Phil, the Fiddler

themselves by his fire, he felt only the more incensed against them on t

?" he asked. "I can't hav

said Phil. "

r, knowing how grudgingly

air, but they had got thoroughly war

o, Filippo?" aske

o New York. It is

proposed. He was not self-reliant, like our her

; but it was a bad day for business. The cold was such that no one stopped to give them anythin

ained on board for two or three trips, playing each time. In this way they obtained about thirty cents more. They would have remained lon

asked Phil, who acted as treas

ars," ans

ly one doll

Giac

aten," said the litt

afra

et no

less," he added, "we

Giacomo, startled at the

ny rate. It will be no worse

u buy so

ringly. "I am going

l the pad

ot tell th

ink he wil

o have some supper after

impressed his youthful mind. Giacomo was more timid. He had not advanced as far as Phil, nor was he as da

tion. Only a block distant was a cheap restaurant, where plates of me

o in here

away was beginning to bear fruit in his mind. He had not come to that yet, but he might. Why should he not earn money for his own benefit, as well as for the padrone? True, he was bound to the latter by a legal contract entered into by his father, bu

restaurant, and s

attired. The only requisite was money enough to defray their bills. Nevertheless Giacomo felt a little in awe even of the dirty waiters. His frugal meals were usually bought at the baker's shop, and eaten standing in the street

waiter prese

ordered?

ef," said Phil. "What

Filippo," said G

the waiter, thinking

beef, too. Will you hav

t," answered t

erage, which was only a poor imitation of coffee, and the dark fragments of meat, which might have been horseflesh so far as appearance went. But to the two Italian boys it was indeed a feast. The coffee, which was hot, warmed their stoma

laid down his knife and fork, after disp

such a supper every

I am a man,

ever be a man," said Gi

Phil, regarding h

think I sh

ink so, Giacomo?"

t weaker every day. I long so much to go back to Italy. If I c

ke most healthy boys, did not like to think of death. "You will

all, Filippo. Do yo

rememb

ix months before. He was a young bo

night, Filippo. He he

el

m going to d

tartled by what Giacomo had told him. He was ignorant, and the ignorant are pro

, Giacomo," he said. "You w

ppo. It isn't for me,

id Phil, desirous of

, and paid for both, t

ome," h

they left the restaurant, they attracted the attention of Pietro, whom chance had brought thither at an unfortunate time. His sinister face lighted up

served by Phil and Giacomo,

s here?" he asked, a

s with f

ey just

ey get

some roast be

nd he left the restaurant w

he padrone," he

eel the stic