The Portland daily press., 1881-05-31
A Tale of Bob Ingersoll.
The Story of a Little Hunchback

Washington Correspondence Chicago Tribune.l
She was little pale faced girl, hunch-
backed, thin, shrinking, and with that look Of
patience upon her face that belongs to the de-
formed. 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, hunt
ing Washington over for a place where her
thin little hands could find something to do.
She came here from Brooklyn with letters from
people who had been interested in her forlorn
condition. She was 20 years old, an orphan,
without a relative or near friend in all the
world. In Washington she met with no en-
couragement. No one had even q kind word
for the little hunchbacked 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 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. aman with heart 50 large and
tender that it could not listen to the simplest
story of pain and suffering without tears of
sympathy. This man, Colonel Robert G.. In
gersoll, 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 kindness and good
ness in the path OF his fellow creatures. To
him the patient-faced cripple went at once
and found that there there was one mau in
the city of Washington who does not discrim-
mate between his callers. With him the lame
halt and and blind find as much favor, il not
more, than the rich and powerful. The little
cripple told her story briefly and simply. She
was alone in the world. She wanted work.
She was able to do much in spite of her de-
formity. All that she wanted was one chance
to show what she could do.
What have you done already?" was asked.
Il have called to see the President"
did you see him?"
"Why not?"
"Sonie way never managed to get in.
would go there and give my letter to the mess
enger, and he would say, the President is
busy now; you must watt 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
ten.'"
"And you went again?"
"Yes; l was always there as the clock
struck, but some way could never get there
so early but that others would be ahead OF me.
l have gone up there for many days, but new
or got any further than on the first day"
"Well, will see what can do for YOU,
He then took her address. A day or two
later before he could do anything for her, he
called npon 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 gener
Sas public man said: Well guess win
he dove down in his pocket, and gave her
enough money to last her until he returned.
Then he gave her a letter to the President
With that she obtained an interview with
him. 1t did not appear to be satisfactory,
however, for the next day size appeared again
at Colonel 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 I wanted
him to do. He said that he had made rule to
not ask personally for any appointment in the
departments"
",Well," said the colonel ''you get ready
ana go up with me tomorrow, and will talk
to the President for you.'
The next day Colonel Ingersoll walked in to
the PRESIDENT unannounced. as is his privilege.
Said he: "Mr. President there is a little
hunchback woman outside want you to see."
But, my dear Bob," said the President,
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.
!! want you to see my little hunchbacked
friend'
"But what can do for her? I can't write
her Q letter, as it is against my rules"
"You can make this exception to your rule
You can say: Il will write no letters except
for orphan hunchbacked women with no rela-
atives or friends To do such deed Of kind
ness as this is worth all there is in being Pres
ident. Anybody can give office to politicians.
but it takes the highest of aspirations and
noblest of minds to use the great power of
President to help lthe helpless and aid the
friendless."
The President smiled as he said: "Well
Bob, for the Lords sake, for your sake, and
for her sake, will do it."
Never mind about the Lords sake Ac-
cording to your view of the Lords work, He
is responsible for the affiction 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 we'll: 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 Ingersoll said, laughingly:
There, regard that as one Of the most i'm
portant acts of your Administrator"
This is the true history of how this patient
faced little woman finally secnred a place in