"tum-me-lum,tum-me-lum,tum-me-lum!"saidthefire-drum."peterhasgoneclearoutofhiswits.ithinktheremustbeafireinthehouse."

nextdaythemotherwenttomarket.

"shallitellyounews,peter?"sheaskedwhenshecamehome."acapitalpieceofnews.burgomaster'scharlottehasengagedherselftothestatecouncillor'sson;thebetrothaltookplaceyesterdayevening."

"no!"criedpeter,andhesprangupfromhischair.buthismotherpersistedinsaying"yes."shehadhearditfromthebaker'swife,whosehusbandhaditfromtheburgomaster'sownmouth

andpeterbecameaspaleasdeath,andsatdownagain.

"goodheaven!what'sthematterwithyou?"askedhismother.

"nothing,nothing;onlyleavemetomyself,"heansweredbutthetearswererunningdownhischeeks.

"mysweetchild,mygoldentreasure!"criedthemother,andshewept;butthefire-drumsang,notoutloud,butinwardly.

"charlotte'sgone!charlotte'sgone!andnowthesongisdone."

butthesongwasnotdone;thereweremanymoreversesinit,longverses,themostbeautifulverses,thegoldentreasuresofalife.

"shebehaveslikeamadwoman,"saidtheneighbor'swife."alltheworldistoseethelettersshegetsfromhergoldentreasure,andtoreadthewordsthatarewritteninthepapersabouthisviolinplaying.andhesendshermoneytoo,andthat'sveryusefultohersinceshehasbeenawidow."

"heplaysbeforeemperorsandkings,"saidthetownmusician."ineverhadthatfortune,buthe'smypupil,andhedoesnotforgethisoldmaster."

andhismothersaid,

"hisfatherdreamtthatpetercamehomefromthewarwithasilvercross.hedidnotgainoneinthewar,butitisstillmoredifficulttogainoneinthisway.nowhehasthecrossofhonor.ifhisfatherhadonlylivedtoseeit!"

"he'sgrownfamous!"saidthefire-drum,andallhisnativetownsaidthesamething,forthedrummer'sson,peterwiththeredhair-peterwhomtheyhadknownasalittleboy,runningaboutinwoodenshoes,andthenasadrummer,playingforthedancers-wasbecomefamous!

"heplayedatourhousebeforeheplayedinthepresenceofkings,"saidtheburgomaster'swife."atthattimehewasquitesmittenwithcharlotte.hewasalwaysofanaspiringturn.atthattimehewassaucyandanenthusiast.myhusbandlaughedwhenheheardofthefoolishaffair,andnowourcharlotteisastatecouncillor'swife."

agoldentreasurehadbeenhiddenintheheartandsoulofthepoorchild,whohadbeatentherollasadrummer-arollofvictoryforthosewhohadbeenreadytoretreat.therewasagoldentreasureinhisbosom,thepowerofsound;itburstforthonhisviolinasiftheinstrumenthadbeenacompleteorgan,andasifalltheelvesofamidsummernightweredancingacrossthestrings.initssoundswereheardthepipingofthethrushandthefullclearnoteofthehumanvoice;thereforethesoundbroughtrapturetoeveryheart,andcarriedhisnametriumphantthroughtheland.thatwasagreatfirebrand-thefirebrandofinspiration.

"andthenhelookssosplendid!"saidtheyoungladiesandtheoldladiestoo;andtheoldestofallprocuredanalbumforfamouslocksofhair,whollyandsolelythatshemightbegalockofhisrichsplendidhair,thattreasure,thatgoldentreasure.

andthesoncameintothepoorroomofthedrummer,elegantasaprince,happierthanaking.hiseyeswereasclearandhisfacewasasradiantassunshine;andheheldhismotherinhisarms,andshekissedhismouth,andweptasblissfullyasanyonecanweepforjoy;andhenoddedateveryoldpieceoffurnitureintheroom,atthecupboardwiththetea-cups,andattheflower-vase.henoddedatthesleeping-bench,wherehehadsleptasalittleboy;buttheoldfire-drumhebroughtout,anddraggeditintothemiddleoftheroom,andsaidtoitandtohismother:

"myfatherwouldhavebeatenafamousrollthisevening.nowimustdoit!"