The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-21
THE HUNCHBACK OF UNION SQUARE.
A story of Two Very Little People In Very
Humble Life.


Humble Life.
Written for the Journal by Kenward Philip.
l.
This is no legend of an infamous dwarf, who
has sold his soul to the devil for the privilege of
wislding supernatural powers on earth, no recit-
ri OF the unroo6ng of houses by malignant
pprites; no catalogue Of the doings of lie diable
boiteux, or Of Asmodeus, who is in receipt OF
fern seed that he may walk invisible among us
70 spy out the nakedness of our souls
The hero of this little history is simply little
hunchbacked newsboy. His name Is Johnny
Duffy.
That is he was a newsboy. He is no longer.
Wherefore you may learn-if you choose to fol-
tow the account of momentous period OF MS
life through couple OF columns or type.
It was the night of Washington's birthday,
1873 You will remember that binding snow
storm, with very high winds, ragged all that day,
mp in drifts along the sidewalks and in the gut
tiers. The festivities of the holiday were over,
the Declaration of Independence had been read
ia ali the great halls; banquets and balls were In
progress in comfortable hotels and brilliantly
lighted assembly rooms, the streets were de-
serted, save here and there for a belated passen-
ger by the elevated trains or the struggling
Aoundering, six-horsed surface cars, and In
thousands of homes well-fed papas and portly
mammas. and chubby children gathered round
cheerful fires thanking God that they were not
obliged to be out of doors on such night
There was one middle aged gentleman, how
ever, Mr.. Tobias Chivington, broker-his spe-
cially intimate friends of the street called him
'Toby" and ''Chiv"-who was obliged to go out
on this particular evening despite the weather.
MY DEAR" said Mrs. Chivngton, the buxom.
est of all buxom spouses, cant you put 1t on
until tomorrow"
a.
Chivingtons. Its such dreadful night papa!"
But Toby Chivington had given his word to be
in certain place at a certain time OF that par
ticular WashIngton's birthday. and Toby Chiv-
ington's word was Toby Chivington's bond--and
Toby Chivington's bond was good anywhere.
So, mildly cursing the weather, the head OF the
family kissed the children, drew on his rubbers,
glutched his umbrella with malignant intensity,
and in moment more stood on the stoop OF the
house, holding his hat on for dear life and his
coat-tails fourishng in the gale.
It so happened that Mr. Chivington's home
was situate immediately opposite an elevated
railroad station 1.-THE erection o. which he had
fought against with characteristic pertinacity
until the last plank was laid, when he found it
an exceedingly convenient thing to have near
the house), and that. during the brief period
when the hall door remained open food Of
light poured out OF the house upon small OBJ
ject-a very small object, indeed-cowering
against the pillar of the station.
This exceedingly small object was Johnny
Duffy, a little fellow of twelve. a hunchback. He
was smaller than most boys OF his age. natural
~, but his little, pinched up, weakened face was
full of intelligence. Yet all his intelligence had
been insufficient to provide him against such
storm as had ragged that day; for here bel stood.
ais skinny little jacket pinned about his throat,
his trousers torn and worn to such great extent
that they seemed to be composed of holes patched
together, his damp. unsold papers under his
little thin arm, and his feet bare.
Yes in this bitter weather the poor little
hunchback stood in the snow in his naked feet
MY dear sir, or madam, if you choose to pick
out the coolest night of this present season, and
will travel as far as Printing house square, say
at o'clock in the morning, you may convince
yourself that this representation of little Johnny
Duffy, as a type of the newsboy class, is some
what underdrawn. There you may see, any
morning, all the year round, in wet
or freezing or torrid weather, homeless
little fellows snatching an hour or two of
fugitive rest. In winter they curl themselves up
together, and lie the hot steam gratngs of
the Times Office, and in the embrasures OF the
big buildings adjoining; in summer they lie.
with their dirty little throats and breasts ex-
posed. in whatever corner may be most conven.
lent to what breeze is going. And if you will
but wait until the policeman on the beat comes
round you may see him rouse them up-winter
and summer alike--hear him tell them to ''get
out o. here-come!" and see them budding their
rags closer to their sinewy little bodies, and
blink away to find another nook for twenty
minutes snooze. Sometimes the newsboys are
so tired out, and tagged out. and utterly ex-
hausted that the policeman is obliged to beat the
eOles of their feet with his club before he can
bring them back to consciousness. l have seen
this.
"God bless nv soul!n cried the startled MIR.
Chivington. as he came down the stoop and saw
that the diminutive object was indeed alive and
6hivering.
'.Nooze. Telegram, even papers~ cried little
Johnny Duffy.
Come upstairs boy; come up at oncel" cried
Toby, feeling for his railroad fare.
Eyes, sir!'
Arrived at the top of the stairs Mr. Chiving
tom scanned the boy from head to foot Itdidn't
take him long to do it Little Johnny Duffy was
just about three feet high.
'.Bless my soul. boy!" exclaimed the kind
hearted gentleman, where are your shoes2"
II amt got none.D replied Johnny.
Sand you're out in this friightful storm with
out either shoes or stockiDgs9"
"Oh, that amt nothin',' said Mr. Duffy, with
an air of disdain.
''What is your name and where do you live?"
Johnny told him his name.
81 don't live nowhere" he continued. "Least
tan. You kin git bully bowl of coffee there fer
two cents" he explained cycling Mr. Chivington
~ though he thought the preambles pretty long
and the resolution very tardy.
IF give yeu couple of dollars to buy pair
Of shoes'-began Mr.. Chivington
But at that instant very prim parsonage in
long frock coat and a white neckcloth, who had
been waiting for the train, came up and joined
IN the conversation.
81 hope the boy is not deceiving YOU. sirl" he
said with pious smirk.
'srut, tut. there's no deception there" said
Toby, pointing to the boys feet
'.My lad,n began the unctuous parsonage
sAwho would punish You if you told a lief
'.Me farder!" said Johnny. promptly.
The other raised his eyes to the ceiling in wild
depreciation of such awful ignorance
eyes. know he said; 'but who else2"
ssMe mudder! Now me little brudder amt big
enough, now, fer ter lick mel"
ibid you ever hear Of -" began the in
Nnisitor. He did not finish the sentence, nor
had the good-natured Chivington time to inter
feet werd
Harlem trains step lively, gentsi" cried the
station agent. banging open the door and letting
In fearful blast of cold wind.
ssBlese INV souli That's INV frainin excitAdiv