Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-06-28
AToUCHISG STORY. d.


Ton. Port Hudson Bill. Tall Chicago.
snd the reSt Of the boys, who were won't
70 set drunk with him. couldn't make
ont what had happened. They hadn't
heard that there was warrant cut for
him. had never known Of his being sick
for day. and his absence from the old
haunts puzzled them. They were in the
HOle-in-the-WaIl saloon the other morn
ing. nearly dozen Of them. drinking.
snOking. and playing cards, when in
walked Ugly SAM
There was deep silence for a few
B.ssHeass as they looked at him. Sam
had new hat, had been shaved clean.
had on a clean collar and white shirt.
aud they didn't know him at first When
they saw it was Ugly Sam they uttered
a loud shout and leaped up.
Gave in that hat cried one.
.'Yank that collar of" shouted an
other.
Lets roll him on the floor" shouted
= third
There was something in his look aud
bearing that made them hesitate. The
whisky red had almost faded from his
I face. aud he looked sober and diguifed.
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
I the crowd before him.
why. what ais We. Sam ?" inquired
Tall Chicago, as they all stood there.
i've come down to bid you gOod-by.
boys. = he replied. moving his hat and
drawing I clean handkerchief from his
pocket
What. Hev you turned preacher p
they shouted. in chorus.
Boys. ye know can hex any two Of
ye, but l hain't on : fight any more, and
I've put down the last drop Of whisky
which Is ever to 60 IN ny mouth. I've
switched Of. I've taken an cath. I'm
going to be decent
sam. be you crazy ," asked Port
Huron Bill. coming near to him
I've eome down here to tell you all
about It, answered Sam. Move the
chairs back : little and give ne room,
You al know I've been rough, and more
to- I've been drinker, . fighter. q
. s@nbler and lozfer L can't look back
and remember where I've earned an hon.
est dollar The police have chased NE
around like wolf. and I've been il
jail and the workh0use, and the papers
have said that Ugly Sam vas the terror
Of the Potomac Yea all know this, boys
but ye didn't know l had an old mother.
The faces Of the crowd expresseG
zuzzeneut
81 never mentioned it to any Of ye
for was neglecting her. be went on
''She was poor woman. iTing'up her
in an alley. and if the neighbors hadn'
helped her to fuel and food, she'd hay.
been found dead long ago. Inever help
Cd her 70 q eent-didn't see her f0
! weeks and weeks, and I used to fee
mean about It When fellow goe
back On his old mother he's gittin pur
t. Low, and I know it Well, she's deae
buried yesterday I was up tier
afore she died She sent for me b
Pete. and when I got there seen it wa
all day with her"
did she say anything?" asked on
Of the boys as Sam hesitated-
That's what aiIs me now, he wen
On When L went in she reached ou
her hand TO ne. and says she: Samuel
: Tn going to die. and l knO#'d you
want 10 see ne afore passed away
:, sat down. feeling queer like. She did
Mt 20 On aud say as how l was a ioafel
aud had neglected her, and all that, bu
= says she. Samuel, you'll Be all alOn
, when I'm gone. I've tried to Be . goo
! mother 70 you. and have prayed for 70
, hundreds O'nights. and cried about 70
until my old heart was sore Some {
! the neighbors had dropped in. and th
. women we're erying. and | tell you / fe
i weak"
q He paascd for moment. and the
: continued:
H.And the old woman said she'd lik
/ % kiss me sfore death came, and ths
:. broke ne night down. She kept hold I
: ny hand, and BY and By she whispers
Samuel, you are throwing your Iii
: away. You've got it in you to be
a nan. if you'll only make up your minc
d ! hate 70 die and feel that my only 50
q and the last Of cur family may 20
; the gzllOEs. If had your promise til
I you'd turn over . new Leaf, and try an
e be good, It seems Id die easier. Won
y Jon promise me. my son 2 And ! prom
Z / ised Der, boys. and that's what ails n
: She died holding ny hand. and ] prom
: ised 70 quit the low business, ard 70 |
). 70 Tork- came down 70 tell ye. al
= bOE yoa won't see me o. the PotDmi
again, I've bought an axe. and am goir
up 70 Canada 70 winter"
4 There wzs . dead silence for q m
ment. and then be szid
EWsu L<~s Tsu sbsLe ks,.1s ,xsst,