ard！ march！〃 for he had understood the mand thus；and the soldiers obeyed the sound of the drum。 That was a good roll；and proved the summons to victory for the men； who had already begunto give way。
Life and limb were lost in the battle。 Bombshells tore away theflesh in red strips； bombshells lit up into a terrible glow thestrawheaps to which the wounded had dragged themselves； to lieuntended for many hours； perhaps for all the hours they had to live。
It's no use thinking of it； and yet one cannot help thinking ofit； even far away in the peaceful town。 The drummer and his wifealso thought of it； for Peter was at the war。
〃Now； I'm tired of these plaints；〃 said the Fire…drum。
Again the day of battle dawned； the sun had not yet risen； butit was morning。 The drummer and his wife were asleep。 They had beentalking about their son； as； indeed； they did almost every night；for he was out yonder in God's hand。 And the father dreamt that thewar was over； that the soldiers had returned home； and that Peter worea silver cross on his breast。 But the mother dreamt that she hadgone into the church； and had seen the painted pictures and the carvedangels with the gilded hair； and her own dear boy； the golden treasureof her heart； who was standing among the angels in white robes；singing so sweetly； as surely only the angels can sing； and that hehad soared up with them into the sunshine； and nodded so kindly at hismother。
〃My golden treasure！〃 she cried out； and she awoke。 〃Now thegood God has taken him to Himself！〃 She folded her hands； and hidher face in the cotton curtains of the bed； and wept。 〃Where does herest now？ among the many in the big grave that they have dug for thedead？ Perhaps he's in the water in the marsh！ Nobody knows hisgrave； no holy words have been read over it！〃 And the Lord's Prayerwent inaudibly over her lips； she bowed her head； and was so wearythat she went to sleep。
And the days went by； in life as in dreams！
It was evening。 Over the battle…field a rainbow spread； whichtouched the forest and the deep marsh。
It has been said； and is preserved in popular belief； that wherethe rainbow touches the earth a treasure lies buried； a goldentreasure； and here there was one。 No one but his mother thought of thelittle drummer； and therefore she dreamt of him。
And the days went by； in life as in dreams！
Not a hair of his head had been hurt； not a golden hair。
〃Drum…ma…rum！ drum…ma…rum！ there he is！〃 the Drum might have said；and his mother might have sung； if she had seen or dreamt it。
With hurrah and song； adorned with green wreaths of victory；they came home； as the war was at an end； and peace had been signed。The dog of the regiment sprang on in front with large bounds； and madethe way three times as long for himself as it really was。
And days and weeks went by； and Peter came into his parents' room。He was as brown as a wild man； and his eyes were bright； and hisface beamed like sunshine。 And his mother held him in her arms； shekissed his lips； his forehead； and his red hair。 She had her boyback again； he had not a silver cross on his breast； as his father haddreamt； but he had sound limbs； a thing the mother had not dreamt。 Andwhat a rejoicing was there！ They laughed and they wept； and Peterembraced the old Fire…drum。
〃There stands the old skeleton still！〃 he said。
And the father beat a roll upon it。
〃One would think that a great fire had broken out here；〃 saidthe Fire…drum。 〃Bright day！ fire in the heart！ golden treasure！ skrat！skr…r…at！ skr…r…r…r…at！〃
And what then？ What then！… Ask the town musician。
〃Peter's far outgrowing the drum；〃 he said。 〃Peter will be greaterthan I。〃
And yet he was the son of a royal plate…washer； but all that hehad learned in half a lifetime； Peter learned in half a year。
There was something so merry about him； something so trulykind…hearted。 His eyes gleamed； and his hair gleamed too… there was nodenying that！
〃He ought to have his hair dyed；〃 said the neighbor's wife。〃That answered capitally with the policeman's daughter； and she gota husband。〃
〃But her hair turned as green as duckweed； and was always havingto be colored up。〃
〃She knows how to manage for herself；〃 said the neighbors； 〃and socan Peter。 He es to the most genteel houses； even to theburgomaster's where he gives Miss Charlotte piano…forte lessons。〃
He could play！ He could play； fresh out of his heart； the mostcharming pieces； that had never been put upon music…paper。 He playedin the bright nights； and in the dark nights； too。 The neighborsdeclared it was unbearable； and the Fire…drum was of the same opinion。
He played until his thoughts soared up； and burst forth in greatplans for the future：
〃To be famous！〃
And burgomaster's Charlotte sat at the piano。 Her delicate fingersdanced over the keys； and made them ring into Peter's heart。 It seemedtoo much for him to bear； and this happened not once； but manytimes； and at last one day he seized the delicate fingers and thewhite hand； and kissed it； and looked into her great brown eyes。Heaven knows what he said； but we may be allowed to guess at it。Charlotte blushed to guess at it。 She reddened from brow to neck；and answered not a single word； and then strangers came into the room；and one of them was the state councillor's son。 He had a lofty whiteforehead； and carried it so high that it seemed to go back into hisneck。 And Peter sat by her a long time； and she looked at him withgentle eyes。
At home that evening he spoke of travel in the wide world； andof the golden treasure that lay hidden for him in his violin。
〃To be famous！〃
〃Tum…me…lum； tum…me…lum； tum…me…lum！〃 said the Fire…drum。 〃Peterhas gone clear out of his wits。 I think there must be a fire in thehouse。〃
Next day the mother went to market。
〃Shall I tell you news； Peter？〃 she asked when she came home。 〃Acapital piece of news。 Burgomaster's Charlotte has engaged herselfto the state councillor's son； the betrothal took place yesterdayevening。〃
〃No！〃 cried Peter； and he sprang up from his chair。 But his motherpersisted in saying 〃Yes。〃 She had heard it from the baker's wife；whose husband had it from the burgomaster's own mouth
And Peter became as pale as death； and sat down again。
〃Good Heaven！ what's the matter with you？〃 asked his mother。
〃Nothing； nothing； only leave me to myself；〃 he answered but thetears were running down his cheeks。
〃My sweet child； my golden treasure！〃 cried the mother； and shewept； but the Fire…drum sang； not out loud； but inwardly。
〃Charlotte's gone！ Charlotte's gone！ and now the song is done。〃
But the song was not done； there were many more verses in it； longverses； the most beautiful verses； the golden treasures of a life。
〃She behaves like a mad woman；〃 said the neighbor's wife。 〃All theworld is to see the letters she gets from her golden treasure； andto read the words that are written in the papers about his violinplaying。 And he sends her money too； and that's very useful to hersince she has been a widow。〃
〃He plays before emperors and kings；〃 said the town musician。 〃Inever had that fortune； but he's my pupil； and he does not forgethis old master。〃
And his mother said；
〃His father dreamt