Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-01-14
WHAT ALLIED SAM.
A Temperance Application to an
Ugly Man.

tomac" for several days, and Clevt
land Tom, Port Huron Bill, Ia
Chicago, and the rest of the boys VIII
were wont to get drunk with hir
couldn't tell what had happened
They hadn't heard that there was
warrant out for him, had never know
of his being sick for a day. and hi
absence from the oil haunts puzzles
them. They were in the Hole in tn
Wall saloon yesterday morning, near
ly dozen of them, drinking, smok
ing and playing cards, when in walk
ed Ugly Sam.
There was a deep silence for Il mo
ment as they looked at him. San
had q new hat, had been shaved clean
had on clean collar and a whit
shirt, and they didn't know him d
first. When they saw that it wa
Ugly Sam they uttered shout an'
leaped up.
"Cave in that hat" cried one.
"Yank that collar of !" shouted an
other.
Lets roll him on the floor J
screamed 4 third.
There was something in his looi
and bearing which made them hesi
tate. The whisky red had almos
faded from his face, and he locke,
sober and dignitied' His feature.
expressed disgust and contempt as h
looked around the room, and then re
veaied pity as his eyes fell upon th'
red eyes and bloated faces of the Grove
before him.
"Why, what ails We, Sam'?' i'll
CURED Tall Chicago, as they all stood
there.
I've come down to bid you gooc
bye, boysF p he replied, removing hi
hat and drawing a clean handkerchie
from his pocket.
"What hev you turned preacher?'
they shouted in chorus.
"Boys, ye know | can lick any tive
Of We, but | hain't on the fight an,
more, and Eve put down the astdroI
Of whisky which is ever to 90 int,
nv mouth! ive switched off. Eve
taken an oath. Pm going to be dc
cent!
"Sam, be YOU crazy?' added Por
Huron Bill, coming nearer to him.
I've come down nere to tell ye al
about it," answered sam. "Mov.
the chars back little and give ms
room. Ye ali know I've been roug
and more too I've been a drinker
gambler, and a loafer. | can't lool
back and remember when | earnet
An honest dollar. The police hei
chased me around like a wolf, and ",
been in Jail and the workhouse, anC
the papers has said that Ugly San
was the terror of the Potomac Y,
all know this. boys, but We didn'
know hal an old mother"
The faces Of the crowd expressed
Gmazement.
Il never mentioned it to any ofye
tor | was negleciing her." he wen
on "Sne was a poor OLD body, liv
ing up here in the alley, and if IN
neighbors hadn't helped her to fue
and food, she'd have been found dea'
long ago. | never helped her to
cent-didn't see her TOR weeks an,
weeks anu used to feel mean abou
lit. When Il feller goes back on hi
old mother he's a a.gittin' purity low
and know it. " Veil, she's dead
buried yesterday. | was up ther
afore she died She sent for me d
Pete, and when | got there seen
was all day with her"
"Did she say anything aske'
one of the boys as Sam hesitated
That's what ails me now, he wen
on. "When | went in she reache
out her hand to me, and says: San
uel, pm going to die, and | know
you'd want TO see me afore | passe
away sat down, feeling quec
like. She didn't go on and say a
how ! Twas a loater, and mad neglecte
her, and all that, but says she: '!'au
uel, you'll be all alone when II
gone. I've tried to be IA good mothe
to you, and have prayed for yo
hurdred o'nights, and cried abou
you til my Old heart was sore ! som
of The neighbors had dropped in, an
the women were crying, and | te
YOU, boys, | felt weak :"
lie paused for y moment, and the
continued:
And the old woman said She
like to kiss me afore death came, All
that broke me right down. She ker
hold OF my hand, and by-and-by sh
whispered: Samuel, you are throw
ing your lite away. You've got it i
YOU to be man if you'll only max
up your mind. | hate to die an
feel that my only son and the last c
our family may go to the gallow;
If | had your promise that you'd tur
over new leaf, and try and be good
it seems as if I'd die easier. Won
you promise me, my SOM And
promised her, boys, and that's wha
ails me! She edied holding my hand
and | promised TO quit this low bus
ness and go to work. | came dow
to tell ye, and now you won't see m
On the Potomac again. I've bough
an axe, and am going up in Canads
wfrtsK."