ONE FOR THE COLONEL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1520, 19 February 1886, Page 3

ONE FOR THE COLONEL.

Among the stories told at the reunion of an American regiment the other day was the following good one. We will not name tbe regiment, for this is a " true fact," and the officer who profited by overlooking a breach

of discipline might object to seeing his name connected with the affair. One of the drummers, while the regiment was on the move, had a penchant for I foraging on his own account, and the chickens had to roost high to escape his far-reaching hands. Whenever night overtook them this drummer had a good supper provided for himself. On one occasion he had raked in a couple of turkeys and had put them into his drum for convenience of carrying. When the regiment was halted for the nigbt the colonel immediately ordered dress parade, and the drummers were expected to beat up. The forager made his drumsticks go, but the quick-eyed colonel noticed that he was not drumming. "Adjutant," said the colonel, "that man isn't drumming. Why ain't he drumming ?" The adjutant stepped up to him, saying, " Why ain't you drumming?" "Because, said the quickwitted drummer, u I have got two turkeys in my drum, and one of 'em is for the colonel The adjutant went back, and the colonel asked, " What is it P' 11 Why, he says he has got two turkeys in his drum, and one of 'em is for the colonel." Up to this point the conversation had been carried on sotto voce., but when the adjutant reported, the colonel raised his voice so that all could hear, " What! Sick is he 1 Why didn't he say so before ? Send him to his tent at once."