The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-01-15

Spring. Spring shall put on her glorious
apparel, and be called Summer. 1t is life.
1t is life! through the whole year.
A STORY THAT TOUCHES THE HEART.
He had been missing from the " Poto-
mac for several days, and 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 that there was a war;
rant out for him; had never known of his
being sick for day, and his absence from
the old haunts puzzled them.
They were in the Hole in the Wall alone
the other morning, nearly dozen of them,
drinking, smoking and playing cards, when
in walked Ugly Sam.
There was deep silence for a moment as
they looked at him. Sam had new hat
had been shaved clean, had on collar and
a white shirt, and they didn't know him at
first. When they saw that it was Ugly
Sam they uttered a shout and leaped up.
"Cave in that hat" cried one.
Yank that collar off, shouted another.
"Let's roll him on the tloorr' screamed
third
There was something in his look and
bearing which made them hesitate. The
whisky red had almost faded from his face,
and he looked sober and dignified. His
features expressed disgust and contempt as
he looked around the room and then re-
vealed pity as his eyes fell upon the red
eyes and bloated faces of the crowd before
him.
"Why, what ails We, Sam - inquired Tall
Chicago, as they stood there.
give come down to bid We goodbye,
boys!' he replied, removing his hat and
drawing a clean handkerchief from his
pocket.
"What, Sam! hev We turned preacher"
they shouted in chorus.
"Boys, We know can lick any two of We,
but hain't on the fight any more, and I've
put down the last drop of whisky which is
ever to 60 into my mouth, I've switched
off and taken an oath. I'm going to be
decent.
"Sam, be you crazy asked Port Huron
Bill, coming nearer to him.
"Tve 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, fighter, gambler and a
loafer. / can't look back and remember
when Eve earned an honest dollar. The
and I've been in Jail and the work-house,
and the papers has said that Ugly Sam was
the terror of the Potomac. Ie all know
this, boys, but we didn't know had an old
mother"
The faces of the crowd expressed amaze
ment.
"Fve never mentioned it to any of we,
for l was neglecting her, he went on.
"She was poor old woman, 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. l never
helped her to cent-did not see her for
weeks and weeks, and | used to feel mean
about it. When fellow goes back on his
old mother he's gitten purity low, and
know it. Well, she's dead-buried yester-
day. l was up there afore she died. She
sent for me by Pete; when l got there l
seen it was all up with her.
"Did she say any thing ~ asked one of
the boys as Sam hesitated.
"That's what ais me now,' he went on.
"When | went in she reached out her hand
to me, and says she, "Samuel, am going
to die and know'd you'd want to see me
afore | passed away?' l sat down, feel
ing queer like. She didn't 60 on and say
how l was loafer and had neglected her
and all that, but says she: Samuel, you'll
be alone when I'm gone. I've tried to be
good mother to you, and have prayed for
you hundreds O. nights and cried about
you till my old heart was sore.' Some of
the neighbors had dropped in and the
women were crying, and l tell you, boys, l
felt weak
lie paused for a moment and then con-
tinued:
"And the old woman said she'd like to
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 a good man, if you'll
| L., ind 7 hot 70 lia RI
| feel that my only son and the last of our
family may 60 to the gallows. If / had
your promise that you'd turn over new
leaf, and try to be good, it seems as if I'd
die easier. Wont you promise me, my
son?' And promised her, boys, and that
what ails me! She died, holding my hand,
and | promised to quit the low business
and go to work. | came down to tell ye,
and you wont see me on the Potomac
again. I've bought an axe and am going
up in Canada to Winter"
There was dead silence for a moment
and then he said:
"Well, boys, I'll shake hands with ye
all afore go. Good bye, Pete-good bye,
Jack-Tom-Jim. l hope ye wont fling
any bricks at me, and l shan't never fling
at any of ye. It's dying promise, We see,
and I'll keep it if it takes right armr'
The men looked refectively at each other
after he had passed out, and it was a long
, time before any one spoke. Then Tall
! Chicago flung his clay pipe into corner,
and said:
"In lick the man who says Ugly Sans
head Amt levelr'
"Soll ~ repeated the others.