The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-07-26
UGLY SAM.
WAY ne Reformcd-A Promise 10
n Dying Mother

--AN--
drop for several days, and Cleveland
Tom, Port Huron Bill, Tall Chicago,
and all the boys, who were won't to get
drunk with him, couldn't make out
what had happened. They had not
heard that there was warrant for him,
had never known of his being sick a
moment, and his absence from the old
haunts puzzled them. They were in
the Hole-in-the- Wall saloon the other
morning, nearly q dozen Of them, drink
ing and playing cards, when in walked
Ugly Sam.
There was a deep silence for few
moments as they looked at him. 81
had new hat, had been shaved clean,
had on clean collar and q white shirt,
and they didn't know him at first.
When they saw it was Ugly Sam they
uttered a shout and leaped up.
ssCave in that hat!!" cried one.
ssYank that collar off p shouted an
other.
'RoH him on the floor screamed a
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 digni-
fed His features expressed disgust
and contempt as he looked around the
room, and then revealed pity as his
eyes fell upon the red eyes and bloated
faces of the crowd before him.
"Why, what ails We, Sam = in
quired Tall Chicago, as they all stood
there.
"Pve come down to bid We goodbye,
boysP he replied, removing his hat and
drawing clean handkerchief out.
@Whatl hev ye turned preacher r
they shouted in chorus.
'sBoys, We know 1 can lick any two
of ye, but l hain't on the fight any more,
and I've put down the last drop of
whisky which is ever to go into my
mouth I've switched of. Eve taken
an oath. Boys, I'm going TO be de-
cent =
"Sam, are you going crazy :" asked
Port Huron Bill, coming nearer to him.
"I've come down here to tell You 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, a fighter, a
gambler and loafer. can't look back
and remember when have earned an
honest dollar. The police have chased
me around like vol, and I'Ye been
in Jail and the work-house, and the
papers have said that Ugly Sam was
the terror of the Potomac. Ye all
know this, boys, but We didn't know
that l had an old mother"
The faces of the crowd ex pre-
amazement
81 never mentioned it to any of We,
for was neglecting her." he went on.
''iShe was a poor old woman, living up
here in the alley, and if the neighbors
hadn't helped her to fuel and food, she
would have been found dead long ago.
L never helped her to cent-didnt
see her for weeks and weeks, and
used to feel mean about it. When a
fellow goes back on his mother he's
a-gettin' purity low, and l know it.
Well, she's dead-buried yesterday !
1 was up there afore she died. She
sent for me by Pete, and when got
there l found it was all day with her.
"Did she say anything" 7" said one of
the crowd as Ugly Sam hesitated.
sThat's what ails me now. 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 awayP / sat down,
feeling queer like. She didn't go on
and say how 1 was loafer, and how /
had neglected her, and all that, but
says she, Samuel, you'll be alone when
I'm gone. I've tried to be a good
mother to you, and have prayed fer
YOU hundred O. nights, and cried
about you until my old heart was sore r
Some of the women had dropped in,
and the women were crying, and l tell
you / felt weak"
He paused for moment and then
continued.
':And the old woman said she'd like
to kiss me afore death came, and that
broke me right down. She kept hold
of my hand, and by and by she whis
pered Samuel, you are throwing your
life away. You've got it in you to be
a man, if you'll only make up youl
mind 1 hate to die and feel that my
only son and last of the family may &c
to the gallows. If | had your promise
that you would turn over a new leaf
and try to be good, it seems as if I'd
die easier. Won't you promise me
my son g And I promised her, ha,
and that's what, ails me She di8d
holding my hand, and L promised tc
quit the low business, and go to work
l came down here TO tell you, now you
won't see me al :ha DaW,llop again
I've bought an ak, AMI am going intc
Canada to winter"
There was a dead SILENCE for mo
ment, and he said
"Well, boys, I'll shake hands Will
ye all around afore / 60. Goodbye
Pete-good-by Jack-JiIn-Tom.
hope ye won't fling any bricks at me
and 1 shan't never fling at any of you
It's dying promise, ye see, and II
keep it if it takes right arm p
The men looked reflectively at. eacl
other after he had passed out, and i
was long time before any one spoke
Then Tall Chicago flung his pipe into
corner and said
"I'Il lick the first man who says Ugl,
Sans head isn't level !"
''So'l l." repeated the others, anc
there was more heart and true human