The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-12-20
"Going to give your mother something


wait on this customer"
And no millionaire driving to the store
in his splendid carriage that day, no grand
lady in her laces and silks, had been more
politely served than Chubby Ruff was by
Mr.. Marsh. 1t is safe to say, also, that nc
one had been happier in his purchase than
Chubby was, when he received, in exchange
for his pocketful of nickels, the very thing
that he most wanted to give himself, a
shiny red sled, striped with gilt, and adorn-
ed with picture ola reindeer at full speed
you're very kind, sir" said Chubby
gratefully. as he turned to go.
II don't know as | am" said Mr.. Marsh
though it's time to show kindness now
Do you know what Christmas is, Club
by9"
"Oh, yes, sir. learned that at the Mis-,
sion. It's Jesus birthday"
"Yes, yes. Well we must be kind for
His sake. Where do you live, Chubby ~
Nowhere"
"But where do you stay2 Where do you
seep9"
"Well, sir, generally sleep down at the
Hall. We pay five cents for bed there
But when haven't any five cents, know
where there's big crockery crate full OF
straw, and crawl in there"
"How about tonight? ?"
"Well, you see paid all my money for
my sled, so shall sleep in the crate"
mot by considerable, my brave fellow
| Here's half a dime for your lodging. No,
stop; you shall sleep here. Mike!" he
called to the Waterman, "put rug down
by the stove for this boy to sleep on, and
find something to throw over him. Good
night, Chubby"
Goodnight, Mr.. Marsh"
| "Take good care of him, Nike
"All right, Eur"
| 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 l should never
have told it at all. Chubby dreamed that
he was wandering about the streets at night
with six papers under his arm, and draw
| ing his new sled. 1t was very late; the
| shops were all shut and there was not a
soul in the streets-not even a watchman.
| Chubby was trying to find the crockery
crate, but he could not; and the more he
looked for it the further 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
anything else he could think Of That,
however, he determined not to do, come
| what would.
Just then he heard sleigh-bells-the
| tiniest, dreamiest little tinkle that ever he
| heard in his life-and in moment up can.
tered eight reindeer, just like the one on
his sled, only no bigger than greyhounds,
drawing Il sleigh made of pearl and tor
toiseshell, with silver thills and gold run
ners, in which sat Santa Claus himself, a
| 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! I say, Mister, gil me a
hitch ?"
Whisl-s h- sh |" said Santa; and the
eight reindeer stopped as quick as a wink,
and stood stamping and knocking their
horns together in the most impatient man
ner "Who's that calling ?" said the little
man, standing up and looking all about.
81 did," said Chubby, a little frightened
stepping out into the moonlight.
"Oh, you did? Yes, boy of course =
l might have known it was boy. Can't
stop to talk. Got miles and miles to ride
Call round day after to morrow if you want
anything"
81 only want 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 that's q
| good lad"
II haven't any home" said Chubby; I'm
| going to sleep in the crate, back o. the
lamp store and just wanted hitch; that's
all, sir"
IA hitch That's a fine ideal Why
your sled would be smashed to pieces, and
your neck broken, in no time. What's your
name ?"
"Chubby Ruff"
"Tisn't on my list that's fact. Haven't
any home, hey9"
"No, SIR"
"Wish I'd brought one or two along, l
declare. I'd give you one in minute
Well, jump in here. I'll give you a ride,
any way"
"What shall do with my sled 2" asked
Chubby.
"Put it in the magic box" And Santa
lifted up the velvet cushion of the seat
''See there !" said he. Chubby looked in
and saw a deep box full of miniature
Christmas presents. There were rocking.
horses of the size of baby's thumb and
dolls no bigger than pin heads; and tops
balls, books, games, candies, suits ofclothes
everything you could think of-but all
so very little !" "That'sthe way carry my
load" said Santa. "When 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 fnger-nail. "Now we're off," said he
"Tsit |"
The reindeer gave 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 disappear
ed down chimney. In aquarter of min
ute out he popped again, like ajumping
jack out of his box, leaped into the sleigh
Kissed to his team, and with one spring
they had cleared the street and landed in
the next block. Again Santa filled hi!
pack and slipped through scuttle.
And so he went on with his work-nov
here, and now there, now on the roofs, now
down in the streets; now entering by thu
chimneys or scuttles, now climbing through
the windows. The reindeer did wonders
They seemed to understand the whole
as we'll as Santa himself and made til,
widest leaps without hesitation or mistake
Sometimes, when flying through the air
Chubby would think they were surely go
ing to be dashed to pieces and shut hi
eyes in terror but they always came GU
; right. 1t made no difference what sort o
roofs they had to climb-flat roofs, hip
roofs, gables or Mansards-all was one t.
| them, And what amazed Chubby wa