Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1889-02-15
ONE OF THE FINEST.
A Four-Ycar- Old Joins the New York Po-
lice Force and Thinks It's Fun.

A Four-ycar- Old Joins the New York Po-
lice Force and Thinks IT'S Fun.
a street Arab found little fellow
wandering around aimlessly near
Thirty-fourth street aud Broadway
He took him in charge and handed
him over to rhe sergeant of the Thir-
tieth Street Police station, saying that
he thought 1.-THE kid too well dressed
and too young to be about the streets. y
When the sergeant asked the boy
what his name was he said that it was
Charley Smith.
where do you live2" asked the SER
geant, kindly.
Don't know exactly; somewhere
near Central park, I guess I'm Cen
trail Park Charley. Guess l am lost,
amt II"
Eyes, I think you are" answered
the sergeant, with a laugh Whats
your fathers name2"
Charley; same as mine. Say, mis-
ter, | like you. don't mind stopping
here"
"Well, you're welcome. Come into
the back room and make yourself at
home" and the man took the curly
haired child into the patrol nm.
When Charley reached the room there
were some sixty big policemen there,
washing up, polishing their boots and
getting ready to go before the captain
before relieving the day force. They
all shook hands with the little fellow
and gave him so many pennies that
the pockets of his diminutive ulster
were filled.
This is a pretty fine place, he said
to red faced, smiling policeman.
"Oh, yes, f" answered the other with
a grin, cts fine"
II think I'd like one of those sticks"
said Charley. would they care if /
took one?" pointing to tho rack Of
police clubs.
'Now, you're q policeman, said
one Of the men, wiping his dripping
face and bending over the child He
marched gravely around, saluting all
the men with his club almost as tall as
he. The laughing fellows clapped
their hands in approval and the child
bowed low with great dignity. Some
one mentioned the captains name,
and Charley said he guessed he'd 90
see the captain. They asked him to
fall in line with the rest, and the little
fellow did SO, his stick over his
shoulder He marched by the side of
u big roundsman, whose knees almost
came up to the boys head, AS the
line filed out the door and before the
captains desk, the young policeman
marching proudly with the others
The men were all laughing at the
boys jaunty air and Capt Reilly
called out sharply, Order" They
could not stop laughing, however, and
the captain rose from his seat and
looked sternly at the fifty or more
men. AS he leaned over his desk he
saw the rosy face of the boy looking
up at him.
"Hello, captain" said Charley,
nodding his little head at the grizzled
one just above him.
Well" said the captain, breath
lessly, 'who are you"
POLICEMAN Charley, of Central
park" SAID the boy knowingly, salut-
ing with his big club.
"Well, Policeman Charley" said
the captain, Just sit up here along
side of me. will detail you on spe-
cial duty"
The little chap was lifted up on one
of the high stools next to the captains
He looked over the register, pretended
to read all the letters within his reach
brushed a thread from the captains
coat, and then began industriously to
sorawl all over the papers before him
with a pen. He and the captain had
a friendly chat for half an hour. Then
the two dined together, and aftcrward
the captain hunted around until he
found a smaller club for the boy.
When he was taken away the next
day, all the men gave MIN q hearty
farewell and the captain gave him a
watch charm and quarter as q re-
ward for faithful service. Charley
said when he left the station that 'be- |
ing policeman was fun. New York
Tribune.