The Cop and the Anthem

'The Cop and the Anthem' is a short story written by the 19th-century American author O. Henry (1862–1910). The story's protagonist, Soapy, is a professional beggar in New York. His primary goal is to get sent to the Island, where prisoners are kept in relatively comfortable conditions. Other well-known works by O. Henry include the short stories 'The Purple Dress', 'The Caliph and the Cad', 'The Moment of Victory', 'The Skylight Room', 'Suite Homes and Their Romance', 'One Thousand Dollars', 'The Diamond of Kali' and 'The Last of the Troubadours'. O. Henry, whose real name was William Sydney Porter, is considered a master of the 'Voice of the City' genre, where sparkling humor is combined with deep philosophical meaning.