The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-09-02
said in voice of almost heavenly calm.

=
| ness.
"Boys, a lovely. pictur' has just bin a
.passin' before me. T could see away back
to whenI war little kid, a-toddlin'
around the house at hum, with that
blessed old mother, who has bin an
angel fur many years. I could remem-
Der how she used ter git me down on my
knees beside her, an then she'd say
over sich sweet little prayers an coax me
to say 'em arter her. Then she'd kiss
me an tuck me up sung in bed, an when
she thought I was asleep | could hear
her cryin' an prayin' in whispers, AKIN
God to keep track o. me, an give me a
lift an help me up agin if l ever STUN.
bled an fell. When Sunday como she'd
wash me up, an dress me, oh, so nice,
an take me to Sunday school, alters
keepin' me in the class she teached
herself, an' somehow it seemed to me
that every word she spoke YVES aimed
right at me. And then the pictur' NOV
ed on, an seed myself as good chunk
of a boy, up to all the pranks an devil
ments that kids hung on to in them days.
I got to be tuff 'un, but [ never done
any real wicked rackets, an I've alters
thought that my good old mothers pray
ers stood atween me an wrong. Then 1
could see myself as young man, q
gradually driftin' outen the path O.
right, an forgitten' wat I knowed about
piety. Then I+tuk my fust drink an
begin to slide right down hill with the
devil an all his imps on earth a:nudgin'
me on. But, boys that old angel mother
never shook me, nor never let up on her
prayers. Oh, God? I kin see it as if it
war only Yesterday, the fust time 1 cum
hum drunk. She pushed me down in
chair, an clasped me in her arms as if she
was afeared she war goin' ter lose me from
her forever. An then she coaxed an
pleaded with me, The tears jist foodin'
down her old cheeks, an her darlin' voice
tremblin' SOC I knowded her heart was
jist breakin' every minute. AM then
she gin terr pray for me so earnest tibet it
sobered mel ina minutes. promised
her to throMuf onsWhisky, anil KEEP the
promise fur a. long time, sbut broke my
guard agin5 and Satan got his work in
once more. Then I9fell lin with gam
blers an sports, run away from home an
landed in this great West. Lhearl from
hum nowan' then, till one day. T got a
letter with block edges all around it,, an
when; I opened it 1 found thetmother war
dead, ant that her last wordszwar a pray
er fur herslost Sam. I tell ye, boys, it
broke me all up, but instead 30 gettin'
better I went down lower'n evers an
have stuck; to tito this day. Oh,,zInoth-
,er mother! flyer listenin now, ax God
to save yer boy y!''
Sobs burst forth from the occupants Of
the room. These men were rough and
but away down In the depths
of their hearts a little spring of feeling
had lain hidden for years, until now it
had been opened and bubbled np with
tender rippling-opened by one magic
word mother. The minister offered up
an earnest petition to the Father in
pleading tones which would accept of no
refusal. Strangely blended with his
words of prayer came petitions from the
rough men around him, reeking with
slang, but clothed in heartfelt earnest
ness and sincerity. Sam lay apparently
calm until the petition ceased, and then
a smile spread like a ray ofzlight over
his wan features. Outstretching his arms
toward Heaven, he murmured, ~ see
her-I see her. Oh, peace, joy! Mother,
Pm coming; Pm comingp' And with
that smile Of happiness still Illuminating
his face, he fell back upon his pillow
dead.
l visited Snake River but a few weeks
ago, and in the outskirts Of the settle.
ment came upon grave marked by
beautiful marble slab. Upon it was en-
grayed
SEMINOLE SAM.
Who shook the wicked earth,
And landed rightin his old mothers arms
in Heaven"
The marble engraver in Denver had
strictly followed his written copy.