Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-13


Is lot against Him, labors fer our Lord
She was little, pale-faced girl, hump.
backed, thin, shrinking, and with that
look of patience upon her face that belongs
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 Washing ton
over for place where thin little hands
could find something to do. She came here
from Brooklyn with letters from people
who had been interested in her forlorn con.
dition. She was 20 years old, an orphan,
without relative or near friend in all the
world. In Washington, she met with no
encouragement. No one had even kind
word for the little humpbacked woman,
who had no friends. Day by day, she
haunted the ANTERIOR of officials, where
she was jostled by politicians and place
seekers until anyone less patient than she
would have given up entirely. Finally,
when her resources were nearly all gone,
some one told her that there was one man
in Washington who was the friend of the
friendless, man with heart SO large and
tender that it could not listen to the
simplest story of pain and suffering with.
out tears of sympathy.
This man, Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll
whose sole happiness consists in making
others happy, is besieged night and day
with crowds of unhappy people. Although
he is regarded by many pious people as an
enemy to mankind, yet there is not one of
them who each day scatters SO much kind
ness and goodness in the path of his fellow
creatures. To him the patient faced Grip
pie went, and at once found there was one
man in the city of Washington who does
not discriminate between his callere. With
him the lame, halt and blind find as much
favor, if not more, than the rich and pow
erful. 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
{" have called TO see the President.
" Did you see him ~
"No."
"Why not?"
Some way never managed to get in.
| would 60 there and give my letter to the
messenger, and he would say The Presi.
dent is busy now; you must wait Then
l would wait for hours, and then the mes.
senger would say i: The hour for the
Presidents reception of callers is at an end.
Come again tomorrow at 10. ;"
land you went again z"
Yes, was always there as the clock
struck, but some way / could never get
there so early but that others would be
ahead of me. / have gone up there for
many days, but l never got any further
than on the first day.
Well, l will see what can do for you. "
He then took her address. a day later,
before he could do anything to help her, he
was obliged to 90 away for week or two.
He called upon the little cripple and asked
She told him. The amount was only
enough TO last her two or three days
longer. The generous public man said,
''Well, | guess l will have to see you
through in this matter" So he dove down
in his pocket and gave her enough money
to Last her until he returned. Then he
gave her letter to the President. With
that she obtained an interview with him.
1t did not appear to be satisfactory, how
ever, for the next day she appeared again
ct Colonel Ingersoll's.
:" Well 2" said he.
''The President was very kind to me, 7"
said the cripple, "but he would not give
me note to any of tie department chiefs,
as l wanted him to do. He said that he
had made rule not to ask personally any
appointment in the departments.
"Well." said the Colonel, you get
ready and 90 up with me tomorrow, and l
will talk to the President for you"
The next day, Colonel Ingersoll walked
into the President unannounced, as is his
privilege. Said he:
Mr.. President, there is a little hump
"But, my dear Bob" said the Presi.
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, il
need be. 1 want you to see my little hump.
backed friend"
s.But what can l do for her / can't
write her letter, as it is against my rules. >
Is You can make this exception to your
rule. You can say : viii write no letters
except for orphan hump-baekedwomen 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 as
pirations and noblest of minds to use the
great power OF President to help the help.
less and aid the friendless."
The President smiled, as he said:
50 Well, Bob, for the Lords sake, for
your sake, and for her sake, will do it. y
aNever mind about the Lords sake.
According to your view OF the Lords
work, he is responsible for the nffliction
that now makes this poor girl suffer. So
we will leave him ont. Also please leave
me out of the case, and do it, a you u ht,
for her sake.
Every well, as you say, it shall be done
for her sake"
Here the President dashed off a hasty
order for her appointment, and as he did
SO, Colonel Ingersoil said, laughingly:
There, regard that as one Of the most
important acts OF yonr administration. I"
This is the true history of how this pa
tient-faced little woman finally secured a
place in one OF the Government bureaus. -
[ Washington Cor, Chicago Tribune.