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It was evening。 Over the battle…field a rainbow spread； whichtouched the forest and the deep marsh。
It has been said； and is preserved in popular belief； that wherethe rainbow touches the earth a treasure lies buried； a goldentreasure； and here there was one。 No one but his mother thought of thelittle drummer； and therefore she dreamt of him。
And the days went by； in life as in dreams！
Not a hair of his head had been hurt； not a golden hair。
〃Drum…ma…rum！ drum…ma…rum！ there he is！〃 the Drum might have said；and his mother might have sung； if she had seen or dreamt it。
With hurrah and song； adorned with green wreaths of victory；they came home； as the war was at an end； and peace had been signed。The dog of the regiment sprang on in front with large bounds； and madethe way three times as long for himself as it really was。
And days and weeks went by； and Peter came into his parents' room。He was as brown as a wild man； and his eyes were bright； and hisface beamed like sunshine。 And his mother held him in her arms； shekissed his lips； his forehead； and his red hair。 She had her boyback again； he had not a silver cross on his breast； as his father haddreamt； but he had sound limbs； a thing the mother had not dreamt。 Andwhat a rejoicing was there！ They laughed and they wept； and Peterembraced the old Fire…drum。
〃There stands the old skeleton still！〃 he said。
And the father beat a roll upon it。
〃One would think that a great fire had broken out here；〃 saidthe Fire…drum。 〃Bright day！ fire in the heart！ golden treasure！ skrat！skr…r…at！ skr…r…r…r…at！〃
And what then？ What then！… Ask the town musician。
〃Peter's far outgrowing the drum；〃 he said。 〃Peter will be greaterthan I。〃
And yet he was the son of a royal plate…washer； but all that hehad learned in half a lifetime； Peter learned in half a year。
There was something so merry about him； something so trulykind…hearted。 His eyes gleamed； and his hair gleamed too… there was nodenying that！
〃He ought to have his hair dyed；〃 said the neighbor's wife。〃That answered capitally with the policeman's daughter； and she gota husband。〃
〃But her hair turned as green as duckweed； and was always havingto be colored up。〃
〃She knows how to manage for herself；〃 said the neighbors； 〃and socan Peter。 He es to the most genteel houses； even to theburgomaster's where he gives Miss Charlotte piano…forte lessons。〃
He could play！ He could play； fresh out of his heart； the mostcharming pieces； that had never been put upon music…paper。 He playedin the bright nights； and in the dark nights； too。 The neighborsdeclared it was unbearable； and the Fire…drum was of the same opinion。
He played until his thoughts soared up； and burst forth in greatplans for the future：
〃To be famous！〃
And burgomaster's Charlotte sat at the piano。 Her delicate fingersdanced over the keys； and made them ring into Peter's heart。 It seemedtoo much for him to bear； and this happened not once； but manytimes； and at last one day he seized the delicate fingers and thewhite hand； and kissed it； and looked into her great brown eyes。Heaven knows what he said； but we may be allowed to guess at it。Charlotte blushed to guess at it。 She reddened from brow to neck；and answered not a single word； and then strangers came into the room；and one of them was the state councillor's son。 He had a lofty whiteforehead； and carried it so high that it seemed to go back into hisneck。 And Peter sat by her a long time； and she looked at him withgentle eyes。
At home that evening he spoke of travel in the wide world； andof the golden treasure that lay hidden for him in his violin。
〃To be famous！〃
〃Tum…me…lum； tum…me…lum； tum…me…lum！〃 said the Fire…drum。 〃Peterhas gone clear out of his wits。 I think there must be a fire in thehouse。〃
Next day the mother went to market。
〃Shall I tell you news； Peter？〃 she asked when she came home。 〃Acapital piece of news。 Burgomaster's Charlotte has engaged herselfto the state councillor's son； the betrothal took place yesterdayevening。〃
〃No！〃 cried Peter； and he sprang up from his chair。 But his motherpersisted in saying 〃Yes。〃 She had heard it from the baker's wife；whose husband had it from the burgomaster's own mouth
And Peter became as pale as death； and sat down again。
〃Good Heaven！ what's the matter with you？〃 asked his mother。
〃Nothing； nothing； only leave me to myself；〃 he answered but thetears were running down his cheeks。
〃My sweet child； my golden treasure！〃 cried the mother； and shewept； but the Fire…drum sang； not out loud； but inwardly。
〃Charlotte's gone！ Charlotte's gone！ and now the song is done。〃
But the song was not done； there were many more verses in it； longverses； the most beautiful verses； the golden treasures of a life。
〃She behaves like a mad woman；〃 said the neighbor's wife。 〃All theworld is to see the letters she gets from her golden treasure； andto read the words that are written in the papers about his violinplaying。 And he sends her money too； and that's very useful to hersince she has been a widow。〃
〃He plays before emperors and kings；〃 said the town musician。 〃Inever had that fortune； but he's my pupil； and he does not forgethis old master。〃
And his mother said；
〃His father dreamt that Peter came home from the war with a silvercross。 He did not gain one in the war； but it is still moredifficult to gain one in this way。 Now he has the cross of honor。 Ifhis father had only lived to see it！〃
〃He's grown famous！〃 said the Fire…drum； and all his native townsaid the same thing； for the drummer's son； Peter with the red hair…Peter whom they had known as a little boy； running about in woodenshoes； and then as a drummer； playing for the dancers… was beefamous！
〃He played at our house before he played in the presence ofkings；〃 said the burgomaster's wife。 〃At that time he was quitesmitten with Charlotte。 He was always of an aspiring turn。 At thattime he was saucy and an enthusiast。 My husband laughed when heheard of the foolish affair； and now our Charlotte is a statecouncillor's wife。〃
A golden treasure had been hidden in the heart and soul of thepoor child； who had beaten the roll as a drummer… a roll of victoryfor those who had been ready to retreat。 There was a golden treasurein his bosom； the power of sound； it burst forth on his violin as ifthe instrument had been a plete organ； and as if all the elves of amidsummer night were dancing across the strings。 In its sounds wereheard the piping of the thrush and the full clear note of the humanvoice； therefore the sound brought rapture to every heart； and carriedhis name triumphant through the land。 That was a great firebrand…the firebrand of inspiration。
〃And then he looks so splendid！〃 said the young ladies and the oldladies too； and the oldest of all procured an album for famous locksof hair； wholly and solely that she might beg a lock of his richsplendid hair； that treasure； that golden treasure。
And the son came into the poor room of the drummer； elegant as aprince； happier than a king。 His eyes were as clear and his face wasas radiant as sunshine； and he held his mother in his arms； and shekissed his mouth； and wept as blissfully as any one can weep forjoy； and he nodded at every old piece of furniture in the room； at thecupboard with the tea…cups； and at the flower…vase。 He nodded at thesleeping…bench； where he had slept as a little boy； but the oldFire…drum he brought out； and dragged it into the middle of theroom； and said to it and to his mother：
〃My father would have beaten a famous roll this evening。 Now Imust do it！〃
And he beat a thundering roll…call on the instrument； and the Drumfelt so highly honored that the parchment burst with exultation。
〃He has a splendid touch！〃 said the Drum。 〃I've a remembrance ofhim now that will last。 I expect that the same thing will happen tohis mother； from pure joy over her golden treasure。〃
And this is the story of the Golden Treasure。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE GOLOSHES OF FORTUNE
by Hans Christian Andersen
A BEGINNING
IN a house in Copenhagen； not far from the king's new market； avery large party had assembled； the host and his family expecti