Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-01-25
Friday. January Is. 1889.
ONE OF THE FINEST.
"A Four-Year Old Joins the New York Pc
lice Force and Thinks It's Fun.

A street Arab found a little fellow
wandering around aimlessly near
Thirty-fourth street and Broadway.
He took him in charge and handed
him over 10 the 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"
When the sergeant asked the boy
what his nam was he said that il was
Charley Smith.
''Where do you liver" asked the ser.
geant, kindly.
Don't know exactly; somewhere
near Central park, i guess. I'm Cen
trail Park Charley. Guess am lost,
amt IL"
"Yes, / think you are" answered
the sergeant, with a laugh. Whats
your fathers namef
Charley; same as mine. Say, mis-
ter, l 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 room.
When Charley reached the there
were some sixty big policemen there,
washing up, polishing their boots and
getting ready 10 go before the captain
before relieving the day force. They
all shook hands with the little fellow
ard gave him so many pennies that
tie pockets of his diminutive ulster
were filled.
This is a pretty fine place" he said
10 a red faced, smiling policeman.
''0h, yes" answered the other with
a grin, tits fine"
II think Id like one Of those sticks"
said Charley. Would they care if /
took onel' pointing to the rack Of
police clubs.
Now, you're a policeman" said
one Of the men, wiping his dripping
face and bending over the child. He
marched gravely around. salu,ing 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 go
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
a 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
stamped time with his little boots,
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.
We'll" said the captain. breath
lessly, who are your
Policeman Charley, OF Central
park" said the boy knowingly, salut
ing with his big club.
"Well, Policeman Charley" said
the captain, lust 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 OYER the register, pretended
10 read all the letters within his reach,
brushed a thread from the captains
coat, and then began industri0usly to
scrawl all ovcr the papers before him
with a pen. lie and the captain had
a friendly cha, fDr half an hour Then
the two Ga"l to-cthcr, and afterward
the captl. hIntcd around until he
found a SMALLER club for the boy.
When he was taken away the next
day, all the mon gave MIN a hearty
farewell and the captain gave him a
watch charm and a quarter as "A re-
ward for faithful service. Charley
said when he left the station that "be-
ing policeman was fun."-New York
Trlbule.