The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-12-20
MI iscelIa ne us.
Chubby Rufus Dream.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

CHRISTMAS STORY.
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 it
was good fit For Chubby Ruff was not
one of your lean, bony, dingy fellows, such
as you generally expect a newsboy to be
but short, wide, thick, plump, in fact chu5.
by, with red cheeks, roguish black eyes, a
stumpy little nose, and the drollest mouth
that ever shouted "E-e-e-vun-ning-g pa
pers."
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 smiling all
over in happy anticipation 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
constant stream of news lingo and elo-
quence.
Evening papers here Holiday edition
All about where to buy Christmas presen is
and save halt your money One million
dollars worth of information for five cents
Paper, sir? Have paper2 Thank you
sir. Trade with our advertisers 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 foi
it 4! Paper, Misters Better take a paper
and make your family happy"
Chubby took especial satisfaction in
standing where the brilliant shops drew
off little steams here and there from the
great crowd, and driving q brisk competi
ton with the shopkeepers for the custom
ers' small change. At the bookstores, fol-
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, "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 dimew With the
contectioners customers he expostulated
in this fashion, Don't give your children
candy to spoil their teeth, my dear friends
but get 'em something to improve theil
minds, Paper here! Papers for young and
old, 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 deliv-
cred one of his harangues, and sold q
paper or two, he would turn to the show
window as willingly as anybody. Nobody's
mouth watered more quickly in contempla.
tion 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 Club
by spent good deal of time at the win.
dows that he ought to have devoted to bust
ness. At any rate, the clocks were striking
eleven, the streets were getting empty, the
shop-keepers were putting up their shut
tiers, and Chubby had six papers left unsol6
when he entered certain notion store or
the corner and walked up to the counter
The customers had all gone, and the clerks
| little tired and cross, were preparing tt
leave.
"Clear out !" growled one of them t.
Chubby. "Off with you |"
| "Dont speak till you're spoken to, young
man." said Chubby.
1--WE 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 shall feel cas-,
above 'em," retorted Chubby, laying then
down on the counter.
"What do you want, any way 2" asked
apother clerk, little more graciously.
"A bulldog" answered Chubby, conf
dentially sis that one for sale 2"
A general laugh followed, during whicl
Mr.. Marsh, the proprietor of the store, cam
from his office buttoning up his grea
coat.
"Well, my lad" said he pleasantly, "wha
can we do for you ~
"I'm looking for Christmas presents
1 sir"