Again in the street, Phil felt that he must make up for lost
time. Now six o'clock is not a very favorable time for street
music; citizens who do business downtown have mostly gone home to
dinner. Those who have not started are in haste, and little
disposed to heed the appeal of the young minstrel. Later the
saloons will be well frequented, and not seldom the young
fiddlers may pick up a few, sometimes a considerable number of
pennies, by playing at the doors of these places, or within, if
they should be invited to enter; but at six there is not much to
be done.
After a little reflection, Phil determined to go down to Fulton
Ferry and got on board the Brooklyn steamboat. He might get a
chance to play to the passengers, and some, no doubt, would give
him something. At any rate, the investment would be small, since
for one fare, or two cents, he might ride back and forward
several times, as long as he did not step off the boat. He,
therefore, directed his steps toward the ferry, and arrived just
in time to go on board the boat.
The boat was very full. So large a number of the people in
Brooklyn are drawn to New York by business and pleasure, that the
boats, particularly in the morning from seven to nine, and in the
afternoon, from five to seven, go loaded down with foot
passengers and carriages.
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