Phil, the Fiddler

hers into trouble. He looked forward to becoming a padrone himself some time, and seemed admirably fitted by natur

the darkest shade. In fact, if the example were generally followed, it would have made a large diminution of his income, though the boys m

and the sum they were expected by the padrone to bring. As the evening advanced the cold increased, and penetrated through their

er, Giacomo?" ask

ppo-so cold and tired

e Square, near the spot where

id Phil, pityingly, "we will go in

uld li

e grateful warmth diffused itself through their frames,

ter, Giacomo?" a

I could stay here till

e shall get no mo

padro

be no worse for us. Besides they

e to-night, Filipp

posure, fatigue, and privation had been too much for his strength. He had never been robust,

Phil leaned back in his chair also, and decided to enjoy all the

om the outside cold. He was something of a philosopher, an

s from the interior of New York State, who w

d the first, "where

d we go

like to go to some

e less inclement. The most com

hat, but the evening w

, are two young musicians," indicating the littl

oy, can you play

" sai

tune, then. Is th

is my

n play

u play,

s gathered around them and listened approvingly. When they had finished Phil took off his hat and went the round

ned quite as much as they would have been likely to earn in wandering about the streets. The group that had gathered about them dispersed, a

ill it's time to go

sion incident to every large hotel. As he sat asleep, he attracted the atte

her?" he asked in

re; it is

o about t

bethinking himself to use

eems

not so str

about the str

s,

, Henry?" asked his fath

reets all day," said Henry, roguish

t tired of it. What i

lip

the name of

aco

never go

hook h

you lik

s,

ter than wandering abo

s,

k your father to s

er is in

s fathe

swered Phil, rela

. "How should you like to leave me, and go to some Ital

ould rather

nk you

e, Filippo? I think that

gged his

," he a

ime do you

elev

of your age to sit up. Why

one would

the pa

ought me from I

onately. "Yours is a hard life. I hope so

pon the stranger, grateful

you," h

said the str

ight, s

shook the sleeping form of Giacomo. The little boy stirred in his sleep, and murmured, "Madre." He had been dreaming of his m

, rubbing his eyes, and looking a

lept for two hours and mo

e must

ur violin, an

by contrast with the warm hotel they just left, and, crossing

eth chattered with the cold. A fever was approachi

mo?" asked Phil, not

ld. I feel si

e beating which his little comrade was sure to receive saddened hi

oliceman whom they passed-for he was accustomed to see boys of their class out late at night-until at last they reached th