The Boy Who Would Not Drink

[…] You have been on duty all day, beating the drum and marching, and now you must not refuse. I insist upon it." But still the boy stood firm, and held fast to his integrity. The captain then turned to the major and said, "Our little drummer boy is afraid to drink. He will never make a soldier."

"How is this?" said the major in a playful manner. "Do you refuse to obey the orders of your captain?"

"Sir," said the boy, "I have never refused to obey the captain's orders, and have tried to do my duty as a soldier faithfully, but I must refuse to drink rum, because I know it will do me an injury."

"Then," said the major, in a stern tone of voice, in order to test his sincerity, "I command you to take a drink, and you know it is death to disobey orders."

The little hero, fixing his clear, blue eye on the face of the officer, said, "Sir, my father died a drunkard; and when I entered the army, I promised my dear mother that I would not take a drop of rum, and I mean to keep my promise. I am sorry to disobey orders, sir; but I would rather suffer anything than disgrace my mother and break my temperance pledge." Was not that boy a hero?

The officers approved the conduct of that noble boy, and told him that so long as he kept that pledge, and performed his duty faithfully as a soldier, he might expect regard and protection.