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Ellard was a dear lover of fencing. A sword was presented to him by one of his customers, and he made free use of it among the boys. One day while thus engaged in front of an office on Third street, an elderly gentleman, disturbed by their noise attempted to drive them away, but Ellard thought himself too well armed to beat a retreat, and commenced flourishing his sword in a manner that soon convinced the gentleman of the propriety of self-defence. Master Dumps was arrested and marched off a la militaire to the police station. One of his companions sought him out, soon after he was taken prisoner, and carried a cent's worth of tobacco to comfort him. After a hearing before an Alderman, he was released the same evening.

As might be expected in a boy thus deprived of the benefits of any proper moral training, Ellard, when incensed would frequently give way to such violent passion, as rendered him dangerous to those who had offended him; and at other times, under a sense of real or fancied injuries, he would indulge in sullen obstinacy, from which was not easy to arouse him. Experience proved that it was best to leave him in reflection, which soon brought him to his senses.

He was a great favourite with the boys, though he sometimes handled them rather more roughly than they liked, and beyond what any other than a cripple would have dared to do. They were often entertained by him with remarkable stories of fairies, kings, &c. How many of these tales originated in his imaginative brain I know not, but he used to get well "posted up" in conversation with some old huckster women, who would tell wonderful things of great men, beginning very properly with George Washington, and descending the scale to lesser lights -- as a matter of course dealing extensively in the marvellous.

One of his favourite amusements was to stand on the table, wrapped in a sheet, and repeat portions of Macbeth and other plays. Thus clad, he would also repeat the following favourite passage:

"Were I so tall to reach the pole
Or grasp the ocean with my span,
I must be measured by my soul:
The mind's the standard of the man."

Though not a member of the Numismatic Society, he had quite a passion for old coins, of which he was said to be a good judge, and turned many a penny in this lucrative trade.

The most prominent trait in his character was his generosity. He had a sympathizing heart, and would give liberally to those in need, though he valued his money too highly to spend it foolishly. Many of the boys received pecuniary assistance from him. Seeing one of the boarders, who was dismissed from the Home because he was too lazy to work for a living, lounging about the door one day, he said to the Superintendent: "I pity poor ----. If you will take him in again, I will go security for his board." In speaking to the lad about his sad want of energy, and of the noble and generous offer of Ellard, I urged him to prove his appreciation of the kindness, and not to allow his benefactor to suffer for it. His reply was, "That is not all that Ellard has done for me; many a three and five cent piece he has given me to buy bread with."

Ellard had a number of regular customers to whom he carried papers. A poor blind man was sure to be at the door of one of these customers every day, in time to receive a penny. Sometimes he would ask the little girl that led him, who gave the money, and, upon being told that it was "the little newsboy," he would say, "God bless you, my son, and may you sell all the papers you have;" "and," added Ellard, in telling this, "it comes true, for I sell double the papers that any other boy does."

A poor lame man also received a daily allowance of a penny from him; and if Ellard missed him on his way home in the evening, he gave two cents the next evening.

It was his custom to buy a box of matches of a poor blind man whom he passed every morning on his way to business. After lighting his cigar with one, he returned the box, as a present to the man, who was so blind to his own interest, as to quarrel with his little customer, and accused him of stealing his matches. Ellard was exceedingly indignant at this unjust accusation, and pronounced him an impostor, declaring that he could see, and was only pretending to be blind.

While selling papers at the Girard House one day, a beggar entered the hall, and solicited alms of one of the boarders, who asked Ellard if he would give the man anything. "Whatever you give, I will give double," was the reply. The gentleman gave a cent, and Ellard handed him a quarter of a dollar. Feeling this silent but severe rebuke of a poor deformed lad, the gentleman tendered Ellard half a dollar, saying "You are an honourable little fellow." The offer was refused by Ellard, who, turning away with an air of independence, replied: "I make my money by selling papers."

This generous lad not only took pleasure in doing for others, but was grateful for every act of kindness extended to him. Several times I have heard my name called in the street, and, upon looking round, found him running after me, to give me a paper; and I was obliged to avoid passing his stand, as he was sure to press upon me the most expensive paper he had.