Phil, the Fiddler

  CHAPTER II

  PHIL AND HIS PROTECTOR

  To a certain extent Phil was his own master; that is, he was at libertyto wander where he liked, provided he did not neglect his business, andreturned to the lodging-house at night with the required sum of money.But woe to him if he were caught holding back any of the money for hisown use. In that case, he would be beaten, and sent to bed without hissupper, while the padrone, according to the terms of his contract withthe distant parent would withhold from the amount due the latter tentimes the sum kept by the boy. In the middle of the day he was allowedto spend three cents for bread, which was the only dinner allowed him.Of course, the boys were tempted to regale themselves more luxuriously,but they incurred a great risk in doing so. Sometimes the padronefollowed them secretly, or employed others to do so, and so was able todetect them. Besides, they traveled, in general, by twos and threes,and the system of espionage was encouraged by the padrone. So mutualdistrust was inspired, and the fear of being reported made the boyshonest.

  Phil left the house of Mr. Leigh in good spirits. Though he had earnednothing before, the fifty cents he had just received made a goodbeginning, and inspired in him the hope of getting together enough tosave him a beating, for one night at least.

  He walked down toward Sixth Avenue, and turning the corner walked downtown. At length he paused in front of a tobacconist's shop, and began toplay. But he had chosen an unfortunate time and place. The tobacconisthad just discovered a deficiency in his money account, which hesuspected to be occasioned by the dishonesty of his assistant. Inaddition to this he had risen with a headache, so that he was in adecidedly bad humor. Music had no charms for him at that moment, and heno sooner heard the first strains of Phil's violin than he rushed fromthe shop bareheaded, and dashed impetuously at the young fiddler.

  "Get away from my shop, you little vagabond!" he cried. "If I had myway, you should all be sent out of the country."

  Phil was quick to take a hint. He saw the menace in the shopkeeper'seyes, and, stopping abruptly, ran farther down the street, hugging hisfiddle, which he was afraid the angry tobacconist might seize and break.This, to him, would be an irreparable misfortune and subject him to asevere punishment, though the fault would not be his.

  Next he strolled into a side street, and began to play in front of somedwelling-houses. Two or three young children, who had been playing inthe street, gathered about him, and one of them gave him a penny. Theywere clamorous for another tune, but Phil could not afford to work fornothing, and, seeing no prospects of additional pay, took his violin,and walked away, much to the regret of his young auditors, who, thoughnot rich, were appreciative. They followed him to the end of the block,hoping that he would play again, but they were disappointed.

  Phil played two or three times more, managing to obtain in alltwenty-five cents additional. He reached the corner of Thirteenth Streetjust as the large public school, known as the Thirteenth Street School,was dismissed for its noon intermission.

  "Give us a tune, Johnny," cried Edward Eustis, one of the oldest boys.

  "Yes, a tune," joined in several others.

  This was an invitation to which Phil was always willing to respond.Besides, he knew from experience that boys were more generous, inproportion to their means, than those of larger growth, and he hoped toget enough from the crowd around him to increase his store to a dollar.

  The boys gathered around the little minstrel, who struck up an Italiantune, but without the words.

  "Sing, sing!" cried the boys.

  Phil began to sing. His clear, fresh voice produced a favorableimpression upon the boys.

  "He's a bully singer," said one. "I can't sing much better myself."

  "You sing! Your singing would be enough to scare a dozen tom cats."

  "Then we should be well matched. Look here, Johnny, can't you singsomething in English?"

  Phil, in response to this request, played and sang "Shoo Fly!" whichsuiting the boys' taste, he was called upon to repeat.

  The song being finished, Edward Eustis took off his cap, and went aroundthe circle.

  "Now, boys, you have a chance to show your liberality," he said. "I'llstart the collection with five cents."

  "That's ahead of me," said James Marcus. "Justice to a large andexpensive family will prevent me contributing anything more than twocents."

  "The smallest favors thankfully received," said Edward.

  "Then take that, and be thankful," said Tom Lane, dropping in a penny.

  "I haven't got any money," said Frank Gaylord, "but here's an apple;"and he dropped a large red apple into the cap.

  Phil; watching with interest the various contributions, was best pleasedwith the last. The money he must carry to the padrone. The apple hemight keep for himself, and it would vary agreeably his usual meagerfare.

  "The biggest contribution yet," said Edward.

  "Here, Sprague, you are liberal. What'll you give?"

  "My note at ninety days."

  "You might fail before it comes due."

  "Then take three cents. 'Tis all I have; 'I can no more, though poor theoffering be.'"

  "Oh, don't quote Shakespeare."

  "It isn't Shakespeare; it's Milton."

  "Just as much one as the other."

  "Here, Johnny," said Edward, after going the rounds, "hold your hands,and I'll pour out the money. You can retire from business now on afortune."

  Phil was accustomed to be addressed as Johnny, that being the genericname for boy in New York. He deposited the money in his pocket, and,taking his fiddle, played once more in acknowledgment of the donation.The boys now dispersed, leaving Phil to go on his way. He took out theapple with the intention of eating it, when a rude boy snatched it fromhis hand.

  "Give it back," said Phil, angrily.

  "Don't you wish you may get it?" said the other, holding it out of hisreach.

  The young musician had little chance of redress, his antagonist was ahead taller than himself, and, besides, he would not have dared lay downhis fiddle to fight, lest it might be broken.

  "Give it to me," he said, stamping his foot.

  "I mean to eat it myself," said the other, coolly. "It's too good forthe likes of you."

  "You're a thief."

  "Don't you call me names, you little Italian ragamuffin, or I'll hityou," said the other, menacingly.

  "It is my apple."

  "I'm going to eat it."

  But the speaker was mistaken. As he held the apple above his head, itwas suddenly snatched from him. He looked around angrily, and confrontedEdward Eustis, who, seeing Phil's trouble from a little distance, had atonce come to his rescue.

  "What did you do that for?" demanded the thief.

  "What did you take the boy's apple for?"

  "Because I felt like it."

  "Then I took it from you for the same reason."

  "Do you want to fight?" blustered the rowdy.

  "Not particularly."

  "Then hand me back that apple," returned the other.

  "Thank you; I shall only hand it to the rightful owner--that littleItalian boy. Are you not ashamed to rob him?"

  "Do you want to get hit?"

  "I wouldn't advise you to do it."

  The rowdy looked at the boy who confronted him. Edward was slightlysmaller, but there was a determined look in his eye which the bully,who, like those of his class generally, was a coward at heart, did notlike. He mentally decided that it would be safer not to provoke him.

  "Come here, Johnny, and take your apple," said Edward.

  Phil advanced, and received back his property with satisfaction.

  "You'd better eat it now. I'll see that he doesn't disturb you."

  Phil followed the advice of his new friend promptly. He had eatennothing since seven o'clock, and then only a piece of dry bread andcheese, and the apple, a rare luxury, he did not fail to relish. Hiswould-be robber scowled at him meanwhile, for he had promised himselfthe pleasure of dispatching the fruit. Edwar
d stood by till the applewas eaten, and then turned away. The rowdy made a movement as if tofollow Phil, but Edward quickly detected him, and came back.

  "Don't you dare touch him," he said, significantly, "or you'll have tosettle accounts with me. Do you see that policeman? I am going to askhim to have an eye on you. You'd better look out for yourself."

  The other turned at the caution, and seeing the approach of one of theMetropolitan police quickly vanished. He had a wholesome fear ofthese guardians of the public peace, and did not care to court theirattention.

  Edward turned away, but in a moment felt a hand tugging at his coat.Looking around, he saw that it was Phil.

  "Grazia, signore," said Phil, gratefully.

  "I suppose that means 'Thank you'?"

  Phil nodded.

  "All right, Johnny! I am glad I was by to save you from that bully."