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PHIL, THE FIDDLER

BY HORATIO ALGER, JR.

PREFACE

Among the most interesting and picturesque classes of street
children in New York are the young Italian musicians, who wander
about our streets with harps, violins, or tambourines, playing
wherever they can secure an audience.  They become Americanized
less easily than children of other nationalities, and both in
dress and outward appearance retain their foreign look, while
few, even after several years' residence, acquire even a passable
knowledge of the English language.

In undertaking, therefore, to describe this phase of street life,
I found, at the outset, unusual difficulty on account of my
inadequate information.  But I was fortunate enough to make the
acquaintance of two prominent Italian gentlemen, long resident in
New York--Mr. A. E. Cerqua, superintendent of the Italian school
at the Five Points, and through his introduction, of Mr. G. F.
Secchi de Casale, editor of the well-known Eco d'Italia--from
whom I obtained full and trustworthy information.  A series of
articles contributed by Mr. De Casale to his paper, on the
Italian street children, in whom he has long felt a patriotic 
and sympathetic interest, I have found of great service, and I
freely acknowledge that, but for the information thus acquired, I
should have been unable to write the present volume.

My readers will learn with surprise, probably, of the hard life
led by these children, and the inhuman treatment which they
receive from the speculators who buy them from their parents in
Italy.  It is not without reason that Mr. De Casale speaks of
them as the "White Slaves" of New York.  I may add, in passing,
that they are quite distinct from the Italian bootblacks and
newsboys who are to be found in Chatham Street and the vicinity
of the City Hall Park.  These last are the children of resident
Italians of the poorer class, and are much better off than the
musicians.  It is from their ranks that the Italian school,
before referred to, draws its pupils.

If the story of "Phil the Fiddler," in revealing for the first
time to the American public the hardships and ill treatment of
these wandering musicians shall excite an active sympathy in
their behalf, the author will feel abundantly repaid for his
labors.

 NEW YORK, APRIL 2, 1872.

CONTENTS 

CHAPTER                                
I.      PHIL THE FIDDLER 
II.     PHIL AND HIS PROTECTOR
III.    GIACOMO
IV.     AN INVITATION TO SUPPER
V.      ON THE FERRY BOAT
VI.     THE BARROOM
VII.    THE HOME OF THE BOYS
VIII.   A COLD DAY
IX.     PIETRO THE SPY
X.      FRENCH'S HOTEL
XI.     THE BOYS RECEPTION
XII.    GIACOMO'S PRESENTIMENTS
XIII.   PHIL FINDS A CAPITALIST
XIV.    THE TAMBOURINE GIRL
XV.     PHIL'S NEW PLANS
XVI.    THE FASHIONABLE PARTY
XVII.   THE PADRONE IS ANXIOUS  
XVIII.  PHIL ELUDES HIS PURSUER
XIX.    PIETRO'S PURSUIT
XX.     PIETRO'S DISAPPOINTMENT
XXI.    THE SIEGE
XXII.   THE SIEGE IS RAISED
XXIII.  A PITCHED BATTLE
XXIV.   THE DEATH OF GIACOMO
XXV.    PHIL FINDS A FRIEND
XXVI.   CONCLUSION

PHIL THE FIDDLER

CHAPTER I

PHIL THE FIDDLER

"Viva Garibaldi!" sang a young Italian boy in an uptown street,
accompanying himself on a violin which, from its battered
appearance, seemed to have met with hard usage.

As the young singer is to be the hero of my story, I will pause
to describe him.  He was twelve years old, but small of his age. 
His complexion was a brilliant olive, with the dark eyes peculiar
to his race, and his hair black.  In spite of the dirt, his face
was strikingly handsome, especially when lighted up by a smile,