Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-12-25
CHUBBY RUFF'S DREAM.
BY GEORGE HUNTINGTON.

Ruff was his real name-Ru-f, Ruff.
Chubby was an honorary title, given him
by the newsboy club to which he belong
ed. They liked the sound of it. and then
it was good fit. For Chubby Ruff was
not one Of your lean, bony, dingy fell ows,
such as you generally expect a newsboy
to be; but short, wide, thick, plump, in
fact c5ubby with red cheeks, roguish
black eyes, a stumpy little nose, and the
drollcst mouth that ever shouted Gee
WINNING & papersm
1t was the night before Christmas. and
sWarms of people were huTrying up and
down the streets, j0stling each other right
and left, slipping on the icy walks, squeez-
ing into crowded stores, out again with
full pockets and empty wallets; hugging
their precious holiday bundles, and smil-
ing all over in happy expectation of the
morrow. Chubby was fully equal to the
occasion, and entered at once into its
spirit. He charged upon the good-natur-
ed crowd, met every man in his own hui
NOR, and kept up q constant stream of
newsboy lingo and eloquence.
Evening papers here! Holiday edi-
toni All about where to buy Christmas
presents and save half your money! One
million dollars worth Of information for
five cents! Paper, sir? Have papere
Thank you, sir. Trade with our adver-
tisers and you're all right. Great holiday
gift of the season for only five cents
Leading paper of the world selling here
for half dime! The ladies dOte on it,
and the children cry for it! Paper, Mis-
ter? Better take a paper and make your
family happy!"
Chubby took especial satisfaction in
standing where the brilliant shops drew
Oft little streams here and there from the
great crowd, and driving brisk competi-
ton with the shOpkeepers for their custom
ers' small change. AT the bookstores, for
instance, he would cry out, Don't waste
your money for expensive books, ladies
and gentlemen, when you can buy the
best reading in the world for only five
cents!" At the toy shops the argument
was, Better buy something useful and
instructive, and not be tooling with play
things at your time o. life Paper here!
Greatest curiosity of the age for half a
dime" With the confectioner's custom
ers he expostulated in this fashion,
" Don't give your children candy to spoil
their teeth, my dear friends, but get lem
something to improve their minds Pa
pers here! Papers for old and young, at
only five cents piece!"
But while Chubby thus exhorted the
multitude, he really cared just as much
as they did for all the fine things which
he warned them against; and, having de
| livered one of his harangues, and sold
paper or two, he would turn to the show
windows as willingly as anybody. No
body's mouth watered more quickly in
contemplation of gum-drops and cara
mels. Nobody's fingers itched and tin
gled and snapped more eagerly at the
sight of patent tops and bright, new
skates. Nobody looked with more hun
cry eyes at the shelves full Of handsome
books | am afraid that Chubby spent a
good deal of time at the windows that he
ought to have devoted to business AT
any rate, the clocks were striking eleven,
the streets were getting empty, the shop
keepers were putting up their shutters,
and Chubby had six papers left unsold
when 10 entered a certain notion stOre
on the corner and walked up to the coun-
ter. The customers had all gone, and
the clerks, little tired and cross, were
preparing to leave.
"Clear outr' growled one of them to
Chubby. "Off with you."
Don't speak till you're spoken to,
young man. said Chubby.
eve don't want your papers, I tell
YOU" growled the clerk again, as Club
by drew the bundle from under his arm.
ooh, you don't. Then shall feel easy
about EN-" retorted Chubby, laying them
down on the counter.
What do you want, any way?" asked
another clerk, a little more graciously.
"a bull -dog," answered Chubby, conf
dentially; lis that one for sale?"
A general laugh followed, during which
Mr.. Marsh, the proprietor of the store,
great-coat.
"Well, my lad" said he, pleasantly,
''what can we do for you?"
"I'm looking for Christmas presents,
sir''
'Going to give mother something, eh ?"
mo, sir; she's dead"