This, to him, would be an
irreparable misfortune and subject him to a severe punishment,
though the fault would not be his.
Next he strolled into a side street, and began to play in front
of some dwelling-houses. Two or three young children, who had
been playing in the street, gathered about him, and one of them
gave him a penny. They were clamorous for another tune, but Phil
could not afford to work for nothing, and, seeing no prospects of
additional pay, took his violin, and walked away, much to the
regret of his young auditors, who, though not 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 all
twenty-five cents additional. He reached the corner of
Thirteenth Street just 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, in proportion to their means, than those of larger
growth, and he hoped to get enough from the crowd around him to
increase his store to a dollar.
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