Phil, the Fiddler

he padrone was occupied in receiving their several contributions. The apartment was a mean one, miserably furnished, but seemed befitting the principal occupant, whose dark face was marked by an ex

as the two

said, harshly, "ho

were up to the required limit, but t

u have?" he ask

all, si

oon, then. When I met you at twelve

good signora gav

g his hands into Phil's pockets, but i

and stockings," he sa

ese poor boys, beset by a natural temptation, secrete a portion of their daily earnings. Whenever they are detected, woe betid

, he took Phil's violin,

r you,"

deficient, knowing that he was less enterprising than Phil. He was glad to get more money than he expected, but a little disappointed that

well to-morrow," he said

as we know, had eaten a good supper at Mrs. Hoffman's, felt very little appetite. He slyly gave his bread to one of the boys, who, on account of the small sum he brought home, had been sentenced to go wit

your bread to Gius

not hungry,"

hungry? Did you

sig

should b

y gave me s

id it

o. He asked me to go home with hi

some more money," said the padrone, who, with characteristic meanness

ot long,

ven you, but you must n

hat he did not anticipate a good reception. The padrone,

e said, sharply, "w

id Ludovico, producin

d not h

he padrone, indignantly. "You ha

did my best. The people

did y

in Br

pent some o

pad

then. No supper to-ni

s an efficient assistant of the latter, and co-operated with him in oppressing the other boys. Indeed, he was a nephew of the padrone's, and for this reason, as well as his similarity of disposition, he was tre

ommand of the padrone, and produced a s

r jacket," said th

me! It was not my fault," said t

et!" repeated the p

even if he had not witnessed the punishment so often

ietro," said

ghly. Then he drew off the ragged shirt which the boy

him, P

e padrone whirled the stick aloft, and brought it down

implored mercy, but in vain, for

thers who felt a passive sympathy for their unlucky comrade. Others were filled with indignation at the padrone, knowing how cruel and unjust were his exactions. Among these was Phil. P

t, "I would wrench the stick from his h

flected in his face. It would only bring upon him a share of the same puni

tment daily, on account of the greed of one man. The hours that should been given in part to instruction, and partly to such recreation as the youthful heart craves, were devoted to a pursuit that did nothing to prepare them for the duties of life. And this white slavery-for it merits no better name-is permitted

which were poor enough. This, however, was the least of their troubles. Sound are the slumbers of young however har