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"^ Little Hunchback 
 
 of 
 
 Clothespin Allep 
 
 BY 
 
 CATHERINE TONGUE 
 
^J 
 
 
 K?^^'^' 
 
 Copyright 1921 
 
 by 
 
 CATHERINE TONGUE 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 HEADLIGHT PUBLISHERS 
 Stromsburg, Nebraska 
 
 (O)0!.A322O15 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 Sister has lovers, one, two, three; 
 
 They let the little Hunchback be. 
 
 I don't sit around and sigh — not I, 
 
 If all the boys do pass me by; 
 
 In an air-ship, gay, I sail av/ay 
 
 To my castle in the air. 
 
 The birds and beasts, all gather round me 
 
 They are glad that I am there. 
 
 Friends, and lovers I have a plenty 
 
 And servants, there are twenty! 
 
 There, all admire me, the great and small 
 
 Because I am so straight and tall! 
 
 Refrain 
 O, I am a builder, a builder rare, 
 I am forever, building castles. 
 Castles — in the air! 
 
 don't you wish that yoU' were there, 
 In my beautiful, wonderful castle, 
 
 My castle in the air? 
 In my castle I am a queen, 
 
 And there, I reign surprerae 
 In my beautiful, wonderful castle, 
 
 My castle in the air! 
 
 In my garden are lillies fair, 
 
 And I gather the roses there. 
 
 And all in the quiet evenings' dawn 
 
 The fairies dance upon my lawn 
 
 To the brownies' music low and sweet 
 
 Suited just to faries' feet. 
 
 And when the lights are all on above. 
 
 Then, I have my dreams of love! 
 
 Sure, a handsome boatswain comes to take 
 
 Me a sailing on the lake. 
 
 Now, me-thinks you know the reason why 
 
 1 have no time to sit and sigh! 
 
 — Catherine Tongue, 
 
 Musical setting to the above lines by Laura 
 Sedwick Collins, New York City. 
 
"O fear not in a world like this, 
 And thou shall know ere long, 
 Know how sublime a thing it is 
 To suffer and be strong." 
 
 — Henry W. Longfellow 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACIi OP CLOTHESPIN 
 ALLEY 
 
 It was in the beautiful home on Hadley Hill. A 
 fire was burning in the grate for it was the rainy 
 season in California. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hadley 
 were entertaining an old friend who had just re- 
 turned from over seas. Doctor Carter grave and 
 thotful, a little grayed at the temples and his 
 friend and companion, much younger in years, 
 whom the doctor had requested to bring with him. 
 
 John Hadley, a boy of some twelve years, was 
 standing by his father's chair, his arm thrown 
 lightly around the older man's shoulders, his eyes 
 fixed on the face of Doctor Carter. Sister, a girl, 
 some years older, was seated on the hearth rug 
 looking down into the fire, occasionally her eyes 
 would steal a glance at the quiet stranger seated 
 a little in the back-ground, then drop again to study 
 the pictures in the flames. 
 
 Mrs. Hadley v/as speaking. 
 
 "No, Doctor Carter, father and mother Hadley 
 did not long survive the misfortune that befell 
 them, tho I believe they regained possession, 
 thanks to a beneficient friend, of this old home on 
 the hill. Sister married and is living in the east." 
 
 Mrs. Hadley looked thotful. Again raising her 
 eyes to the doctor's face she continued, 
 
 "You, Doctor Carter, you never married. Were 
 you never in love?" 
 
 The doctor's face seemed to grow graver and 
 for a moment he looked thotfully into the flames. 
 A sigh escaped him. Turning to Mrs. Hadley, he 
 replied, 
 
 "Yes. I was in love — in love with a child." 
 
 "A child! O, Doctor, do tell us about it! Where 
 did you meet her and was she beautiful?" 
 
 "At the orphanage in this city. Beautiful? Yes, 
 in mind and spirit, loving, thotful of others and 
 generous to a remarkable degree. Always cheer- 
 ful in the face of adversity — she brot happiness to 
 others. Cheerful, tho weighed down with afflic- 
 tion. She was — a little hunchbcck. They called 
 her 'The Little Hunchback of Clothespin Alley'." 
 
 Mrs. Hadley threw up her hands in horror. 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 "You — you in love with a hunchback!" 
 
 Thomas Hadley partly rose from his chair, his 
 face expressing great emotion. He signaled his 
 wife to be silent. Sinking brxk in his chair, he 
 drew his hand over his forehead. Only Sister 
 noticed the face of the stranger in the back ground. 
 His handsome face had grown white. Clasping 
 his hands tightly together, he leaned a little for- 
 ward, and he too looked into the flames. 
 
 Sister arose and going to Doctor Carter laid her 
 hand on his arm. 
 
 "Please tell us about her." 
 
 Little John joined his sister in begging the doctor 
 for the story. 
 
 For a fleeting moment the doctor's eyes rest6d on 
 the face of the stranger, then turning them to the 
 fire he began: — 
 
 "I was young then in years and in practice. My 
 work was principally among the poor, tho I had 
 some friends among the wealthy. Your grand- 
 father," turning to Sister, "was among the latter. 
 I was frequently called to the orphanage. Little 
 Hunchback and her brother Ben were inmates of 
 that institution. About their parents, I knew noth- 
 ing. Ben was a few years older than his sister. 
 He idolized her and it was not to be wondered at. 
 To see her was to love her. A face so sensitive 
 and alive with inspiration, a cheerful, loving, 
 happy face. At first I wondered at the great happi- 
 ness that shone forth from the depth of her beauti- 
 ful eyes. I lived to learn that her happiness came 
 from with in. She was blessed with a wonderful 
 imagination. The flames of her vivid imagination 
 were fed with stories from the Arabian Nights'. I 
 was told that she kept a copy of the book under her 
 pillow." 
 
 "Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Stewart of Millionaire 
 Row, childless, were about to sail for England. 
 They decided at the last moment to adopt a child. 
 They came to the orphanage. The children were 
 called in for inspection. After looking them over, 
 much as a horse trader would look over a bunch 
 of horses, they observed Ben. In a moment the 
 other children were forgotten. He was a bright 
 and handsome lad. As if in anticipation of some- 
 thing the brother and sister had drawn close to- 
 gether and they stood a little apart from the other 
 children. At this period, your grandparents," again 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 looking at Sister, "came into the orphanage. They 
 stood quietly in the back ground. The Stewarts 
 approached Ben. Mrs. Stewart beaming upon him, 
 Inquired," 
 
 " 'Would you like to be our little boy and travel 
 across the waters with us?' " 
 
 Ben answered, 
 
 " 'Yes, if you will take her too,' putting his arm 
 around Little Hunchback." 
 
 " 'What,' she exclaimed, drawing back, 'that 
 horrid little monster!' " 
 
 Ben turned on her with the ferocity of a young 
 tiger. 
 
 " 'She aint horried and she aint no monster. She 
 is my sister and where I go she goes.' " 
 
 "I was proud of the lad. The matron interceded 
 and Little Hunchback, tho the tears were stream- 
 ing down her cheeks, advised Ben to go. The 
 matron parted the children who were sobbing and 
 clinging to each other. Ben bade Little Hunch- 
 back 'Good-bye' telling her thru his tears that 
 when he grew up he would make heaps of money 
 then he would come back and get her." 
 
 "I noticed that Mr. and Mrs. John Hadley were 
 greatly moved at the tragic scene. They came for- 
 ward and tried to comfort the little sister. When 
 Little Hunchbfxk turned her sw^eet face towards 
 them both fell for her charms. Mrs. Hadley turned 
 to her husband and said, 
 
 " 'O, John, let us take her!' " 
 
 " 'Just as you say, mother.' " 
 
 "It was settled. Little Hunchback moved to the 
 house on the hill, taking with her, her beloved book 
 the Arabian Nights'. Shortly after her coming to 
 the hill, I was passing this way. It was in the even- 
 ing. I saw her and Sister walking thru the gar- 
 dens. She was enjoying the beauties of the gar- 
 dens immensely. Yes, I well remember that even- 
 ing. Your father', speaking to Sister, 'was a tiny 
 tot then. We called him Tommy. He and Pupsy, 
 a large dog, were playing on the lawn. John 
 Hadley was seated on the steps leading to the 
 house, smoking a pipe. Mrs. Hadley came from 
 the house and seated herself by his side. It was a 
 scene of happy contentment." 
 
 "Little Hunchback's stay at Hadley Hill was very 
 brief. Your grandfather had invested his money 
 in a concern that payed big interests. He lost both 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 the money and the interest. This place was heavi- 
 ly mortgaged. It went under the hammer. The 
 next time that I saw the place was after the sale." 
 
 "This was the room," looking about him. "Every 
 thing was in confusion, furniture piled up, rugs 
 rolled up, boxes about, men carrying out articles 
 that they had bought at the sale. John Hadley, 
 his wife and Sister, were bowed down with grief. 
 Tommy" turning to Thomas Hadley, "I am speak- 
 ing of you, as I knew you then, climbing over the 
 boxes. He was thoroughly enjoying himself, being 
 too young to realize the misfortune that hr-d be- 
 fallen the family. Knowing that Pupsy was to be 
 sold, I came here thinking to buy him. Owing to 
 professional calls I came late, so late that when I 
 arrived Pupsy's new owner, a friend of John 
 Hadley, was fastening a sti-ap to the dog's collar 
 to lead him away. Pupsy objected to leaving his 
 old master. Tommy hearing the dog's growls, 
 stopped in his play and climbing down from the box 
 ran to the man exclaiming, 
 
 "'You let my dog alone! He's my Pupsy!'" 
 
 "The child hung on to the dog, protesting and 
 scrapping like a little Indian. Never the less, 
 Pupsy was led away. John Hadley took his little 
 son in his arms and tried to comfort him. Tommy 
 sobbed out his grief on his father's shoulder. 
 Little Hunchback, whose heart seemed breaking at 
 the sorrow of her friends, tried to comfort them. 
 How well I remember her words, 
 
 " 'My dears, my dears, do not grieve so. God will 
 be with us in our new home. Heaven is every 
 where and He lives there.' " 
 
 "John Hadley traveled all over the city trying to 
 find a house to rent within his means. He was com- 
 pelled for financial reasons to take apartments in 
 Clothespin Alley. As you know it is a wretched 
 place and only the very poor live there. There, 
 the main occupation is washing. Clothes pins are 
 very much in evidence." 
 
 "One day I was making some professional calls 
 in the alley. One of my patients, a small boy, lived 
 with his widowed mother in rooms adjoining Had- 
 ley's. Some children among whom where Little 
 Hunchback and Tommy,, v/ere playing in the alley. 
 Unobserved by the children I stepped into a small 
 recess close to the stairv/ay, leading to the Hadley 
 rooms. Suddenly there was a great commotion. 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 A dog came tearing down the alley with a can on 
 his tail. A mob of boys followed in hot pursuit. 
 Little Hunchback's eyes blazed. I had never seen 
 the child in this attitude before. Before I could 
 have even thot of stopping her, she rushed to meet 
 the dog. She caught him and removed the can. 
 Not withstanding, the mob hooted and jeered, 
 some going so far as to imitate her hump, she held 
 her ground. Tommy ran to her rescue. Taking 
 his place by her side he doubled his fists and shook 
 them at the mob. The dog all this time seeming 
 to understand that in Little Hunchback he had 
 found a friend, crouched cowering behind her. 
 When the crowd dispersed I climbed the stairs and 
 entered the room of the sick boy." 
 
 "A few minutes l?ter I called on the Hadleys. 
 When I entered the room Little Hunchback ran to 
 meet me and with the freedom of a child she threw 
 her arms around me and was exceedingly glad to 
 see me. Her face wore the same sunny expression 
 of internal happiness nor did she by word or look, 
 betray the incident that had Just taken place in 
 the alley." 
 
 "I found the Hadley's very much discouraged. To 
 make matters worse John had sold his farm when 
 he moved to the city and now he had nothing to 
 fall back on. He was doing odd jobs. Sister ex- 
 pressed her willingness to work so I promised to 
 get her a job at the Mission where I had some in- 
 fluence. Little Hunchback had slipped from the 
 room." 
 
 "When I descended the steps I could hear the 
 voices of Tommy and Little Hunchback, The chil- 
 dren were in the alley. Tommy was still angry. 
 I heard him say,^ — 
 
 " 'They is naughty . They call oo names. I don't 
 like ol' Cosepin Alley!' " 
 
 "Little Hunchback sat down in the door way and 
 taking Tommy in her lap said, 
 
 " 'Tommy boy, this is not Clothespin Alley.' " 
 
 Tommy replied, 
 
 " "Tis too!' pointing at the washings that were 
 strung out." 
 
 " 'Tommy dear, those are flags — wonderful flags. 
 This is Japan, Tommy.' " 
 
 "I stood very still not wishing to betray my 
 presence to the children. How vivid she pictured 
 the scene that was in her imagination! The child 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 was in raptures." Turning to Thomas Hadley, ',Do 
 you remember it, old boy?" //^/^ 
 
 Thomas Hadley was leaning forward, his face 
 aglow with surpressed feeling. 
 
 "Remember it? Why man, I saw it! I saw the 
 band marching down the street — I heard the music 
 — I saw the gaily dressed officers, the Micado in his 
 richshaw, other people in rickshaws, Japanese men 
 and women, little Jap boys and girls running 
 about — and the street shops — men and women bar- 
 tering for the wares and the big black Buddah — 
 and over head the flags waiving! Why man 
 Clothespin Alley was never the same to me again! 
 I saw it thru her eyes. It was one long, gala-day, 
 with flags flying, drums beating and men march- 
 ing." Thomas Hadley, after this outbreak, leaned 
 back in his chair, his face pensive. The doctor 
 continued. 
 
 "When Little Hunchback ceased speaking. 
 Tommy threw his arms around her and hugged 
 her." 
 
 "That night the sick boy grew worse and I was 
 again called. It was late when I left the room. I 
 stayed on until the child went to sleep. When I 
 walked down the hall I noticed a light in the win- 
 dow of Little Hunchback's room. This window 
 was off the hall. It was open. I stopped and 
 looked in, wondering why she was up so late. She 
 was in bed propped up with pillows. She was read- 
 ing. I had no doubt that the book was the Arabian 
 Nights'. I was sure when she closed it, for she 
 sat for a moment in deep study then she said, 
 
 " 'We do need that lamp in Clothespin Alley.' " 
 
 "She had been reading the story of "Aladdin" or 
 "The Wonderful Lamp." It is a story that is bound 
 to make a deep impression on a person of such 
 keen sensibilities as the Little Hunchback." 
 
 "The next day she and some children were play- 
 ing around a junk pile, when she observed in the 
 rubbish, an old brass lamp. She rescued the lamp 
 from the junk that surrounded it and carried it 
 home. When Little Hunchback entered the house, 
 bearing her trophy, Mrs. Hadley was darning 
 stockings. Looking up she spied the lamp in the 
 hands of Little Hunchback. The child proud of 
 her find showed the lamp telling her foster 
 mother where she had found it. Mrs. Hadley 
 threw up her hands in dismay exclaiming, 
 
 —10— 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 " 'The garbage pile! Saints preserve us! It 
 reeks with germs!' " 
 
 "The good lady insisted that tho lamp be thrown 
 away at once. Little Hunchback had no idea of 
 parting with her treasure. She assured her foster- 
 mother that 'It was a really, truly magic lamp and 
 that it would bring heaps of luck?' " 
 
 "She was permitted to keep the lamp but urged 
 to lose no time in cleaning it. Little Hunchback 
 procured a can of Dutch Cleanser and polished the 
 lamp. When it was all clean and shiny she held 
 it up and looking at it said, 
 
 " 'If you were really the magic lamp, I would 
 wish to see Ben.' " "She placed the lamp on a 
 shelf opposite the door leading into the hallway." 
 
 "A very marked change had come over John 
 Hadley. He seemed deeply depressed . I knew 
 that it was not poverty that had so changed him 
 but the turning away of his old friends, who had 
 known him in the houir of his prosperity. Often 
 when John and Mrs. Hadley would be walking 
 down the street their one time friends would turn 
 aside to avoid a meeting — sometimes they would 
 pass without speaking. This cut the sensitive soul 
 to the heart. He met his one time intimate friend, 
 the man who had bought Pupsy, walking down the 
 street leading the dog. The man tuxned his head 
 to avoid speaking but not so Pupsy, tugging at the 
 chain he broke away and running to his old master, 
 leaped joyfully upon him. But the fellow was not 
 such a cad as John thot. He told me afterward that 
 when John held the dog's two front feet in his 
 hands and looking into the animal's eyes said, 
 
 " 'Faithful heart! You do not desert me in my 
 hour of adversity,' "that he was overcome with 
 shame and humiliation at his own snobbishness." 
 
 "During those days of trial Little Hunchback did 
 all in her power to cheer the drooping hearts. She 
 prevailed upon them to attend Divine worship at 
 the Mission. I sometimes feared that this was a 
 sore trial to Little Hunchback. She was growing 
 older and I feared that her sensitive nature would 
 feel the neglect of the youmg men who conscious 
 of her affliction, worshiped at the shrine of the 
 more beautifully formed Sister. But if she felt the 
 neglect the brave little heart never betrayed that 
 she cared. She must know now that there was 
 one who truly loved her in spite of her affliction. 
 
 -11- 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 When ever she was in the same room with myself 
 I felt her presence, tho I did not always see her in 
 the crowd. Like a magnet she drew me to her." 
 Here the doctor paused in his narative and for 
 a few moments studied the pictures In the flames. 
 Rousing himself, he continued, 
 
 "One day there was a storm — a terrible storm. 
 It seemed as if the heavens opened and the floods 
 came down. There was great uneasiness in the 
 Hadley home. The table was laid and things were 
 boiling on the stove. Mrs. Hadley walked uneasily 
 about the room occassionally stopping to peer out 
 of the window. Little Hunchback and Tommy 
 were watching at the window. John was late. 
 Presently the door opened and he came in drenched 
 to the skin. Little Hunchback and Mrs. Hadley 
 flew to his aid. Dry clothing were brot and a 
 change made then they all sat down to the evening 
 meal." 
 
 "In the morning John was ill — very ill. I was 
 sent for. I discovered that he had a bad case of 
 pneumonia. His mental depression and physical 
 weakness did much to turn the tide against him. 
 I told Mrs. Hadley that if he could be moved to a 
 hospital at once he could be sr.ved. She was in 
 the depths of despair on account of financial con- 
 ditions and poor soul I had nothing to loan her. 
 My own financial condition was as bad. if not 
 worse, than hers. Funny thing is the mind of a 
 child. When we were busy working over John, 
 Tommy, in his night-dress, entered the room cry- 
 ing out, 
 
 " 'Daddy, daddy, I wants Pupsy!' " 
 
 "Struggling and kicking he was carried out of 
 the room by Little Hunchback. Things went from 
 bad to worse. Mrs. Hadley and Little Hunchback 
 who were taking turns sitting up with John, were 
 completely worn out." 
 
 "I went to the mission to plead with Sister to 
 give up her work and come home, but she crying, 
 told me that she could not, that they needed the 
 money that she earned, that it took, 'O, so much to 
 live.' Poor child, my heart ached for her." 
 
 "Well, we had given uip and it was thot that John 
 would die. Mrs. Hadley was in despair. She and 
 I were standing by his bed side. I had just told 
 her that the chances were slim but if we could get 
 him away at once, I still believe he would get 
 
 — 12 — 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 well. The door between the living room and the 
 bed-room was ajar. I could see Little Hunchback 
 standing in front of the shelf on the wall. She was 
 looking at the lamp, the one that she had found in 
 the garbage pile. She was saying, 
 
 *' 'O, how I wish that you were the magic 
 lamp!' " 
 
 "She took it down, fondled it and went on talk- 
 ing to it." 
 
 " 'If you were the magic lamp I would wish for 
 money for Doctor Carter says that if daddy could 
 go to the right hospital his lungs will grow 
 strong. O, how I wish that I were Aladdin and 
 you the Wonderful Lamp!' " 
 
 "I saw her shake the lamp, then put It to her ear. 
 I turned back to the bedside. A moment after- 
 wards Mrs. Hadley left the room and I followed 
 her into the living room. Again I said, 
 
 "There is hope if we can get him away in time." 
 
 She turned to me a face of hopeless despair and 
 said, 
 
 " 'We have not the money doctor. We are 
 poor. O, so very poor.!' " 
 
 "At this moment Little Hunchback, greatly ex- 
 cited came forward holding in her hand a large roll 
 of bills." 
 
 " 'O, mother!' she exclaimed, 'see what the 
 fairies have brot us!' " 
 
 "If the house had tumbled about our ears we 
 could not have been more surprised." 
 
 "Little Hunchback oxplr-.ined that when she 
 shook the lamp she heard some thing rattle. She 
 removed the burner. There was no wick. She 
 carried the lamp to the window and peering into 
 it saw some paper. The paper proved to be a rolled 
 envelope. She carried the Ir.mp to the tcble and 
 turning it up side down shook it. A few gold 
 coins fell out. She opened the envelope to find that 
 it contained bills. I took the bills from her hand 
 and counted them. There were Five Hundred 
 Dollars in all. Mrs, Hadley's face expressed both 
 hope and doubt. She said, 
 
 " 'Doctor, is it right to use this money?' " 
 
 "I was perplexed. I carefully examined the bills. 
 I carried the lamp to the window and looked into 
 it seeking to find some explanation but the lamp 
 had given forth all that it held. I asked Little 
 Hunchback if there was nothing else? She showed 
 
 —13— 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 the gold coins. Picking up the envelope that con- 
 tained the bills she handed it to me. I took it to 
 the window and looked it over. There was nothing. 
 I was about to hand it back to Little Hunchback 
 when it occurred to me to look on the inside. I 
 did. Quickly taking out my knife, I cut the envel- 
 ope arouind the three sides and found writing. 
 Yes — I remember the lines. I read: — 
 
 Being that my only son had wasted in riotous 
 living, my hard earned savings, rather than he 
 should squander what remains I put it in this lamp 
 and consign it to the scrap pile. If, perchance, it 
 should be found, let the finder keep it and I pray 
 God that he may use it for a good purpose. 
 
 "It was signed, 'An unhappy, dying mother.' " 
 
 "That note settled it. John Hadley was taken 
 to the hospital and we all rejoiced and blessed the 
 lamp." 
 
 "However, cares fell he?ivily upon the little fami- 
 ly. John Hadley's earnings being taken from them 
 they found it impossible to live ana pay the rent 
 on Sister's earnings. Mrs. Hadley joined the 
 Washing Brigade. Little Hunchback assisted her 
 in this task. I saw the family often in those days 
 for my visits to the sick child in the room adjoin- 
 ing Hadley's were more frequent. I often found 
 Little Hunchback in the room entertaining the sick 
 boy — sometimes by telling him stories. This re- 
 calls an amusing incident. After one of those pro- 
 fessional calls I stopped at the door leading to the 
 Hadley rooms and exchanged a few words with 
 Little Hunchback. The door was open and I could 
 see Tommy on the floor, playing with some toys. 
 Little Hunchback bade me 'Good-bye' and entered 
 the room. I should have gone about my busines.^j 
 then but I didn't. I stood there watching Tommy. 
 He played a while then scattering his toys he got 
 up. I saw that he was going to have one of his 
 tantrums. He turned to Little Hunchback saying, 
 
 " 'I wants my Pwpsy.' " 
 
 "She did not appear to he^ir him. She was in 
 one of her day dreams. Tommy caught hold of her 
 dress and cried louder and in a fretful tone, 
 
 " 'I wants my Pupsy!' " 
 
 "She freed her dress and started laying the 
 table. Tommy was persistant. He followed her up 
 and in very loud tones kept repeating that he 
 wanted his dog. Little Hunchback stopped in her 
 
 -14- 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 work to reason with him, but Tommy was beyond 
 all reasoning. He threw himself on the floor, 
 kicking and howling. For a moment Little Hunch- 
 back looked very serious. I had no doubt that she 
 feared he would disturb the sick boy. Her face 
 lit up with inspiration. She ran to the shelf and 
 taking down the lamp said, 
 
 " 'Tommy boy. See. I hold in my hand the 
 Wonderful Magic Lamp.' " 
 
 "The little rascal becoming curious stopped kick- 
 ing. He raised his head to watch Little Hunchback 
 whose back was towards the door. She went on, 
 
 " 'Some day I will rub it, like this,' rubbing the 
 lamp, 'We will wish for Pupsy and instantly — -in- 
 stantly Tommy, a big black giant will appear, and 
 Presto. Pupsy will be here!' " 
 
 "When Little Hunchback was speaking I stepped 
 aside to let a negro, I believe the largest negro I 
 have ever seen, enter the room. He was leading 
 Pupsy. Tommy turned his head and with a cry of 
 joy ran to embrace the dog. Little Hunchback 
 turned around, looked in terror at the negro and 
 Pupsy, let the lamp fall from her hands and tum- 
 bled over. I ran to her assistance. She rose of her 
 own accord and looked in terror and wonder at the 
 negro. He spoke saying, 
 
 " 'Boss say, bring dog back. He no count no 
 moah. Jes howl all night. Keep ebbery body 
 wake.' " 
 
 "Little Hunchback picked up the lamp. She 
 looked at it and I thot her face registered fear. She 
 said. 
 
 " 'You must be the magic lamp. I do really be- 
 lieve you brot back Pupsy!'" 
 
 " 'Hey,' shouted the negro, 'Wot you say? Mag- 
 ic, nothing! I knows I done night run mah laigs 
 off a getting him hiah!' " 
 
 "Little Hunchback by this time had completely 
 won over the children of the alley. To the people 
 of the alley she was no longer 'Little Hunchback' 
 but 'Little Sunshine.' I often found her seated on 
 the bottom of an old keg, in the cool of the even- 
 ing, telling stories to the children of the alley. 
 The stories she told were sometimes from the Ara^ 
 bian Nights' more often they were the creation of 
 her own fancies. I noticed that her health was 
 failing as is often the case with those highly strung 
 sensitive people. Many of them die young. Her 
 
 ^15 — 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 body seemed to be wasting but the eyes were more 
 brilliant and the face had a look more of heaven 
 than of earth." 
 
 "Thinking of her and the delight it would give 
 her I persuaded the Mission to give a picnic for the 
 women and children of the alley." 
 
 "The day was wonderfully beautiful, an Ideal 
 day for a picnic. I was not there to see them off for 
 the country. We had arranged for auitomobiles, 
 ice cream, fruit, cake and all that goes to make 
 a happy picnic. I went about my work thinking of 
 her, and the pleasure she was getting out of it. It 
 was not 'till afternoon did I find time to visit the 
 alley — and call on the sick boy. I was sorry that 
 no plans had been made so that his mother could 
 have gone to the picnic. Strange to say my mind 
 that day was not on the people of the alley but with 
 the picnicers and Little Hunchback's beautiful face 
 always loomed in the foreground of my thots." 
 
 "I climbed the steps with less agility than pre- 
 viously, knowing that I should miss her sweet face. 
 Very cautiously I entered the room of the sick boy. 
 If he were sleeping I did not wish to awaken him. 
 I put my medicine case on a chair and looked about 
 the room. It was so very still. I wondered where 
 his mother was. Surely, I thot, she has not gone 
 to the picnic and left him alone. I caultiously ap- 
 proached the bed. The child was asleep but to my 
 surprise lying by his side, her curls mingling with 
 his, was Little Hunchback fast asleep. I stood 
 there watching them. Bending down, I am not 
 ashamed of it — I am now an old man and I do not 
 regret it — I pressed my lips to her forehead." 
 
 "Picking up my medicine case, I stole quietly 
 from the room. At the bottom of the steps I 
 stopped and looked back. I remember I said, "She 
 sacrificed the picnic. God bless her!" 
 
 "Yes. She sacrificed the picnic that the boy's 
 mother might have the day in the country." 
 
 "A few days after the picnic Mrs. Hadley and 
 Little Hunchback were hanging out the washing. 
 Pupsy was asleep under a tree. Tommy, who was 
 playing near by, became interested in an organ 
 grinder with a monkey. Several children were 
 following the grinder and Tommy Joined the pro- 
 cession." 
 
 "Little Hunchback always lightened the burdens 
 by her fancies. Just then she was playing that she 
 
 — 16- 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 and her foster-mother were merchants and that 
 they had returned from Cairo to Bagdad with their 
 laden camels. The clothes baskets were the cam- 
 els. The clothes were wonderful tapestries that 
 they were displaying to the public, and for the time 
 being Clothespin Alley was a very busy street in 
 Bagdad." 
 
 "The clothes were all hung. Little Hunchback 
 was standing with out stretched arm, pointing to 
 the hanging clothes which she was pretending to 
 admire. She was saying, 
 
 " 'It is truly a wonderful display. The rich will 
 come to admire, then to inquire,' — she broke off 
 suddenly and looking about her said, 
 
 " 'Mother, where is Tommy?' " 
 
 "A search was made about the premises but 
 Tommy was not to be found. Little Hunchback 
 procured one of Tommy's stockings. Putting the 
 stocking to Pupsy's nose, she urged him to find 
 Tommy. The dog was off with his nose to the 
 ground. Little Hunchback following. Pupsy led 
 her into the business part of the city. On a busy 
 corner of Market street was the organ grinder. 
 The monkey was dancing and Tommy was passing 
 his little cap. A crowd had gathered and people 
 were putting money in the cap." 
 
 "Little Hunchback seized hold of Tommy a\\d 
 tried to drag him away. But Tommy liked his job 
 and had no mind to leave it. The grinder real- 
 izing that in Tommy, he had a valuable asset, set 
 up a cry of, 
 
 " 'Poleeze! Poleeze!'" 
 
 "Meanwhile Pupsy growing tired of the delay, 
 gravely walked up to Tommy, nosed him over and 
 picking him up by the slack of his clothing, walked 
 off with him." 
 
 "A policeman entered. The organ grinder ac- 
 cused Little Hunchback of trying to steal his child. 
 Fortunately I came into the scene in time. The 
 policeman walked off with the grinder." 
 
 "Pupsy hearing his name called, turned back and 
 deposited Tommy at the feet of Little Hutnchback, 
 much to the amusement of the crowd." 
 
 "It is remarkable how courageously Mrs. Hadley 
 faced adversity. I believe there were times when 
 the family suffered from the want of food." 
 
 "When a girl Mrs. Hadley lived on a peach farm. 
 It seems that those peaches were constantly in hei 
 
 —17- 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 mind. One morning, after a driy of unusual hard 
 work, she was sitting in a rocker in the living 
 room, thinking of the old peach farm, living again 
 the days of her girlhood. Little Hunchback asked 
 her what she was thinking of. She answered, 
 
 " 'Peaches. I am so hungry for peaches and 
 cream!' " 
 
 "Little Hunchback was standing at the window, 
 turning over in her mind different schemes for ob- 
 taining the per.ches and cream. As her eyes wan- 
 dered over the alley she was startled and a little 
 cry escaped her. A fruit peddler who had just 
 taken a basket of fruit from his v/agon, stepped in 
 front of a passing auto. The car hit him. He fell. 
 The basket and fruit were scattered on the ground. 
 Quickly Little Hunchback received an inspiration. 
 She slipped out, uhnoticed by Mrs. Hadley, cross- 
 ing the street she hurried to the scene of the acci- 
 dent." 
 
 "The peddler was injured so badly that it was 
 impossible for him to continue his rounds. Little 
 Hunchback bargained with him to drive the v/agon 
 and to take her pay in peaches and enough money 
 to buy a bottle of cream. All morning she drove 
 the wagon, Mrs. Hadley thinking she was in the 
 room with the sick boy. When the fruit was all 
 sold save one small basket of peaches that she 
 kept for herself, she drove the wagon to the home 
 of the peddler. She was taking the basket of 
 peaches from the wagon when she felt a ht,nd on 
 her shoulder. Looking up she saw a policeman. 
 Not knowing of the accident he thot she was steal- 
 ing the fruit. He dragged her into the peddler's 
 house." 
 
 "The peddler was seated in a chair, his leg band- 
 aged." 
 
 "The policeman preferred charges against Little 
 Hunchback who was still holding onto her basket 
 of peaches. The peddler rebuking him explained 
 the accident f.nd the agreement. The officer left 
 the house very much ashamed of himself. Little 
 Hunchback gave the grateful peddler the money 
 that she had received from the sales of the fruit 
 and received in return the basket of peaches and 
 enouigh money to buy a bottle of cream." 
 
 "That evening the family enjoyed peaches and 
 cream for dinner. Later when I came into the 
 room Tommy w..s licking the dishes. He told me 
 
 -18— 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 in confidence that Little Hunchback did not eat her 
 peaches and cream but took them m to the little 
 sick boy. He also told me thi^t 'Little Hunchback 
 rubbed the lamp and a big black nigger come in — 
 and Presto! The peaches and queam was on the 
 table.' " 
 
 Thomas Hadley smiled sr.ying, 
 
 "I had implicit faith in the lamp and it was the 
 only explanation she ever gave as to how the 
 peaches and cream came into the house." 
 
 Doctor Carter continued, 
 
 "A few days later I called on Mrs. Hadley and 
 asked her permission to take Little Hunchback for 
 a day in the country. I wanted to make up to her 
 the lost picnic. Mrs. Hadley consented and Little 
 Humchback was delighted. I hired a little run-, 
 about for the purpose. I shall never forget that 
 day. She romped about in the green fields, gath- 
 ered flowers to her heart's content. Stooping over 
 the water she decorated her curls with them. 
 Gathering her skirts full of the blossoms she seat- 
 ed herself by my side under some shade trees. 
 Growing weary she put the flowers aside and 
 stretching herself out on the green grass resting 
 her head on her hand, she looked thotfully around. 
 I asked her if she missed the picnic that day and 
 if she were not lonely in the room with only the 
 sick boy for company. She answered, 
 
 " 'O, no. Doctor Carter. I had a perfectly love- 
 ly time!' " 
 
 "Rather surprised I asked her how that 'per- 
 fectly lovely time' came about. She answered 
 naively, 
 
 " 'When the child slept I stole away to my 
 castle.' " 
 
 "Your castle?" 
 
 " 'O, yes. I have a wonderful castle.' " 
 
 "And how did you get there?" I asked." 
 
 " 'In my airship,' she answered." 
 
 " 'I got into my airship and I flew away. When 
 I came to my castle I alighted. The birds and 
 be?.sts gathered round me. They are always glad 
 when I am there. There are knights and ladies and 
 servants. O, Doctor Carter, I have many servants! 
 In my castle I am a queen. I hold court there. I 
 sit on the throne and the Knights and ladies do 
 homage to me. There all admire me because — I 
 am so straight and tall! And O, my garden — 
 
 —19 — 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 Doctor Carter — you, should see my garden! There 
 are flowers, beautiful floweys — O, so many lillies — ■ 
 and I gather roses there. In the evening my 
 ladies and I sit among the flowers and the brown- 
 ies steal out from under the bushes and they play 
 soft and low on tiny musical instruments — and 
 the fairies come out and dance. When the ladies 
 have gone and I am left alone with the brownies 
 and fairies, and God lights his candles in the heav- 
 ens Ben comes, then the brownies and fairies steal 
 away. We, my brother and I, walk thru the gar- 
 dens then we sail on the lake. O, yes. We have 
 a wonderfully beautiful lake and my brother is a 
 ship's officer.' " 
 
 "Youi must have been very tired when you re- 
 turned to the sick room and was your patient still 
 sleeping?" I asked'.' 
 
 " 'Yes. He was sleeping and I was tired — very 
 tired — and sleepy. I lay down by his side and 
 slept. I didn't T>faken 'till his mother came home 
 from the picnic' " 
 
 "That was a v/onderful day — a day I shall never 
 forget!' " 
 
 "John Hadley returned from the hospital, well 
 and strong." 
 
 "I got a position in an eastern hospital. When 
 I returned, which was a number of years later, I 
 found the Hadley family still in Clothespin Alley. 
 Little Hunchback was ill. I was cr^lled. Her foster 
 mother took my orders. John Hadley and Tommy, 
 now grown to almost man's estate were in the liv- 
 ing room and I knew that they were anxiously 
 watching the door to Little Hunchback's room. 
 She was grieving to see her brother Ben. She 
 begged me to find him. She muirmured, 
 
 " 'Perhaps, Doctor Carter, if you would rub the 
 lamp — ' " 
 
 "I promised to do my utmost to find Ben. But 
 I knew the task was hopeless. He had never re- 
 turned from England where he had gone with his 
 foster parents, the Stewarts. They had made their 
 home abroad." 
 
 "When I left her bedside I found the living room 
 filled with children. They were very quiet and 
 orderly. The leader was giving Tommy a bouquet. 
 He only said, 
 
 " 'For her,' pointing towards her room." 
 
 "I looked at the shelf. The lamp was still there. 
 
 -20- 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 I crossed the room — took the lamp down and 
 ruibbed it. I do not know why I did it. Perhaps it 
 was a sense of faithfulness to her who had so often 
 played with it. Strtinge — Ben was at that moment 
 calling at the orphanage in quest of the little sister 
 he had parted from so many years ago. He was 
 directed to Hadley Hill. Prom here, he was sent to 
 Clothespin Alley. After some delay he found the 
 place. He was received by John and Tommy Had- 
 ley." 
 
 "The meeting between the brother and sister 
 was extremely touching." 
 
 "It seems that the Stewarts had died leaving 
 Ben the sole heir of their vast estate. Ben lost no 
 time in buying Hadley Hill. He had the deed made 
 out to John Hadley. Little Hunchback and the 
 Hadleys moved back to the old home." 
 
 "The coming of Ben wrought a change in Little 
 Hunchback. She grew stronger. She was soon 
 able to enjoy the great out-doors from a wheel 
 chair. It was Tommy's delight to push the chair. 
 She had told Ben of her dreams of the fairy castle 
 in which he had, had a part. He was absent from 
 the hill as he said when he bade her 'good-bye' he 
 hr,d much to do to make those beautiful dreams 
 come true." 
 
 "A few months later she and I were walking on 
 the lawn when we heard a whirring sound above 
 us. Looking up we beheld an airship. It was circl- 
 ing over the hill. To our amazement it landed on 
 the hill." 
 
 "It was Ben. He had come to take Little Hunch- 
 back to the beautiful home he had provided for her. 
 In her happiness and prosperity she did not forget 
 the orphanage nor did she forget the children of 
 the alleys. Her greatest happiness was when she 
 was entertaining those little unfortunates." 
 
 "The last time I saw her she v/as sitting among 
 the flowers on her ov/n beautiful lawn. It was ev- 
 ening. Prom the expression on her face, I h: d no 
 doubt that she was vatching the fairies dancing to 
 the music of the brownies. There was a lake near 
 on which I noticed many swans and other water 
 fowls. A yacht was anchored close by. Ben came 
 out. Little Huinchback rose to meet him. They 
 went aboard the yacht." 
 
 "I said that v/as the last time I sav/ her — but — 
 I saw her again. You will think what I am about 
 
 —21— 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 to tell was the result of an over wrought imagina- 
 tion or perhaps you will think it a dream. I think 
 otherwise." 
 
 "One evening I was sitting in my study. 
 I w^as thinking of her. I sat there for 
 some time, my mind busy with the past. I 
 arose, as was my custom, to take a stroll on the 
 lawn before retiring. When I stepped on the porch, 
 to my surprise, I looked upon a broad stream of 
 clear quiet waters. On either side of the stream 
 were trees bearing fruit. A barge was floating on 
 the water. Standing on the barge was Little 
 Hunchback — but Little Hunchback no longer for 
 straight and tall she stood. By her side were 
 angels. Angels floated above her and one flew on 
 before, leading the way towards the Holy City. I 
 saw the Gates. They were ajar. An angel stood 
 by each gate and over all there shone a great light 
 Me thinks I heard low voices singing." 
 
 "I was not surprised when the word came that 
 she was dead. Her spirit had taken its flight at 
 precisely the time that I had seen the vision." 
 
 The narrafve ended, Doctor Carter arose and 
 walked toward the stranger whose eyes were 
 streaming tears. Sister intercepted him. Spring- 
 ing to her feet, she ran to the stranger and seizing 
 his hands exclaimed — 
 
 "You are Ben! I knew it all along! O, how I 
 thank you for all you did for my grandparents — 
 and how I love Little Hunchback!" 
 
 THE END 
 
 — 22- 
 

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