The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-10-14

There was something in is look and
bearing which made them hesitate. The
whiskey red had almost faded from his face
and he looked sober and digniied. His
features expressed disgust and contempt as
he looked arouned the room, and then he
revealed pity as his eys fell upon the red
Eyes bloated faces of the crowd before
him.
"Why, what ails We Sam?" inquired Tall
Chicago, as they all stood there.
"Ive come down to bid you good-by,
boys" be replied, removing bis hat and
drawing clean handkerchief from his
pocket.
"W hat. Hev We turned preacher?" they
shouted in chourus.
BOYS, We know can lick eny two of
We, but han't on the fight any more, and
I've put down the iast drop of whisky
which is ever to 90 into my mouth, I've
switched of I've. taken an cath. I'm
8 iag e. 3 cseaa..
''Sam, us yoa araz5s" SAID Por. Huron
D.', ea4n5 h-ar u h1m.
I've como down basc to ter 5 abiat it,
answered Sar. Move tie chairs back
ligie and give me room. le all know
have been rough aud more too. I've been
dIinker, "a fighter, gambler aud loaf
er. The police have chased me around
like wolf, ard | have been in Jail You
all know this, bo-s, but ye didn't know /
had a mother. ,.,.
The faces of the crowd expressed amaz-
ment.
"l've never mentioned it to any of We,
for | was neglecting her" he said. Size
was a poor old woman, living up here in
the alley, and if the neighbors hadn't help
ed her to fuel and food, she'd have been
found dead long ago. never helped her
to a cept-didn't see her for weeks, and ]
used to feel mean about it. When fell
low goes back on his old mother, he's get
tin, pretty low, and | know it. Well,
she's dead-buried yesterday. l was up
there afore she died. She sent for me
by Pete, and then | saw it was all up with
her."
''Did she say anything?" asked one of
the boys.
That's what ais m, now" he went on.
when | went in she reached out her hand
to me, and says she to me: "Samuel, !
am going to die, and knew you'd want to
see me before l passed avayw sat down
queer like. She dida't 60 on and say as
how | was loafer, and had neglected her
and all that, tu. says she: "Samuel, you
will be all alone when am gone I've tried
TO be good mother to you, and have pray
ed for hundreds of nights, and cried about
yCH till ny old heart was sore!" Some of
the neighbors had dropped in and the wo-
Ten were crying, and tell you, boys, ]
felt weakl'
He paused for a moment, and then con-
tinue
"And the old women said she'd like to
kiss me afore death come, 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 yon'll
only make up yeur mind. l 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
leaf, and try and be good, it seems as if /
could die easier. Won't you promise me,
my son?' And promised her, boys, and
that is. what ails me. She died holding
my hand, promised to quit the low bus
mess and go to work. came down to
tell ye, and now you won't see me on the
Potomac egaip. I've bought an axe, and
am going up in Canada this winter
There was q dead silence for moment,
and then he said:
''Well, bovs, I'll shake hanis with ye
all around afore | go, Good bye Pete
goodbye Jack-Tcm jim. | hope you
WON'T fl ng any briks at me, and shan't
never fling at any of you. It's dying
pgcmis-, ye see, and Il keep II T il takes
d leg
The men looked rei csv.ig a eseh 9th
er after be had passed oGt, ard II vas a
.oUg time brtpre any one spoke. tie.
Tel C4.e4g0 flung Lis o.d clay pipe iljo
the corner, and sali: