Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-01-23
A Sto = that Touches the Heart.
T-ly sam and why he Reformed \
Promise 20 a Dying Mother


He hal been missing from the pJ,nm1c
for several d,ys. AMI Cleveland Tom, Port
lqron nal. TIL Chicago. AMI the rest Of tho
boys VIII were Won, TO get dunk with him
couldn't make out what bad happeaeL They
halu', he,rl that there was a warrant ont for
him. bal never known Of his being SICK for a
day. and his absence from the old haunts pnz-
zled them. They were in the Hlle-ia-the-
Wall saloon the other morning, nearly
dozen Of them. drinking, smoking, and play
ing cards, when in walked Ugly sam.
There was deep silence for a moment as
,hey looked at him. sam hal a new bat, had
been shaved clean, had on a clean collar and
white shirt. and they didn't know him at f.st.
When they saw th,, it was Ugly sam they
uttered shout and leapcl up.
Cave in that hat !" cried one
"Yank that collar off," shouted another
Let's roll him on the floor" screamed
third
There was sonnet, ing in his look and bearing
which male them hesitate The whskey-red
had almost faded from his face, aud he looked
sober AMI disnifed. His features expressed
disgust and contempt as he looked around the
ROOM aud then revealed pity as his eyes fell
upon the red eyes aud boltel faces Of The
crowd before him.
"Wby, what ails ye, Sam % inquired Tall
/ Chicago, as they stood there
"Tve come down to u you sood-by,
boys (" be replied, removing IS bat, and draw
. ing clean handkerchief from his pocket.
What Hev ye turned preacher" they
shouted in chorus
"B,ys, We know can licl; any two Of yc,
but haint on the fight an more, anl I've
pu, down ,hc last drop Of wbskey which is
ever to 20 into my mouth I've switched OIL
I've taken an oath I'm going to be decent"
Sam, be you crazy % asked Port Huron
/ Bill, coming nearer % BIN.
4 1--WE come down here to tell you ail about
I it," answered sam MJye .rs back
4 littc and =. i've me room. snow I've
been rough, ard more too I've been drink
er. lighter, a gambler and lolfcr. cant
look back anl remember when I've earned an
honest dollar The police hcz chased me
around like wolf and I've been IN iNil and
the workhouse, aud the papers has said that
Ugly sam was the terror Of the Potomac.
Ye all know this, boys, but yc didn't
know had an old mother
The faces OF the crowd expressed amaze
ment
81 never mentioned it to any Of yc. FOR
was oeelcc,iug her, be went 90 A" She was
a poor old woman, living up here IA the
alley. aud If the ncighbors hadnt helped her
70 fuel aud food, she'd have been found dead
long ago. I never helped her 10 a cent
didn't see her for weeks and weeks, and
used to feel mean about IT, When fellow
goes back on his old mother he's a-gittn purity
low. and know it. Well she's dead--bnricd
Yesterday was up there afore she died.
She ,ent f5r mo by Pet, and when 60, there
seen it was al day with her,"
"Dil she say anything askal oae Of the
boys, as Sam heshiel
That's what ails me now be went on.
When went ia she reached ont her hand
70 me, AMI. says she: Samuel, I'm going 70
die. and know'd you'd want % see me aforo
passed away slt down, feeling queer
Ike. She dilnt 60 on anil say as how was
oaler. aud hal neglected her, and al that,
but SAYS she: Samuel, yonl be al alone
when I'm gone. I've tried T. be a good
mother to you. and have prayed or y0u a
hundred o'nishts, and cried about you I'LL
NY old heart was sore" Some Of the neigh
bors hal dropped 10, aud tho women were
CRYING. aud tell you, boyt, felt weak -
lie paused for a moment aui then conlin-
ned
d" And the old woman said she'd ike 10 kiss
noe aforo death came and that broke mc 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 10
Won 10 be a man, if you u only make up your
mind bate to die and feel that my only
son and the last Of our family may 60 10 the
gallows. IF had your promise that you'd
turn over q new leaf, and try % be good, it
seems as Il ia die easier. Won't you promise
me. my souT Aud promised her, boys,
and that's what ais me She died holding
my hand, and promised to quit the low
business, and 60 to work. came down to
tell ye. and now you won; see me on tho Po-
t9nac again. I've bought an ak, and am
going up 10 Canada % winter"
There was a dead silence fr a moment,
and then he said
"Weu. boys, III shake hands with yo al
around a1re go. Good-by, Pete,-good-ty
Jack-Tlm-Jim. hope ye won't fling
any bricks at me, and shan't never fios at
any Of ye rs dying promise, ye see, aud
/ IN keep it IL it takes a right arm
The men looked reaecligely a; each other
after be had passed out, aDd it was long
time before any spoke. Then Toll Chicago
flung Bis clay pipe into a corner, and said:
ON lick the nan who says Usly Sans
( head isn't level -
"SouI." repeated tie others.
TUsf-.ff E.,e prrrr