, 1889-01-17
ONE OF THE FINEST.
A Four-Year-oId Joins tho New York To
lice Force and Thinks It's Fun.

a Four-Year-oId Joins tho New York To
lice Force and Thinks It's Fun.
a street Arab found a little fellow
wandering around aimlessly near
Thirty-fourth street and Broadway.
lie took him in charge and handed
him over TO the sergeant of the Thir-
tieth Street Police station, saying that
he thought ''the kid too well dressed
and too young TO be about the streets"
When the sergeant asked the boy
what his name was he said that it was
Charley Smith.
Where do you liver" asked the ser
geant, kindly.
Don't know exactly; somewhere
near Central park, ! guess. I'm Cen
trail Park Charley. Guess / am lost,
amt II"
Yes, ! think you arc" answered
the sergeant, with a laugh. Whats
your fathers Manner
Charley; same rs 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 tho curly
haired child into the patrol room.
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 n pretty fine place" he said
TO n red faced, smiling policeman.
"Oh, yes, y answered the other with
n grin, "it's fine"
Il think I'd like n of those sticks"
said Charley. Would they care if l
took onel' pointing TO tho rack of
police clubs.
Now, you're II policeman" said
one of the men, wiping his dripping
ace and bending over tho child. He
marched gravcly around, saluting all
the men with his club almost as tall as
no. 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 tho rest, and the little
fellow did SO, his stick over his
shoulder. He marched by the side of
n big roundsman, whose knees almost
came up TO tho boys head. AS the
limo filed out tho door and before the
captains desk, the young policeman
stamped time with his little boots,
marching proudly with tho others.
The men were all laughing at the
boys jaunty air and Cart. Reilly
called out sharply, Order" They
could mot gtAn a,,-1.-- -
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 ut the grizzled
one just above him.
Well" said the captain, breath
lessly, who arc your"
Policeman Charley, of Central
park, said the boy knowingly, salut
ing with his big club.
We'll, 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.
lie 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
-scraW4-aA over the -papers before him
with n pen. He and the Captain had
a friendly chat for half an hour. Then
the two dined together, and aftorward
the captain hunted around until he
found n smaller club for tho boy.
When he was taken away tho next
day, all the men gave him n hearty
farewell and the captain gave him a
watch charm and n quarter MS a re-
ward for faithful service. Charley
said whom he left the station that ''be-
ing policeman was fun. New York
Tribune.