Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-01-22
What Allied Ugly Sam.

!
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 there was warrant6ut for him,
had never known of his being sick for
single day, and his absence from the
old haunts puzzled them. They were
in the Hole in the Wall saloon yester1
day morning, nearly dozen of them,
drinking smoking and playing cards,
when i'll walked Ugly Sam. -
There was deep silence for mo-
ment as they looked at him. Sam had
a new hat, had been shaved clean, had
on clean collar and white shirt, and
they didn't know him at first. When
fthey saw that it was Ugly Sam they
uttered shout and leaped up.
"Cave in that hat" cried one.
"Yank that collar OFF, shouted an
other.
"Let's roll him on the foor!" yelled
a third.
There was something in his look
and bearing which made them hesi-
tate. The whiskey-red had almost
faded from his face, and he looked so
Der and dignifed. His features ex!
pressed disgust and contempt as he
looked around the room, and then re-
vealed pity as his eyes fell around up
on the red eyes and bloated faces be-
fore him. ~
"Why, what ails We, Sam?" inquir-
ed Tall Chicago, as they all stood
there.
"I've come down to bid you good
bye, boys!" he replied, removing his
hat and drawing clean handkerchief
from his pocket.
"What! have ye turned preacher?:"
they all shouted in chorus.
'Boys, We know | can lick any two
of We; but l hain't on the fight any
more, and I've put down the last drop
of whiskey which is ever to 60 in my
mouth. I've switched off. I've TAX
en- an oath. I'm going to be decent.
"Sam, be you crazy" asked Port
Huron Bill, coming nearer to him.
'I've come down here to tell ye all
about it," answered Sam. "Move the
chairs back little and give me room.
Ye all know I've been rough, and
more, too. I've been drinker, q
fighter, gambler and loafer. /
can't look back and remember when
I've earned an honest dollar. The
police hez chased me around like q
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 mother"
The faces of the crowd expressed a.
mazement.
81 never mentioned it to ye, for l
was neglectin' her." he went on. "She
was a 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. [ never
helped her to cent--didn't see her
for weeks and weeks, and l used to feel
e mean about it. When a feller goes
: back on his old mother, he's gittin'
: purity low, and know it. Well, she's
e dead-buried yesterday. l was up
S there afore she died. She sent for me
by Pete, and when l got there seen
it was all day with her."
"Did she say anything?" asked one
= { of the boys.
l "That's what ails me now," he
went on. "When | went she reached
& out her hand to me and says she,
: Samuel, Pm going to die, and |
know'd you'd want to see me afore I
passed away | sat down, feeling
S queer like. She didn't 60 on and say
!. how l was loafer, and had neglected
e her, and all that, but she saws, Sam
e uel, you'll lie all alone when Pm gone.
e I've tried hard to be good mother to
:, you, and have prayed for you hun
: dreds o'nights and cried about you till
: my old heart was sore.' Some O. the
neighbors had dropped in, and the
Y women were crying, and l tell you,
e boys, | felt weak"
e He paused for a moment and then
continued.
t "And the old woman said she'd like
: to kiss me afore she died, and that
4 broke me right down. She kept hold
: OF my hand, and by and by she whis-
5 pered, Samuel, you are throwing your
. life away. You've got it in you to be
Il man ii you'll only make up your
a mind. | hate to die and feel that my
only son and the last of our family
may go to the gallows. If had your
:. promise that you'd turn over a new
leaf and try and be good it seems as if
. I'd die easier. Won't you promise me,
> my SON? And | promised her, boys,
and that's what ails me. She died
holding my hand and l resolved to
quit this low business and go to work.
= | came down here to tell ye, and now
you won't see me on the Potomac again.
I've bought an axe and am going up
in Canada to winter"
: There was dead silence for moment,
!, and then he said:
r "Well, boys, I'll shake hands with
: ye all round afore l 60. Good bye.
+ hope you won't fling any bricks at me,
and | shan't never fling at you. It's
: a dying promise, you see, and I'll keep
r it if it takes right arm"
/ The men looked rehectively at each
:, other after he went out, and it was a
v long time before any one spoke. Then
h Tall Chicago flung his clay pipe into
J, la corner. and said