saidthemother;andshekissedtheshininglocks,anditsoundedlikemusicandsongintheroomofthedrummer;andtherewasjoy,andlife,anddrummerbeataroll-arollofjoy.andthedrumsaid-thefire-drum,thatwasbeatenwhentherewasafireinthetown:

"redhair!thelittlefellowhasredhair!believethedrum,andnotwhatyourmothersays!rub-adub,rub-adub!"

andthetownrepeatedwhatthefire-drumhadsaid.

theboywastakentochurch,theboywaschristened.therewasnothingmuchtobesaidabouthisname;hewascalledpeter.thewholetown,andthedrumtoo,calledhimpeterthedrummer'sboywiththeredhair;buthismotherkissedhisredhair,andcalledhimhergoldentreasure.

inthehollowwayintheclayeybank,manyhadscratchedtheirnamesasaremembrance.

"celebrityisalwayssomething!"saidthedrummer;andsohescratchedhisownnamethere,andhislittleson'snamelikewise.

andtheswallowscame.theyhad,ontheirlongjourney,seenmoredurablecharactersengravenonrocks,andonthewallsofthetemplesinhindostan,mightydeedsofgreatkings,immortalnames,sooldthatnoonenowcouldreadorspeakthem.remarkablecelebrity!

intheclayeybankthemartensbuilttheirnest.theyboredholesinthedeepdeclivity,andthesplashingrainandthethinmistcameandcrumbledandwashedthenamesaway,andthedrummer'snamealso,andthatofhislittleson.

"peter'snamewilllastafullyearandahalflonger!"saidthefather.

"fool!"thoughtthefire-drum;butitonlysaid,"dub,dub,dub,rub-a-dub!"

hewasaboyfulloflifeandgladness,thisdrummer'ssonwiththeredhair.hehadalovelyvoice.hecouldsing,andhesanglikeabirdinthewoodland.therewasmelody,andyetnomelody.

"hemustbecomeachoristerboy,"saidhismother."heshallsinginthechurch,andstandamongthebeautifulgildedangelswhoarelikehim!"

"fierycat!"saidsomeofthewittyonesofthetown.