The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-01-01
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR,
THE DoGeIN THE DRUM.


little dog named Toutou, belonging to
a French Zouave regiment of which,
though the regiment had other dogs,
he was the pet. After being stationed
in camp for time, the regiment re-
ceived orders to embark for a distant
port, and another: leave all pets be-
hind" This last command didn't
please the men at all, for they were
much attached to their canine friends,
and anybody who likes dog will
know just how they felt. Still, orders
must be obeyed, and up the gangplant
they went in single file, sharp-eyed
officer at top and bottom to see regu-
lations carried out. AS the detected
procession marched onward and up
ward to the deck of the waiting trans
port, a kind-hearted officer, thinking
to raise the spirits of the men, called
out: Fife and DRUM"
There was hesitation on the part
of the drummers for moment, but it
had to be done. They raised their
sticks. and as the flies shrilled out on
the air, those sticks descended, and
there arose sudden and expected
bowls and means that certainly never
came from instrument or human
throat. To say that the bystanders
and officers were astounded is to put it
mildly. Not a dog in sight-all had
been carefully removed beforehand
from sight of the men, for fear tempta-
ton might prove too strong to SNUG.
gle one on board, and yet the lament
atoms that accompanied the beat OF
the drums were plainly those of dogs.
Where could they be?
Halt" cried voice in authority
Each drummer stand out alone, and
beat his drum alone!"
1t was done, and from every drum
but one came the terrified protest; OF
doggy. +
"UnscreW the drumheads!" was the
next stern order. This was likewise
done, and from each drum was pulled
out small limp canine, for you all
know how strange noises annoy this
friend of man.
Speaking of this, | myself knew q
little dog once, who sat in a room
where singer was taking her lesson
OF the low and middle notes he tool
no notice whatever, but as soon as q
high note struck, Mr.. Spaniel lifted
his voice and drowned the singer, sc
that at last, much to his displeasure
he was forbidden the music room fol
good and ALL
To go on with our story, the officers
choked with laughter. The men, ii
spite of discipline, followed their ex
ample. The dogs still barked ant
howled, and there were lively times
for while. When everything quoted
down, and order was restored, sac
string of doggies was moving back tt
the camp, and as sad string of own
ers resumed the march on board. Sud
denly hand was laid on the shoulder
of the last drummer.
WAS your drum examiner"
mo, sir" answered the drummer
looking straight into the eye of his
questioner.
well, beat it now. You needn't un
screw the head. If you are SNUG
Cling dog on board, he will soon tel
on you when he gets your racket"
The drummer took up his sticks
Every eye was fastened on him as he
gave tremendous roll. Not a sound
Again and again he beat his drum
Dead silence! At last, to the relief OF
all ears around:
go on board!" was the order. "Ne
dog could stand that"
The drummer obediently went
In that very drum of his was quietly
reposing Toutou, the regiments pet
Toutou, with a dogs intuition, knew
something was wrong, and, though nc
human being will ever be able tc
fathom his feelings or the awful shoci
to his tingling nerves of the discor
dant drumsticks, the fact remains thai
he knew enough to keep quiet, mol
was his presence revealed until the
ship was safely out at sea- OF course
| nobody was going to throw him over
board, especially after the pluck he
had shown, and he had the run of the
ship. At the close of the war, the
regiment of Zouaves marched in pro
cession with others through the streets
of Paris, and at their head trotted
Toutou, unhurt, unchanged.