The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-04-11

the purpose, as he said, "0f shown
dem kids how e beat a drum fur true"
lie would come 10 the school half an
hour too early and march around the
building, beating all kinds OF weird and
stirring music from his drum. When
the school-bell rang, he'd leave the
instrument with the Fat old woman
who kept the grocery next door, but
nj recess. at noon, and IN the evening
he would reappear ready TO challenge
everybody to a drum-beatlng contest.
AS his skill waxed greater his rivals
fell away and In due time Tommy
came TO be recognized as 9TH cham
peen."
Meanwhile the fire drills became less
frequent as the children became quick
and proficient in the maneuyers calcu-
lated to maintain order and safety In
case of a FIRE. For a while weekly
drills became the rule, then fortnightly,
then monthly, until, as the warm days
came on and the fires in the furnace
were allowed to go out, the fire drills
were forgotten and dust began to ac-
| Cumulate on the class drums.
One warm May day a sudden puff
Of hot smoke swept I'm through the
north windows of the building and
threw the school into sudden panic.
A rush of cracking flames, the shouts
of people in the street, an explosion and
the sitting smell OF gasoline completed
the disorder The forgotten school fire
bell did not ring, the teachers shrieled,
the cnildren began to cry and rush for
the doors.
Tommy's room was on the top floor.
His teacher, with forty scared young
sters pellmell at her heels, was rush
ing down the steps when she and they
heard the first tap of a drum. In the
whole building it was the only one
that sounded.
Rap Tap Rap-tap-a-tap."
Slowly ut first but with increasing
speed, loud, precise and vigorous until
every frightened child in the swarm
ing Railways heard it and instinctiyely
fell into the marching order Of the al
most forgotten fire drill. 1t recalled
the scattered senses of the teachers,
and its gay tattoo of rollicking strokes
seemed to mock at the fire, which was
now roaring into the north windows
and filling the halls with smoke.
The principal and teachers and the
: awe-stricken children who first gained
the street and saw the fire department
attack the burning grocery store could
hear the wonderful volleys for minutes
after they were safe. The drummer
seemed in haste to escape, and the ex.
posed wing of the schoolhouse was all
ablaze when he, the last of all
marched out to the music Of his. OWL
making.
1t was Tommy. They all cheered
him as he arrived on the sidewalk
and the women were for kissing him
but he seemed in no mood to qui
drumming. On the contrary, his stub
born, but ambitious mind seemed ben
on a further display of his ability il
this line He acted as though it wa
= his last chance to appear to advan
S tage, and he was rubbing it in" OF
. the whole gallery Of his rivals, hi
e teachers and the principal. So h
struck a few fancy measures, and
perhaps with a furtive anticipation o
an enforced vacation, made them a
merry as drum can yield.
G Nobody ever could convince Tomm.
|. that he was a hero. But when schoo
u reopened he was permanently "clas
drummer" and nowadays even tn
e stern principal is lenient with the law
g less boy,-John H. Raftcry, in til
d Chicago Record Herald.
Y Letter Writing Ccasing.