"‘No, doctor, I'd sooner die,' replied the Colonel.
"The doctor laughed, and had the hot rum prepared.
"‘Drink!' said he.
"‘I cannot,' replied the Colonel, 'I promised Horace.'
"‘Drink or die,' repeated the doctor, holding out the rum.
"The Colonel feebly shook his head—and died"
"Nat'rally!" commented Bobball. "Serve 'im right.
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Perfect," said the President, and turned with relief and hope to Bobball.
"Now you tell us one, darling Bobball," she besought.
"Well, Missy," replied Bobball, producing a tin tobacco box and a cutty clay. "I ain't wot you might call a thorough-paced uncorrigible story-teller—like Mrs. Puffick, but has it so 'appens, I also knows a little story about a drummer-boy likewise. But 'is name weren't
