Phil, the Fiddler

night with the required sum of money. But woe to him if he were caught holding back any of the money for his own use. In that case, he would be beaten, and sent to bed without

sly, but they incurred a great risk in doing so. Sometimes the padrone followed them secretly, or employed others to do so, and so was able to detect them. Besides, they traveled

re, the fifty cents he had just received made a good beginning, and inspired in him

acconist had just discovered a deficiency in his money account, which he suspected to be occasioned by the dishonesty of his assistant. In addition to this he had risen with a headache, so that he was in a

bond!" he cried. "If I had my way, you

own the street, hugging his fiddle, which he was afraid the angry tobacconist might seize and break. This, to hi

them gave him a penny. They were clamorous for another tune, but Phil could not afford to work for nothing, and, seeing no prospects of additional pay, took his violin, and walked away,

dditional. He reached the corner of Thirteenth Street just as the large public sch

," cried Edward Eustis,

" joined in s

perience that boys were more generous, in proportion to their means, than those of larger gr

le minstrel, who struck up an Ita

ng!" crie

, fresh voice produced a favo

said one. "I can't si

g would be enough to s

ed. Look here, Johnny, can't

and sang "Shoo Fly!" which suiting the b

ard Eustis took off his cap,

w your liberality," he said. "I'll s

ce to a large and expensive family will prevent

rs thankfully rece

thankful," said Tom La

Gaylord, "but here's an apple;" and he

d with the last. The money he must carry to the padrone. The apple he m

ontribution ye

ou are liberal. W

at nine

ail before i

all I have; 'I can no more, t

quote Sha

akespeare; i

uch one as

ds, "hold your hands, and I'll pour out the money

n his pocket, and, taking his fiddle, played once more in acknowledgment of the donation. The boys now dispersed, leavin

ck," said P

et it?" said the other, h

t was a head taller than himself, and, besides, he would not h

," he said, st

id the other, coolly. "It's t

re a

le Italian ragamuffin, or I'll hit

s my

ing to

ly snatched from him. He looked around angrily, and confronted Edward Eustis, wh

o that for?" de

take the boy

I felt

from you for t

o fight?" blus

articu

k that apple," re

he rightful owner-that little Italian

want to

advise you

determined look in his eye which the bully, who, like those of his class generally, was a c

, and take your ap

ceived back his prope

now. I'll see that he

a rare luxury, he did not fail to relish. His would-be robber scowled at him meanwhile, for he had promised himself the pleasure of dispatching the fruit. Ed

to settle accounts with me. Do you see that policeman? I am going to

Metropolitan police quickly vanished. He had a wholesome fear of these

felt a hand tugging at his coat. Loo

ore," said Ph

that means

nod

am glad I was by to sa