The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-06-10

The STORY Of . Little Humpbsck ~ Wash.
imgton.

look of patience upon her face that be-
longs to the deformed. She was so thin
and fragile that one would hardly credit
her with strength to go about But in
all sorts OF weather, she went bravely
upon her small black crutches, hunting
Washington over for place where her
thin little hands could find something to
do. She came here from Brooklyn with
letters from people who had been inter-
ested in her forlorn condition. She was
twenty years old, an orphan, without
relative or near friend III all the world.
In Washington she met with no encour-
agement. No one had even kind word
for the little, humpbacked woman, who
had no friends. Day by day she haunted
the ante-rooms of officials, where she
was jostled by politicians and place
seekers until any one less patient than
she would have given up entirely. Fin
ally, when her resources We're nearly all
gone, some one told her that there was
one man in Washington who was the
friend of the friendless, man with
heart 80 large and tender that it could
not listen to the simplest story OF pain
and suffering without tears of sympathy.
This man, Colonel Robert q. Ingersoll,
whose sole happiness consists in making
others happy, is besieged night and day
with crowds of unhappy people. AL
though he is regarded by many pious
people as an enemy to mankind, vet
there is not one of them who each day
scatters so much kindness and goodness
in the path of his fellow-creatures. To
him the patient-faced cripple went, and
at once found that there was one man in
the city of Washington who does not
discriminate between his callers. With
him the lame, halt, and blind find as
much favor, if not more, than the rich
and powerful. The little cripple told
him her story briefly and simply. She
was alone in the world. She wanted
work She was able to do much in spite
of her deformity. All that she wanted
was one chance to show what she could
do.
''What have you done already?" was
asked.
CT have called to see the President
''Did you see him ?"
"No."
"Why not ?"
''Some way I never managed to get in.
I would go there and give my letter to
the messenger, and he would say: The
President is busy now; you must wait
Then would wait for hours, and then
the messenger would say: The hour
for the Presidents reception of callers is
at an end. Come again tomorrow at
TO-"
"And you went again p
Eyes, was always there as the clock
struck, but someway / could never get
there so early but that others would be
ahead of me. / have gone up there for
many days, but I never got any further
than on the first day."
I "Well, L will see what 1 can do you
for YOU"
He then took her address A day later,
before he could do anything to help her,
he was obliged TO go away for week or
two. He called upon the little cripple
and asked her bluntly how much money
she had She told him. The amount
was only enough to last her two or three
days longer. The generous public man
said:
"Well, I guess will have to see you
through in this matter"
SO he dove down in his pocket and
gave her enough money to last her un-
til he returned Then he gave her let
ter to the President. With that she OBJ
tanned an interview with him. 1t didnot
appear to he satisfactory, however, for
the next day she appeared again ut Col
onel Ingersoll's.
"Well?" said he.
''The President was very kind to me. {"
said the cripple, 'but he would not give
me a note to any of the department
chiefs as | wanted him to do. He said
that he made rule TO not ask personally
any appointment in the departments
''Well," said the Colonel, "you get
ready and go up with me tomorrow, and
will talk to the President for you"
The next day Colonel Ingersoll walked
III to the President unannouced, as is his
privilege. Said he:
''Mr. President, there is little hump
backed woman outside L want you to
see."
''But, my dear Bob" said the Pres
dent, "there are Senators and members
here in this room waiting to see me"
Let them wait. You have that class
here every day. Let them come again if
need be. l want you to see my little
humpbacked friend"
''But what can do for her? 1 can't
write her letter, as it is against my
rules.
"You can make this exception to your
rule. You can say: Il will write no let
ters except for orphan humpbacked wo-
men with no relatives or friends To do
such deed of kindness as this is worth
all there is in being President Anybody
can give offices to politicians, but it takes
the highest aspirations and noblest of
minds to use the great power of Presi-
dent 10 help the helpless and aid the
friendless.
The President smiled as he said:
"Well, Bob, for the Lords sake, for
your sake, and for her sake I will do it. I"
"Never mind about the Lords sake.
According to your view of the Lords
work, He is responsible for the affection
that now makes this poor girl suffer. So
we will leave Him out. Also, please
leave me out of the case, and do it as
you ought, for her sake"
VERY well; as you say, it shall be
done for her sake.
Here the President dashed off hastv