Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-12-27
CHUBBY RUFF'S DREAM.
BY GEO. HUNTINGTON.
A Christmas story.

A Christmas Story.
BY GEO. HUNTINGTON.
RUFF was his real name-R-u-ff, Ruff
Chubby was an honorary title, given him
BY the newsboy club to which he belonged.
They liked the sound of it and then il
was good fit. For Chubby Ruff was not
one of your lean, bony, dingy fellows,
such as you generally expect newsboy to
be; but short, wide, thick, plump, in fact
eanooy, with red cheeks, roguish black
eyes, a stumpy little nose, and the drollest
mouth that ever shouted 'sE-e-e-vun-ning-g
papersl''
1t was the night before Christmas, and
swarms of people were hurrying up and
down the streets, jostling 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 smif-
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-natured crowd,
met every man in his own humor, and
kept up aconstant stream of newsboy lingo
and elOquence.
=" Evening papers here! Holiday edi-
ton! All about where to buy Christmas
million dollars worth of information for
five cents! Paper, sir? Have a paper?
Thank you, sir. Trade with our adver-
tisers and you're all right. Great holiday
gilt of the season for only five cents
Leading paper of the world selling here
for half dimei The ladies dote on it. and
the children cry for it! Paper, Mister |?
Better take paper and make your family
happy!'
Chubby took especial satisfaction in
standing where the brilliant shops drew off
little streams here and there from the great
crowd, and driving brisk competition
with the shopkeepers for their customers
small change. AT the bookstores, for in
stance, 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, "Bet-
ter buy something useful and instructive,
and not be fooling with playthings at your
time o. life. Paper here! Great curiosity
of the age for half a dime.'' With the
confectioner's customers he expostulated
in this fashion, "Don't give your children
candy to spoil their teeth, my dear friends,
but get 'en something to improve their
minds. Paper here! Papers for cid and
young, at only five cents apiece!"
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 deliver
ed one of his harangues, and sold paper
or two, he would turn to the show win
dows as willingly as anybody. Nobody's
mouth wateredmore quickly in contempla-
ton of gum-drops and caramels. Nobody's
fingers itched and tingled and snapped
more eagerly at the sight of patent tops
and bright, new skates. Nobody looked
with more hungry eyes at the shelves full
of handsome books. / am afraid that
Chubby spent 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 shopkeepers were putting up
their shutters, and Chubby had six papers
LEFT unsold when he entered a certain no
ton store on the corner and walked up to
the counter. The customers had all gone,
and the clerks, a little tired and cross, were
preparing to leave.
"Clear out!' growled one of them to
Chubby. "Off with you 20
Don't speak till you're spoken to,
young man." said Chubby.
I'VE don't want. your papers, l tell
you" growled the clerk again, as Chubby
drew the bundle from under his arm
Oh, YOU don't! Then I shall feel easy
ABOUT 'em, retorted Chubby, laying them
down ON the counter.
What do you want, any way ?" asked
another clerk, little more graciously.
"A bulldog" answered Chubby, conf
dennally; .is that one for sale?''
"A general laugh followed, during which
Mr.. Marsh, the proprietor of the store,
came from his office buttoning up his great
coat.
swell, my lad," said he, pleasantly,
"what can we do for you?''
."fm looking for Christmas presents,
Going to give mother something, eh ?"
No, sir; she's dead"
Father, perhapsT'
He's dead, too.n
Brothers or sisters, then?' -
haven't any in the world, sir.'
"Who then?''
why, you see. Mr.. Marsh, l haven't
anybody to give presents to, and there isn't
anybody to give any to me, so | thought
ia give myself one."
"Capitalplan, said the merchant "cap-
,.ai. SO you know my name, Ell? What's
Chubby Ruff, sir"
Chubby Ruff. Good again. Chubby
huil gives Chubby Ruff. his sole surviving
lsiatiye, Christmas present, as a mark Of
ms esteeml Very good. Come this way,
vvnupoy, and let us look over the stock.
nou can CO." said he to the clerks; " I'll
wait on this customer
g. ana no millionaire driving to the store
Ia ~ MS splendid carriage that day, no grand
n"i,. ,aJy IN her laces and silks, had been more
Tn%Iy served than Chubby Ruff was by
l' Marsh. 1t is safe to say, also, that no