[Phil the Fiddler by Horatio Alger Jr.]@TWC D-Link book
Phil the Fiddler

CHAPTER X
7/10

Fatigue and the warmth of the room gradually affected Giacomo until he leaned back and fell asleep.
"I won't take him till it's time to go back," thought Phil.
So Giacomo slept on, despite the noises in the street outside and the confusion incident to every large hotel.

As he sat asleep, he attracted the attention of a stout gentleman who was passing, leading by the hand a boy of ten.
"Is that your brother ?" he asked in a low tone of Phil.
"No, signore; it is my comrade." "So you go about together ?" "Yes, sir," answered Phil, bethinking himself to use English instead of Italian.
"He seems tired." "Yes; he is not so strong as I am." "Do you play about the streets all day ?" "Yes, sir." "How would you like that, Henry ?" asked his father to the boy at his side.
"I should like to play about the streets all day," said Henry, roguishly, misinterpreting the word "play." "I think you would get tired of it.

What is your name, my boy ?" "Filippo." "And what is the name of your friend ?" "Giacomo." "Did you never go to school ?" Phil shook his head.
"Would you like to go ?" "Yes, sir." "You would like it better than wandering about the streets all day ?" "Yes, sir." "Why do you not ask your father to send you to school ?" "My father is in Italy." "And his father, also ?" "Si, signore," answered Phil, relapsing into Italian.
"What do you think of that, Henry ?" asked the gentleman.

"How should you like to leave me, and go to some Italian city to roam about all day, playing on the violin ?" "I think I would rather go to school." "I think you would." "Are you often out so late, Filippo?
I think that is the name you gave me." Phil shrugged his shoulders "Always," he answered.
"At what time do you go home ?" "At eleven." "It is too late for a boy of your age to sit up.

Why do you not go home sooner ?" "The padrone would beat me." "Who is the padrone ?" "The man who brought me from Italy to America." "Poor boys!" said the gentleman, compassionately.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books