo in that hat!" cried one.
"Yank that collar off," shouted
another.
"Lcts roll him on the floor"
cried third
There was something in his look
and bearing which made them hcsi-
tate. The whiskey-r red had almost
faded from his face, and ho looked
sober and digniiicd. His features
expressed disgust and contempt as
he looked around tho room, and
then revealed pity as his eyes fell
upon tho red eyes and bloated faces
Of the crowd before him.
"Why, what ails yc, Sam 2" in
quired Tall Chicago, as they all
stood there
eve como down to bid you good
by, boys" !" no replied, removing his
hat and drawing n clean handkcr.
chief from his pocket.
"What Hov ye turned preach,
er?" they shouted in chorus.
"Boys, yo know | can lick any
two OF ye, but hain't on the fight
any more, and I've put down the
last drop of whiskoy which is eve,
to go into my mouth! Two switch
ed off. Two taken an oath. In
going to be docent!"
"SNm DO you crazy?" asked Port
Huron Bill, coming nearer to him
'Ive come down hero to tell W
all about it" answered Sam. "Movt
tho chairs back little and give M
room. Yo all know I've been roueh
and moro too. I've been drinkcr
a fighter, gambler, and q loafer
/ can't look back and rcmombc,
when I've earned an honest dollar
The police hez chased mo around
Ikea wolf, and I've been to jail ant
the workhouse, and the papers has
said that Ugly Sam was the terror
of the Potomac. Yc all know this
boys, butyo didn't know that / hai
an old mother"
The faces of the crowd expressed
arazcmcnt.
81 never mentioned it to any O.
ye, for was neglccting her." he
went on. "Shc was a poor old wo
man, living up here in the alley
and if tho neighbors hadn't helped
her to fuel and food, she'd havo beer
found dead long ago. I never help
cd her to cent-didn't SEQ hor fol
weeks and wcoks, and l used to fec
mean about it. When n fellow goes
back on his old mother hos agittin
purity low, and | know it, Well
she's dead-buricd yesterday
was up thero aforo she died. Sh'
sont for me by Pete, and when
got there l scon it was all day will
her"
"Did sho say anything ?" asked
one Of the boys as Sam hositated
"Thats what ails mo now," h,
went on. "When | went in sh.
reached out her hand to me; ane
says shc: Samuel, I'm going t,
die, and know'd you'd want to Sc
mo afore | passed away! / So
down, foeling quccr-likc. Sho didn
go on and shy as how / was loaf
CT, and had neglected her, and al
that, but says she: Samuel, you'll
DO &ll alone when I'm gone. "
tried to DO good mother to you
and have prayed for you hundred
o nights, and cried about you til
my old heart was soro!' Some O
the neighbors had dropped in, an'
the women were crying, and tel
you, boys, [ felt wcak!"
He paused for q moment, on,
then continued:
"And tho old woman said She,
like to kiss mo afore came doatl
and that broke me right down.
She kept hold of my hand, and by
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