amongthemanyinthebiggravethattheyhavedugforthedead?perhapshe'sinthewaterinthemarsh!nobodyknowshisgrave;noholywordshavebeenreadoverit!"andthelord'sprayerwentinaudiblyoverherlips;shebowedherhead,andwassowearythatshewenttosleep.

andthedayswentby,inlifeasindreams!

itwasevening.overthebattle-fieldarainbowspread,whichtouchedtheforestandthedeepmarsh.

ithasbeensaid,andispreservedinpopularbelief,thatwheretherainbowtouchestheearthatreasureliesburied,agoldentreasure;andheretherewasone.noonebuthismotherthoughtofthelittledrummer,andthereforeshedreamtofhim.

andthedayswentby,inlifeasindreams!

notahairofhisheadhadbeenhurt,notagoldenhair.

"drum-ma-rum!drum-ma-rum!thereheis!"thedrummighthavesaid,andhismothermighthavesung,ifshehadseenordreamtit.

withhurrahandsong,adornedwithgreenwreathsofvictory,theycamehome,asthewarwasatanend,andpeacehadbeendogoftheregimentsprangoninfrontwithlargebounds,andmadethewaythreetimesaslongforhimselfasitreallywas.

anddaysandweekswentby,andpetercameintohisparents'wasasbrownasawildman,andhiseyeswerebright,andhisfacebeamedlikesunshine.andhismotherheldhiminherarms;shekissedhislips,hisforehead,andhisredhair.shehadherboybackagain;hehadnotasilvercrossonhisbreast,ashisfatherhaddreamt,buthehadsoundlimbs,athingthemotherhadnotdreamt.andwhatarejoicingwasthere!theylaughedandtheywept;andpeterembracedtheoldfire-drum.

"therestandstheoldskeletonstill!"hesaid.

andthefatherbeatarolluponit.

"onewouldthinkthatagreatfirehadbrokenouthere,"saidthefire-drum."brightday!fireintheheart!goldentreasure!skrat!skr-r-at!skr-r-r-r-at!"

andwhatthen?whatthen!-askthetownmusician.

"peter'sfaroutgrowingthedrum,"hesaid."peterwillbegreaterthani."

andyethewasthesonofaroyalplate-washer;butallthathehadlearnedinhalfalifetime,peterlearnedinhalfayear.

therewassomethingsomerryabouthim,somethingsotrulykind-hearted.hiseyesgleamed,andhishairgleamedtoo-therewasnodenyingthat!

"heoughttohavehishairdyed,"saidtheneighbor'swife."thatansweredcapitallywiththepoliceman'sdaughter,andshegotahusband."

"butherhairturnedasgreenasduckweed,andwasalwayshavingtobecoloredup."

"sheknowshowtomanageforherself,"saidtheneighbors,"andsocanpeter.hecomestothemostgenteelhouses,eventotheburgomaster'swherehegivesmisscharlottepiano-fortelessons."

hecouldplay!hecouldplay,freshoutofhisheart,themostcharmingpieces,thathadneverbeenputuponmusic-paper.heplayedinthebrightnights,andinthedarknights,too.theneighborsdeclareditwasunbearable,andthefire-drumwasofthesameopinion.

heplayeduntilhisthoughtssoaredup,andburstforthingreatplansforthefuture:

"tobefamous!"

andburgomaster'scharlottesatatthepiano.herdelicatefingersdancedoverthekeys,andmadethemringintopeter'sheart.itseemedtoomuchforhimtobear;andthishappenednotonce,butmanytimes;andatlastonedayheseizedthedelicatefingersandthewhitehand,andkissedit,andlookedintohergreatbrownvenknowswhathesaid;butwemaybeallowedtoguessatrlotteblushedtoguessatit.shereddenedfrombrowtoneck,andanswerednotasingleword;andthenstrangerscameintotheroom,andoneofthemwasthestatecouncillor'sson.hehadaloftywhiteforehead,andcarrieditsohighthatitseemedtogobackintohisneck.andpetersatbyheralongtime,andshelookedathimwithgentleeyes.

athomethateveninghespokeoftravelinthewideworld,andofthegoldentreasurethatlayhiddenforhiminhisviolin.

"tobefamous!"