The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-11
TIE MAKING OF A POLICEMAN.
How serrt. Parker Ran Things in His Native
Village Before Coming Here.

The true policeman Is born. like the poet. and
can no moro resist his destiny. Such a man Is
Sergt. William Parker. who, long before he
assumed the duty OF looking after the morals
OF New Workers.. ran the affairs Of his ma
tive village on Long Island on a plan wholly
approved by himself. He was by no means a
Namgay Dooly: only when he outgrew his field
OF activities IN the country village he natu-
rally emerged into the larger sphere OF useful
ness afforded by the metropolis.
When Just verging upon manhood Parker
had for cohorts Ave boon companions. and OF
the sextet thus favored not one was less than
six feet tall. There was work laid out for the
youthful giants in their little community. and
one OF the FIRST things they did was to assist In
building a church. Their methods were orig
inal. else they would not be recorded here.
The old darby church had long been out
grown and the congregation felt the need OF q
new edifce. Special meetings were held for the
purpose OF raising funds. and the pastors ex-
hortations on the subject OF giving were more
than usually eloquent Parker and his compan-
ions took to attending these meetings and
were not slow In making their presence felt.
The pastor noticed the newcomers among the
colored brethren and sisters OF his flock and
made a special appeal A collection was taken
up, and after a careful calculation the result
announced from the pulpit amid many ejacu-
lations from the congregation. After the
money had been counted it was put back In the
bell-crowned beaver hat that served as a reposi-
tory for aims. and again the pastor. with head
thrown back and eyes tight closed in ecstasy Of
inward communion. pictured for his listeners
the beauties OF giving and the rewards that
would be heaped upon the individual who drew
from both pockets at the same time and show
cred his wealth with both hands. When he had
finished, one of the six-footers on the front
bench raised his hand in token that the words
had borne fruit, and the old white headed darby
who took up the collection was semitic him with
the hat. No one could see the amount OF the
contribution. and all bent forward eagerly to
watch the pastor as he poured out the entire
collection on his desk and began to count 1t all
over again. When he was through he deducted
the figures for the first Offering from the second
and announced.
Dress dc Lawdl One cent hab been added
to the fund. May dc giver be rewa'ded
akawdin' as he has given"
The visitors on the front bench appeared
abashed when the extent Of their Offering was
made known. Again one Of them signi1ed he
had something to give. This time the congre-
cation was edited by the sight Of a silver dollar
ostentatiously displayed. Apparently by acct
dent the coin struck the brim of the hat. and.
instead Of falling inside. rolled out into the aisle
OF the church. The deacon stooped to pick 1t
up. but just as he had his fingers on 1t the coin
rolled a little further. 1t wasn't every day he
got a dollar in the collection. and in his eager
ness to secure 1t he forgot former April 1
experiences. and followed the coin all the way
down the aisle on his hands and knees. Not
till the church door was reached did the deacon
elusive coin.
The congregation was scandalized. The
pastor rem fla after 6aTI he b had d GetaGhed t me c elaek X e = ssfs
place. requested the visitors TO leave. which
they did. locking the church door behind them
Of the congregation. who had to get out the
high windows as best they could,
much on their dignity l. whenever one Of the sex.
gradually thaWed out. little BY little. and finally
",Marse Will, morning, sub. Dey's agwine
church. All are cordially invited to, attend and
contribute akawdin' as de Lawd has DRESSED
f menEePp sSinds as deg dSy S %as las Gq tfme aR no such
everything would pass of to the satisfaction of
the liberality Of their donations. They couldn't
stand ! being good foE ySrK long, howsyer ',i ana
70 Be be% ready. io Perhaps aEsTsHt the e"i %tseh Hsf lay VI IL
an Innocent-looking roll made from a hundred
OF the large old-fashioned copper cents. which
the d~eacon's hat with the disastrous result of
taking &c Spt the WHOLE hole crown 9 or perhaps s after beT
shoemaker wax. Each one Of the six. tried a
hand at that first 6ropping his collection into
tas sb hat tan and u th en- SSr ssISnI9 aiirinG a piece
After church they followed the deacon and
saw him adjust the new hat carefully and with
The coiored ladies' ali admired the deacon, and
Just about the time the wax had melted and
set to his head he had occasion TO bow. Ills
bow was we'll known in the village Tor ltB
studied effect. but this time it was q fat failure.
The hat refused to com off. and it was not
nature endowed, him sacrificed that the old
The, sextet had other more serious work.
Once TWAS to right. as far as lay In their power.
{ wrong done ons Of their sehoolGirl friends bs IDS
accepted sutton. and rumor, had 1t that the new
house he WAS building was destined for another
services seH SsS1 were f reaaired. wit thou T. any O%stenta-
t sead IN alf Tbsy h sasy @ 81 { t R5iGsaI psIfg sa tSs ss q
lectcd, the minister notified to be on hand. and
then; hall an hour before the time appointed
into two, committees. one to wait upon the
bride and the other upon the young man. The
The brides e9mmittee consisted, Of 4 man
who had known her from ~babyhood., He in
s SisSs hsr q IN his IS @ saka 8 t dr1yG mi sas f Il ilsp %ss
from observation, he told her the object OF his
visit. putting II as gently as he could and CIV
ing advice n q brotherly way, It took him the
allotted half hour several times over to con,
vince her Of the wisdom Of his argument; and
he succeeded only by showing her that the
remon was nothing more than n form and
that it was necessary for her family's sake.
The bridegroom was on hand when the bridal
party nrriyed. and he went through his part
IN aesthetic point Of view an observer might
have objected to the position assumed by the
best man. who stood altogether too close to the
chief actor. apd tho Same objection would Pp;
him In with q compact bulwark OF muscular
humanity. In fact, the ceremony was alto
getherirregular for II has since been whispered
mat the best man held seven inches Of cold
steel terminating In a murderously keen point
directly against the sensitive nerves Of the
brldegro9m''s spinal column, and that when
the proper answer his memory was refreshed
by q jog with the aforementioned weapon. Be
that as 1t may, the pair We're, married. and the
little one which came found a fathers name
II, Itsparents.h however. were Rtran-
gers. and the mother never rose from her bed.
Years afterward Parker and the other man
who figure, In the story met by chance on
and, strippinR on their boots 40 az TO get foot