The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-04-05

Two Young Monkeys Who Were the
Terror of the VilIage-An Envelope
From the War Department-Army or
Navy-Results.
Many years ago, while down in Virginia,
and Just about the time when Sheridan
was making his famous raid through that
country, a 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 it was in this
wise: At that time Judge James Parker,
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
be inferred from the fact that she took in the
washing of the Parker family; but, although
humble in position, she was highly respected,
and on the friendliest terms with her more
opulent neighbor.
TWO MISCHIEF MAKERS.
The judge had a son James, and Mrs. Sheri-
dan had Il son Phil, and these two boys lived
OH terms of closest intimacy, and while they
were the pride, they were likewise the terror
of the village, for two more mischevous
young monkeys never existed, Fhil par ex-
cellence, for there was no deviltry concocted
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 u
years, when James was packed off to board
ing school and Phil was apprenUiced to the
local storekeeper.
Some years rolled by, when on one morn
| ing, James being at home Oh q vacation, the
! judge received an ominOus looking envelope
from the war department at Washington. OF
course, all the family assembled at the break
fast table were anxious to know its contents,
when on being opened it was found to be a
commission in the army of the United States
for James Parker, Jr. All the family were
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 q soldier anyhow"
Persuasion was of no avail, so at last the
Judge said in desperation: sit will never do
to return this TO the department and decline
it; now what shall be done with it,"
THE JUDGES HIGH HAT
"Give it to Phil" said jim, and this propo.
sition met with great applause and was
unanimously carried; SO, after breakfast, the
Judge and jim started down the hill to the
grocery store, and just as they were enter
ing the door they saw Phil disappearing
down the cellar steps with moasses jug i'll
one hand and 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 III 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, were in,
vested with certain amount of dignity In
the eyes of the ordinary rustic, so that Phil:
| performance naturally did not meet with the
cordial approval of the shopkeeper or of his
customers, and Master Phil, after having
been collared and cuffed, was brought into
the Judges presence to apologize, previous tx
| being thrashed.
| AS may he supposed. this was not being in
! troduced to ones benefactor under the mos
favorable auspices, but as no one could resis
| Pills comical repentance, he was forgiven
and the subject of the commission" wa
preached, and Phil's delight was even NOR
comical than his repentance, for it was al
his friend Jim could do to restrain him from
standing on his head, which was his usua
mode of manifesting pleasure. He, how
ever, Gained down sufficiently to maxi
proper acknowledgements and to assure tn
| Judge that if the government approved h
would try to do him and himself credit, l
is unnecessary to state that Phil has kept hi
promise, or to so further into his career
that is now public property; but Will
today Phil is lieutenant general of tn
armies of the United States, Jim" is an ex
commander of the United States navy, &n
having fought through the war and then e
signed is now prominent admiralty lawya
in New York.-Cor. New York Post