Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-01-31
Miscellaneous.
tFrJm the NeEGl
TIE DRUMMER ROY.


VIII you enlist - said an officer to =.
young lad who was standing near "you
shall have dollars month shall
have handsome uniform and plenty 10 eat. -
d" should like to 20 as a drummer boy, if
cny mother would consent She is poor, and
1 wonld like to help her.
Very well, my boy let us hear you
drum first Soon the iifer was called cut,
and drum given to the boy. Dixie was
played and the boy commenced. Could such
music come out Of a drum Soon q crowd
gathered around the boy ; the notes came
rClilnc outflow soft, now loud, now
Inourntul, and he, wTapt in bis own music,
forgot those around him. who stood
listening b.eatllcssly until the last sound
died away.
r officer touched him On tie back, and
said " Ny boy, run home to your mother,
aud tel her We wall give hr what shewishes,
II she viii only ct you 60 with US, as our
drummer boy.
lie went 70 tie humblo abode Of his
mother. She had seen better days but was
now very poor. She had lost her husband
many years ago. lie had left hcr destitute,
and she had maintained bCrEclf and child bv
sewing and writing. In years she was not
old but sorrJw had whitcuod her hair, and
iuTTOWed her brow, yet she looked in her
close widows cap, still beautiful Harry
tald her what the officer said 10 him.
An expression Of pain passed over her
features as she said: My son, shut would
money te 10 NE without yuu ." and lifting
the curls from his white br.w, cine looked
into lis clear blue eye. and SAID " Could !
ever tear 10 see these curis c.lt.od with
your blood, and tho-- ewes grow din In
death No, my son ! c1Hz0, let you % g
Oh, Harry : my heart would break 1t
shoul4 lose yoU." Long and elrnls,ly tley
Ia /. '. a., son feeling he could support Lis
IL tn,r, ii als would only consent 10 llt Ll.u
tui ST.; asu child Ike, he thought there
W id b- iIttle danger. lie gained, az last.
lls mothers reluctant consent She tri,l O.
iesl h5l ei4i about her son be scented % be
% Cheerful ana happy. The Company mi-l
be long time in t0wD, and Harry w4s
permitted 10 stay with his mother during
that time. Week after week elapsed u.ey
had not gone, and the mother and son were
becoming accustomed to his new duty
Bot the orders to march came at last and
then the mother repented that she had iveu
her consent that her sen should 50 but she
went on and htted him out with all the
comforts mothers fond heart can think
ui- ulDlt ruO udIAtl lJt a-m,
and the wettcd many page with
her tears. A lock Of his fathers hair
with one OF her own she had placcl in a
looket, and tied round his neck.
Harry loved his mother next to his God -
The parting was SO sad. She pressed him
again and again to her heart as she said,
"God bless thee, my Harry. May lie bring
you safe back TO your poor, lone mother
h,x I tFvn xrfFb
But it was time TO 20. lie was called. and
with one more kiss, one whisper, "Mother.
Harry will be true you and TO God, and he
was gone.
\ week after, that boy went to battle
His music inspired the men as they marched
on to the battle field, giving them courage
10 fight for country's liberties. They felt as
If they were led on by the music of an an
gel. "Hear that boy play said one, 1--WE
must fight for our country-5ut such music
takes all hatred out Of the heart" Another
saId, "dO you see that boys face? d. looks
like an angels. Do you know he gave me
last night letter TO his mother be said he |
should neye. see her again, and he told me |
to tell uer that God was with him. and that /
" en- he Was gone, not TO mourn for him, |
tor he was gong to Christ, and he would |
let hln come and watch over her ~
ii IA the enemy are cJmlng-thcY are !
com iug-they are on uS-be ready. One mo-
ment was given them to thlnk-and how
long life one can one live in lew mo
ments? IL was 4 moment, and then the
shot flew thick and fast, and suddenly the
drum ceased to beat.
The soldier to whom the boy entrusted !
the letter. went forward 70 where the boy
stood. His drum was beside him, and lean
lng on it, was the boy, his arm under his
head, as II asleep. Calm was his face, and /
radiant as If an angel was speaking to him. |
! ball had struck him IN the heart. and he |
must have died Immediately. The soldier |
lifted him amidst the smoke and din Of hat I
tie, and carried him and his drum % the |
back OF the camp. He took cut his knife I
and cut of lock of his HAIR, aud then went
buck 10 his duty.
The fight was sJon over. and the victory
complete and as the soldiers MARCHED back
70 their quarters, they marched IL silence,
for their drummer 10y was now playing
Tor he angels. Tired they laid down to
rsst, but ever and anon come the sound Of
chat music, and could It be tina; hswas play
Ing stiu-5ut the sound grew fainter ana
taintcI, aud Gled away with the bTsezo. Ile
sol4seE UJ-iInod leave to 20 aBi sc5 the
mother She had heard Of tie battle, aud
&c 4uziJusiy hoped 10 hear Of her s0n-hsT {
al. Sue knew IL vas wrong, but tie lOge I
had been growing for years, and she knew I
not lis intensity until the danger of losing /
him made her know that IN earth and heav- /
en- there was hone she loved like HIM.
The soldier went 10 see the mother. lie
could say nothing, but handed her the letter
and then placed in her hand the lock Of
hsr, and the locke;. She looked a. him,
one dozg look Of such dEesd despair, and
then she fell, utterlnG such mournful cry
Harry. For weeks ,yeas0n totiertd, then
came back lite slowly, she know her loss
she knew che was justly runishrd-and
now wakes il her the desire 10 live e. that
she may meet her boy. She knew that the
loved ones Of earth aud helven may meet in
a Savior love, and in constant communion
with Him-soon came into her soul the calm
If these who trust in Christ. She diu not
nurmrT any more-but whai her hand
found 10 do, she did l. with ali her might.
She ever wore that lccket, which was
stained with her boys blood, near heT heart.
Ii was to lie there, and bnd the place to
where she loved him.
At lust Christ came and called her. S1e
was ready, not impatient 10 go, but wiling
to be released to 20 and join her boy in sIns-
lDS praises around her Father throne.
Gently her spiIit passed away, and a. she
went, smile played On her features as she
said, - an coming H4ry,-my SAVIOUR
and he poor mother iCas a Tff.
Orr on G.s-Cas A. ba,.,,;,,.. .... - d..