The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-09-09

command Forward" and at the nead OF
the regiment to which he belonged Little
Drumsticks walked. beating with hands
half frozen one of the most inspiring tunes
of France.
On the March.
Higher and higher went the long lines
of the French army. They wound In and
out of the peaks like monster snake, the
men dragging the artillery. while the bugles
rang out to let one part of the army know
where the other part was.
Think of an army of men crossing I'm mid
winter a mountain which is almost 1000
feet high, and think. too. that among them
was a little boy whose duty Ii was TO beat
the drum as the cold winds whistled down
the defiles. and cutting snowiiakes fell
against his cheeks.
Every now and then an avalanche. start
ing from some dizzy height. would come
rolling down the mountain. gathering force
as il went on, and striking n group of
men. IL would sweep them on and on until
they would be buried out of sight In some
bottomless abyss.
More than one man would have given up
the struggle If II had not been for the stir
ring tunes which Little DrumsticlSs played
during that awful march. Some of the
men tore up their gloves and made him
warm pair, and others took their clOaks
from their backs in order that he should
have sufficient covering for his little Shout
ders.
Struck by an Avalanche.
One day. as Little Drumstcks had wan
dered some distance from the hating spot.
hoping to look down into the valley where
their long march was to end, he heard IA
strange sound overhead, and when he look
ed up he saw a great mass of snow de-
scendng with marvellous swiftness.
lie sprang to one side, hoping that It
would pass over him and leave him un-
4. INIT no, mi no.
dashed against him. and he was lifted from
his feet and hurled down with the white
enemy.
The drummer boy knew nothing more
until he crawled from snow drift in the
depths of a great crevice in the rough
mountain and saw that the stars We're out,
spangling the sky with brilliant iciness
which he had never seen in the valley of
the Loire.
He listened. but could hear no sound.
lie thought that perhaps the army, missing
him. might fire guns to let him know that
his comrades were hunting for him: but
the night wind brought no such comfort
ing noises to his ears.
lie found that his drum had not been
lost in the descent in the avalanche, but
the drum sticks We're missing, and he
started out to hunt them.
Fortune seemed to guide the old mar
shaIs drummer. for he found the sticks IN
the snow, and then sudden thrill OF hope
took possession Of his heart.
The walls of the pass We're too high for
him to see over them. Indeed, they Seem
ed almost as high as the stars were. but
this did not deter him from the idea he
had in mind.
He stepped into the middle of the chasm
and began to play a tune. The music had
a weird sound 50 far below the lofty peaks
of the Spulgen, and the echoes were en-
trancing beyond description.
Again and again the little drummer of
the grand army ratified the sticks. the
effort seemed to warm his blood. and he
PLAYED all the tunes old Barbadan hau
Taught him and some he had picked up
from other drummers in the army.
AS hours passed on and he heard no
Responsive sounds. nc began 30 fear tht-
ne yyas destined to perish there, as ne now
believed that the army. marching uhder
impcrative orders. had abandoned nm 10
his fate.
Star after star sank behind certain parts
of the mountain. and Little DrumsllchS
played over the tunes he had played before,
putting into each all his strength and
bopinr that the drum would convey To
some one his forlorn situation.
What had become of his comrades?
Seeking Drumsticks.
When the short halt was over ard the
command had resumed its toiisome match
he was not missed for some time
Those who thought of him. old Barbadah
among the rest, supposed that he was back
among the wagons. and it was not until
night was near at hand that a search re
vealed that Little Drumsticks was really
missing.
old Harbadan was beside himself with
grief lie ran to the colonel and told his
fears and that officer. who had taken