The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-05-04
The Drummer Boy and the Queen.

| When a boy enters the army at very
early age, which sometimes happens in the
case of one who has suddenly become an
orphan, he is generally made much of by the
officers, and eventually ranks as the "pet
of the regiment" An instance of this kind
occurred in one of the regiments of the
| Guards shortly after the Crimean war. A
bright, intelligent little fellow, about nine
years of age, whose father had been killed
at the battle ofInkerman, and whose moth
er, having three younger children to attend
to, had applied to have her eldest child
taken into the regiment, was duly enlisted
to serve her Majesty the Queen, her heirs
| and successors" The boy was so small in
| stature, and yet clean and smart in his APP
pearance, that he soon became the favorite
of all, from the colonel downwards.
His usual place on returning from
field day was on the back of the colonel's
horse at the head of the battalion the
colonel himself, an Alma hero, with one
arm, walking beside the animal, and ever
and anon making some remark to amuse
the little fellow. 1t happened at this time
that the young Prince Arthur had began to
eyince taste for military life, and by
the Queens command, the drum. major of
this battalion, which was stationed at
Windsor, attended regularly at the Castle
to teach his Royal Highness the drum.
Her Majesty and the Prince Consort
were often present on these occasions land
one day, when the young Prince asked his
tutor if there were any drummers in the
Guards as small as himself (he Prince,
the drum-major informed his Royal pupil
o.. the facts relating to the little soldier
boy mentioned above. With her usual
kindness of heart, the Queen directed that
the little fellow should be brought to the
Castle on the following day. Accordingly
the morrow saw the worthy non commits
stoned officer and his tiny subordinate
the latter being as trim as brushing and
pipeclay could make him, with his fife I'M
der his arm, and his forage cap set jauntily
on the side of his head-trudging up the
Castle hill towards the residence. On
reaching the royal nursery, thay had not
long to wait before her Majesty and the
young Prince made their appearance
The drum-major and his little charge in
stautly sprang to "tention," and brought
their hands to salute; while Prince Arthur
with cry of delight, fastened forward
and begun asking his brother drummer a
thousand and one questions. The "pet Of
the regiment" was naturally shy in such
august company; but he became re-assur-
ed when the Queen, taking him kindly by
the hand, addressed few motherly re-
marks to him. Then the royal drummer
slung his drum, and calling upon the
young guardsman to play up" the latter
responded to the invitation with God Save
the Queen, the Prince joining in Justify the
while upon his we'll battered sheep
skin.
Her Majesty was greatly pleased with
the simple compliment; and on the con-
clusion of the audience, she not only pro
vided her novel guest with good lunch
con, but gave him ive-pound note for
his mother. Prince Arthur continued his
studies on the drum for several months
afterwards; and when they were conclud-
ed, the drum-major received from the
Queens hands handsome gold watch and
chain, bearing an inscription, together
with a portrait of the Prince, dressed as
drummer, with his drum slung around his
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