Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-12-21
THE LITTLE DRUMMER.
A TALE OF xAPoLEoN's RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN.

Tn the wear 1919 there was in the Ninth
Regiment of the Line of the French army q
little drummer who was only ten years OF age
He was child belonging to the troop and his
real name was Frolut. though the soldiers had
nicknamed him "Bilboquet." In truth. his
figure was so long, so slender, and so thin,
aud surmounted by such largs round head,
that he really bore considerable resemblance
to the toy after which they had rs-christened
him Frolut, or Bilboquet-whicheVer you
pIease-was not, in any other respect re-
markabe child. The drum-major had so often
beat time upon his shoulders, with his long
official cane, that the melody Of rat-tat-tOO had
perforce become impressed upon his brain. and
in general was performed With tOlerable sccura-
CIV by his well practiced wrists and fingers -
Bat he never wore his bonnet depolice, or for
aging cap, smartly cooked over his right ear
As the very smartest plpers did. He could not
strut with dandi6ed swing. after the fashion
of so many Of his superiOrs; and, one day,
when he thought e; to let his sabre hang in
front, and between his legs, like the exquisites
of the regiments, it tripped him up and made
him tumble on his nose, scratched it terribly
to the great delight Of his companions. Every
body laughed at him, while he never laughed
al anv BODY. The result was that he had no
body to associate with upon equal terms
All his habits were marked with degree of
shyness and unsoCiability exceedingly rare
among boys Of his age.
But how was it possible for him to be other
wise? He often tried to do ss others did, but
by some unlucky chance he could never succeed.
whenever he played at la drOgue he was sure
to lose: and whether it was piece Of Miniature
on the part Of the other drummers, or whether
he actually had a hose like potato-as bis
companion on the left asserted, and who every
morning repeated the same joke, Of Put your
nose straight. that may fall into line,' or
whatever else was the csse--it invariably hap
psnsd that. the drogue, OF cleft stick, which
they put upon his nose ss the forfeit pinChed
him 30 horribly that the tears started into bis
ewes. On another occasion. when they had a
game of hot cockles,' and he was caught, in
stead Of slspping his hands with their own
(grenadiers' hands. as broad as bakers peels,
which was tolerably liberal allowance, they
made use of their leather grdles instead, some
Of them without removing the buckles. One
Of bis companions even slipped of his great hot
nailed shoes, and employed them in this gentle
sport. Poor Bilboquet could stand 1t no lon
ger, and jumped up weeping with rage anG
pain. He laid the fault upon every one in turn
and yet hit upon the actual party. Ant
then, when they were tired Of prosecuting him
they sent him off about his business, bestowinl
upon him, by way Of compensation, the oppro
brious terms Of 'wench' and 'blubberer.' Mex
day they had to 60 to exercise again; and a
the poor little drummer's fingers still smartet
and were stiff with yesterdays bruises. the rat
too was not always perfect, and the drum
majors cane Immediately corrected che rythu
on the well pummeled back of the unhap
py boy. 1t tis therefore not very difficult h
understand why Bilboquet should be utterly h
different to the glorious pleasures Of militar
life. and so. as have just observed. he wa
far rom communicative, and kept himself at
distance from the rest.
One dsy-it was the twenty seventh of Jal,
the general who commanded the brigade T.
which his regiment belonged, received the km
PerOrs orders to take possession Of position
which lay on the other side Of an enormous ra
vine. This ravins was defended by batter.
Of six pieces Of artillery, which swept off who'll
files Of soldiers; and in order to arrive at th,
spot which the Emperor had indicated, it wa