The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-29

for my sled, SO l shall sleep in the
crate .i... .......,.t ..H
"Not by considerable, my brave fell
low! Here's half dime for your lodg-
ing. No, stop; you shall sleep here.
Miker he called to the Waterman,
"put a rug down by the stove for this
boy to sleep on, and find something to
throw over him. Goodnight, Chubby
Goodnight, Mr.. Marsh -
"Take good care of him, Mike"
"All right, sir.'l ----
Chubby Ruff had dream as he lay
asleep on the rug before the stove. If
he had not dreamed, my story would
have been shorter; or perhaps | should
never told it at all.
Chubby dreamed that he was wander
ing about the streets at night with six
papers under his arm, and drawing his
new sled after him. 1t was very late;
the shops were all shut, and there was
not a soul on the streets, not even a
Waterman. Chubby was trying to find
the crockery crate, but he could not;
and the more he looked for it the fur
Their off he got, and the more bewildered
and tired he grew. AT last he sat down
on his sled in despair, and feeling a
good deal more like crying than any
thing else he could think of. That, how
ever, he determined not to do, come
,whatEgouldgAs ~
Just'then he heard sleigh bells-the
tiniest, dreamiest little tinkle that he
ever heard in his life-and in a moment
up cantered eight reindeer, Just like
the one on his sled, only no larger than
greyhounds, drawing sleigh made of
pearl and tortoise-shell, with silver thills
and gold runners, in which sat Santa
Claus himself, funny old fellow,
dressed from head to foot in shaggy
gray fur, and looking fat and stumpy
enough to be Chubby's own brother.
As he dashed by Chubby called out:
Hello, you! l say, mister, gi' me a
hitchr' -. ... MI :.
enthusiastically said Santa; and the
eight reindeer stopped as quick as a
wink, and stood stamping and knock
ing their horns together in the most
impatient manner. "Who's that call
ing?' cried the little man, standing up
and looking all about.
81 did, said Chubby, little fright
ened, stepping out into the clear moon
light - ...'
"Oh, you did? Yes, boy, of course!
| might have known it was boy. Can t
stop to talk. Got miles and miles to
ride. Call around after tomorrow if
you want anything"
81 only wanted to ask YOU"
eyes, yes; | know. You want to
ask about presents. It's all right, all
right. List all made out. Goods packed
and labeled Couldn't change anything
now. Run right home and go to bed;
there's good lad .-.s"
Il haven't any home" said Chubby;
"Tm going to sleep in the crate back
O the lamp store, and | just wanted a
hitch, that's all, SIR
"a hitch! That's fine idea! Why,
your sled would be smashed to pieces,
and your neck broken, in no time.
What your name?n
Chubby Ruff. -
"'Tisn't on my list; that's a fact.
Haven't any home, hey?"
"No, sir"
"Wish I'd brought one or two along,
l declare. I'd give you one in a minute
Well, jump in here. I'll give you ride,
anyway"
"What shall 1 do with my sled?n
asked Chubby.
Put it in the magic box And
Santa lifted up the velvet cushion of the
seat "See there" said he. And Club
by looked in, and saw deep box full
of miniature Christmas presents. There
were rocking-horses of the size of a
baby's thumb; and dolls no bigger than
pin-heads; and tops, balls, books,
games, candies, suits of clothes-every-
thing you could think of-but all so
very little! That's the way carry
my load" said Santa. "When l put
anything in there it shrinks right up.
When | take it out again it is as big as
ever" And sure enough, he dropped
in Chubby's sled, and it changed in an
instant to the size of your little finger
nail. Now we're off, said he.
"Tsitr'
The reindeer gave a bound and up
they went, sleigh, Santa, Chubby, and
all, to the roof of the nearest house.
Santa filled his pack from the magic
box, and disappeared down chimney.
In a quarter of minute out he popped
again, like a jumping-jack, Missed to his
team and with one spring they had
cleared the street and landed in the
next block. Again Santa filled his pack
and slipped through a scuttle.
And SO he went on with his work
now here, now there; now on the roofs,
now down in the streets; now entering
by the chimneys or scuttles, now climb
ing through the windows. The rein
deer did wonders. They seemed to
understand the whole thing as well as
Santa himself, and made the widest
leaps without hesitation or mistake.
Sometimes, when they were flying
through the air, Chubby would think
they were surely going to be dashed to
pieces, and would shut his eyes in ter
ror; but they always came out right.
The magic-box seemed to be mex
haustible. Santa Claus filled his pack
from it hundreds of times, until, as he
told Chubby, he had taken forty car
loads of presents from it. He would
reach in and pick up little mite of a
thing--a tip-cart, perhaps, or a drum
that he could hold between his thumb
and finger, when presto! the instant it
came out of the box it would be as bic
as ever. Chubby never grew fired of