A teenage newsboy named Rufus, nicknamed Rough and Ready, navigates life among New York newsboys, selling papers, learning to read customers, and forming friendships with other street children like Johnny Nolan. The narrative shows his daily struggles, hardships from an intemperate parent, and the practical skills, honesty, and perseverance that guide him through temptations and poverty. Episodes focus on streetcraft, relationships with passersby, and community among boys, while promoting moral lessons about industry, upright conduct, and the possibility of improvement despite social disadvantages.