thedrumheardthatfromtheneighbors'wives.

"don'tgohome,peter,"criedthestreetboys."ifyousleepinthegarret,there'llbeafireinthehouse,andthefire-drumwillhavetobebeaten."

"lookoutforthedrumsticks,"repliedpeter;and,smallashewas,heranupboldly,andgavetheforemostsuchapunchinthebodywithhisfist,thatthefellowlosthislegsandtumbledover,andtheotherstooktheirlegsoffwiththemselvesveryrapidly.

thetownmusicianwasverygenteelandfine.hewasthesonoftheroyalplate-washer.hewasveryfondofpeter,andwouldsometimestakehimtohishome;andhegavehimaviolin,andtaughthimtoplayit.itseemedasifthewholeartlayintheboy'sfingers;andhewantedtobemorethanadrummer-hewantedtobecomemusiciantothetown.

"i'llbeasoldier,"saidpeter;forhewasstillquitealittlelad,anditseemedtohimthefinestthingintheworldtocarryagun,andtobeabletomarchone,two-one,two,andtowearauniformandasword.

"ah,youlearntolongforthedrum-skin,drum,dum,dum!"saidthedrum.

"yes,ifhecouldonlymarchhiswayuptobeageneral!"observedhisfather;"butbeforehecandothat,theremustbewar."

"heavenforbid!"saidhismother.

"wehavenothingtolose,"remarkedthefather.

"yes,wehavemyboy,"sheretorted.

"butsupposehecamebackageneral!"saidthefather.

"withoutarmsandlegs!"criedthemother."no,iwouldratherkeepmygoldentreasurewithme."

"drum,dum,dum!"