THE YOUNG MUSICIAN or FIGHTING HIS WAY

CHAPTER I. A CANDIDATE FOR THE POORHOUSE.

"As for the boy," said Squire Pope, with his usual autocratic air, "I shall place him in the poorhouse."

"But, Benjamin," said gentle Mrs. Pope, who had a kindly and sympathetic heart, "isn't that a little hard?"

"Hard, Almira?" said the squire, arching his eyebrows. "I fail to comprehend your meaning."

"You know Philip has been tenderly reared, and has always had a comfortable home—"

"He will have a comfortable home now, Mrs. Pope. Probably you are not aware that it cost the town two thousand dollars last year to maintain the almshouse. I can show you the item in the town report."