The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-02-11
aLets roll him on the floorr' screamed

aLet's roll him ON the hoorl" screamed
. third.
There was something in his look and
bearing which made them hesitate. The
whisky-red had almost faded from hia
face, and he looked sober and dignided
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.
"Why. what ais ye, Sams' 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 We turned preacher
they shouted in chorus.
aBoys, ye know can lick any two Of
We, but hain't on the fight any more,
and I've put down the last drop Of
whisky which is ever to 60 into my
mouth! I've switched of. I've taken
an oath. I'm going to be decent"
"Sam, be you crazys" asked Port
Huron Bill, coming nearer to him.
"I'ye come down here to tell ye 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 drinker, a fighter, a
gambler and loafer / can't look back
and remember when I've earned an
honest dollar. The police hez chased
me around like 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.
II never mentioned it to any of ye, for
l was neglecting her." he went on. "She
was poor old body, 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. l never helped
her to cent-didnt see her for weeks
and weeks, and used to feel mean
about it. When Teller goes back on
his old mother he's a-gittin' purity low,
and know it. Well, she's dead-buried
yesterday! I was up there afore she
died. She sent for me by Pete. and
when got there / seen it was all day
with her."
Ibid she say anything" asked one Of
the boys, as Sam hesitated.
"That's what ais 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 I 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 neglected 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 till my old
heart was sorev Some of the neighbors
had dropped in, and the women were
crying, and tell you, boys, felt weakr
He paused for a moment, and then con-
tinued:
"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 by she whispered
Samuel, you are throwing your life
away. You've got it in you to be man
if you'll only make up your mind. l
hate to die and feel that my only son
and the last of our family may go to the
gallows. If l had your promise that
you'd turn over new leaf, and try and
be good, it seems as if I'd die easier.
Won't you promise me, my SOM And l
promised her, boys, and that's what ais
me! She died holding my hand, and l
promised to quit this low business and
go to work. l came down to tell yc, and
now you won't see me on the Potomac
again. I've bought an ak, and am going
up in Canada to winter"
There was dead silence for moment,
and then he said:
well, boys, I'll shake hands with we
all around afore go. Good-by, Pete
good-by, Jack-Tom-Jim / hope We
won't fling any bricks at me, and shan't
never fling at any of We. It's a dying
promise, We see, and III keep it if it takes
a right arm"
The men looked reflectively at each
other after he had passed out, and it was
a long time before anyone spoke. Then
Tall Chicago flung his clay pipe into a
corner and said:
"Pll lick the man who says Ugly Sans
head isn't level!"
"Soll Ir' repeated the others. Detroit
Free Press