The Dickinson press., 1888-05-05
PllIL'S COMMISSION.
AN INTERESTING INCIDENT IN GEN.
sHERIDAN's BoYHooD.

Two Young Monkeys Who We're tho
From the War Department-Army or
Nuvy-I:esults
Many years ago., while down in Virginia,
and just about the time when Sheridan
was making his famous raid through that
country, IL friend of mine gave me the follow
ing interesting account of the generals boy
hood days, and how he came to get his ''com-
mission in the army; and 1t was in this
wise: AT that time Judge James Parker, q
brother of New jerseys eminent jurist,
Cortlandt Parker, lived in Somerset, o.. and
occupied a position on the bench, and was
one of the most influential men in that part
OF the state. His residence was located on a
hill, and at the bottom of that hill lived Mrs.
Sheridan in humble circumstances, as may
he inferred from the fact that she took in the
washing of the Parker family; but, although
humble in position, she was highly respected,
and OH the fricndlieSt terms with her more
opulcnt nei9hbor.
TWO MISCHIEF MAKERS
The judge hada son James, and Mrs. Sheri-
dan had q son Phil, and these two boys lived
on terms of closest intimacy. and while they
" va itN5 shNJ "'io wv tCl1ol
of the village, for two more mischievous
young monkeys never existed, Phil par ex-
c%ellencc, for there was no dcviltry concoctcd
in the village for which he was not given the
credit. The boys both attended the village
school until reaching the age of 10 or IL
years, when james was packed off to boqrd-
ing school and Phil was upprenticed to the
local Storekeeper.
Some years rolled by, when on one morn
ing, James being at home on a vacation. the
Judge received all ominouS looking envelope
from the war department at Washington. or
course, all the family assembled ut the break.
fast table were anxious to know its contcuts,
when on being opened it was found to he a
commission i'll the army of the United States
for James Parker, Jr. All the family We're
awe struck and delighted save Jim, who
positively and absolutely declined it, for the
reason that he always wanted to go in the
navy, and wouldn't be a soldier ANYHOW;
Persuasion was of no avail, so at last the
judge said i'll desperation: ut will never do
to return this to the department and decline
it; now what Shall he lone with it,
THE JUDGES HIGH HAT.
'Give it to Phil" said Jim, and this propo
sition met with great applause md was
unanimously carried; so, after breakfast, the
judge and Jim started down the hill to the
grocery store, and just us they were enter
ing the door they saw Phil disappearing
down the cellar steps with a molasses lug in
one hund and n half eaten apple in the Other.
Phil saw Jim, but he didn't see the Judge: the
opportunity was not to be lost, so he let drive
his apple core Just in time to send the Judges
high hat flying out of the door into the
muddy road. Now judges, and especially
county judges, thirty years ago, We're i'll
vested with u certain alnOunt of dignity in
the eyes of the ordinary rustic, so that Pills
performance naturally did not meet with the
cordial approval of the ~shopkecpcr or of his
customers, and Master Phil, after having
been collared and cutfed, was brought into
the Judges presence to apologize. previous to
being thrnshed.
AS may be supposed, this was not being in
troduced to ones benefactur under the most
favorable auspices, but as no one could resist
Phirs comiral repentance, he vas forgiven,
and the subject of the commission was
broached, and Philsdelight was even more
comicnl than his repentance, for it was all
his friend Jim could do to restrain him from
standing on his head, which was his usual
mode of manifesting pleasure. He, how
ever, Gained down sufficiently to make
proper acknowledgements and to assure the
judge that if the government approved he
would try to do him and himself credit. 1t
is unnecessary to state that Phil has kept his
promise, or to go further into his career;
that is now public property; but while
to-day Phil is lieutenant general of the
armies of the United States, Jim is an ex-
commander of the United States navy and
having fought through the war and then re-
signed is now u prominent admiralty lawyer
in New York.-Cor. New York Post.