THE DRUMMER BOY,

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 233, 28 February 1885, Page 8

THE DRUMMER BOY,

A TALE FOR CHILDREN

(Written for the " Observer.") There was a little drummer boy Tn tlie gallant " Forty Two," And on tlie march to London town, With martial stride so true, Step by step he marched so fine, With the strongest sergeants in the line. But this poor little drummer boy Was scarcely nine or ten — How could he keep with giant tread, Step by step with men ? And he got weary by the way, When Paddy Quinn to him did say : " Ye are a little drummer boy, Yez feet are sore I know — 'Tis twenty miles we've done to-day, An' twenty more to go ! Shure I can carry my haversack, And ye as well upon my back." And so this weary drummer boy On Paddy's neck he clung — " I'm a rale ould Irish ghitleman " From Paddy's heart was sung ; And so they marched their weary round, Until they reached fair London town. There was a gallant captain In the fighting "Forty Two," And on the march to Luekuow Many a foe ho slew ; And tlie boys looked up with pride ani joy, For he was once the drummer r_>oy. Then 'mid the shower of bullets That whistled o'er the plain, Some fell out the line of inarch, O, ne'er to rise again ! To die 'neath rays of burning sun, Alas ! poor Paddy Quinn was one ! Wounded and faint, poor Paddy lay, ilis life-blood, ebbing fast, His thoughts were of the long ago — Days of the happy past ; When, with the weight of haversack, The drummer boy clung to his back. But this poor little drummer boy Was now a captain bold, So let this lay — be what it may, Be often sung or told : He saw poor Quinn fall on the plain, Amongst the heaps of ghastly slain. So, bending low, he took his hand, And raised him from the ground — " What can I do for you my mate, To stop this cruel wound ?" Quoth Paddy — " I've an awful smart, Jest shtuff yer drum right in my heart ! For there's a hole as big as it, An' I'm not fit to die, Shure Molly an' tlie childer too, For Paddy Quinn will cry ; For who will care whin I lie low, For widow's sigh or orphans' woe ?*' But this young gallant captain He took him in his arms, Far out of reach of death and strife, The battle's fierce alarms ; And Paddy didn't die, you see, But invalided home went he. And, to his wife and children dear, This tale he oftir_j.es told — About the little drummer boy, That's now a cajjtain bold : "We carried both — I mane aich other, For one good turn deserves another." KavJ-ITSWOOI).