Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-02-18
A TOUCHING STORY.
Ugly sam and why he Reformed
"A Promise to Dying Mother.

"fotomac Tor several days, and Cleve.
land Tom, Port Huron Bill, Tall Chicago
and tie rest Of tie boys, who were wont
to get drunk with him, couldn't name out
what had happened. They hadn't heard
that there Was warrant out for him, had
never known of his being sick for day,
and absence from the old haunts puz.
zIc They were in tho Hoic>in>
the VI al. saloon the other morning, nearly
dozen Of them, drinking, smoking, and
playing cards, when in walked Ugly Sam.
There was deep silence for a few
moments as they looked at him Sam had
new hat, had been shaved clean, had on
clean collar aud white shirt, and thoy
didn't know hlm at first. When they
saw that it was Ugly Sam they uttered a
shout and leaped up.
Gave in that hat?' cried one.
"Yank that collar off !' shouted ahoth-
! er. 1E |N
There was something in his look and
bearing which made them hesitate. The
whlskey.re6 had almost faded from his
face. and he looked sober and dignifed.
Ills features expressed disgust aud con,
tempt as he looked around the room, and
then revealed pity as his eyes fell upon
the red eyes and bloated faces of the
the crowd before him.
why, what ais we, Sam?' inquired
Tall Chicago, as they all stood there.
/ "Pve come down to bid YOU good-by,
zboys'' he replied, removing his hat and
Edrawing a clean handkerchief from his
pocket
What Hcv ye turned pleacher?"
tHey shouted in chorus.
Boys, ye know can lick any two Of
ye, but | hain't on the fight any more,
and Eve put down the last ,dropof whis-
key winch is ever to go into my mouth |!
I've switched off P,c taken an oath.
pm going to be decent %
"Sam be ye crazy Y asked Port Huron
Bill, coming rearer to him
''I've come down here to tell, ye about
it." answered Sam, "Nlove the chairs
back little and give me room. Ye all
know I've been rough, and more too. I've
been drinker, gambler, anda loafer.
[ caut look back and remember when
I've earned an honest dollar. The police
hez chased me around like 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 ye didn't know, bad an
old mother" t rFF '.ss f
The faces Of the crowd expressed
amazement. 7-'' .si
Il never mentioned it to any of ye, 70:
was uegIectiug her," he weut'on. "She
Was poor old woman. living up here in
the alley. and if the peigbbors hadn't
helped her to fuel and food. she'd have
been dead long ago. | never helred her
to cent-d,dn't see her for weeks and
weeks, and | used to feel mean about it
When fellow goes back on his old moth
or be s a-gittin' purity low, and know
1T. Well, she's dead--buried yesterday
l was NJ flarc afore she died. She sent
for me .! 'te, aud when got there
seen it was all day with her." r 81
"Did she say anythiug?" asked one Of
the boys, as Sam heSitated. ,eif.
That's what ails me now" ne went on
"Wheu | went in she reached out hel
hand to me, and, says she: Samuel
I'm going to die. and ! kuow'd you'd wan
to see me aior | passed away" l sa
down, feeling queer.like. She didn't g
on and say as how was loafer, and hat
neglected her. and all that, but says she
Samuel, you'll be alone wien I'm gone
, I've tried to be good mother to you
! and have prayed for you hundreds 0
. nights, aud cried about you until my oil
Leart was sore I Some Of the neighbor
had dropped in. and the woman wor
crying aud tell you | iels weak!'
lie paused a few moment, and the
a continued q 3q ta
vl "Aad the old women said she'd like
siss me sfore death came, and that hroo
me right down. She kept hold OF m
- tnhj, aud bs,and>by she whispered
'sama6,, yea, are throwing your lifeaasl
u 1er ye yrt in you to be a man. it yOu'
4 csl, p,ake up your nia.d. / bate to d
= esd nc that Bay only son and the last
| opr iea,iy may go.toi the gallows. II
! bpd seur premise that you'd turn over
mes Leaf, and try and be goOd, it seems