The Young Musician

The Young Musician

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Alger #15 in our series by Horatio Alger
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Title: The Young Musician or Fighting His Way
Author: Horatio Alger
Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5673] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 7, 2002]
Edition: 10

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
YOUNG MUSICIAN ***

Produced by Carrie Fellman

The Young Musician
OR
Fighting His Way
BY
HORATIO ALGER
CHICAGO

CONTENTS

I. A Candidate for the Poorhouse
II. Philip at Home
III. Nick Holden's Call
IV. The Auction
V. An Alliance Against Philip
VI. "A Fuss About a Fiddle"
VII. Mr. Job Tucker
VIII. In the Enemy's Hands
IX. The Poorhouse
X. Bad Tidings
XI. Philip's New Room
XII. A Pauper's Meal
XIII. A Friendly Mission
XIV. Philip Makes His Escape
XV. Escape and Flight
XVI. A Night Adventure
XVII. A Reformed Burglar
XVIII. A Professional Engagement

XIX. New Acquaintances
XX. A Lively Evening
XXI. Fortune Smiles Again
XXII. Rival Musicians
XXIII. An Hour of Triumph
XXIV. Lorenzo Riccabocca
XXV. A Change of Name
XXVI. A Promising Plan
XXVII. Unexpected Honors
XXVIII. A Triumphant Success
XXIX. Beset by Creditors
XXX. A Timely Gift
XXXI. The Professor's Flight
XXXII. The Race Across Fields
XXXIII. The Lost Wallet
XXXIV. A New Business Proposal
XXXV. Squire Pope Is Amazed
XXXVI. The Pretended Guardian
XXXVII. His Own Master
XXXVIII. An Offer Declined
XXXIX. An Ambitious Wayfarer
XL. The Indian Hunter
XXI. An Adventure in the Woods
XLII. An Indian at Last
XLIII. A Welcome Letter
XLIV. A Fresh Start

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, Alrnira?" 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."
"I don't doubt it at all, husband," said Mrs. Pope gently. "Of course you
know all about it, being a public man."
Squire Pope smiled complacently. It pleased him to be spoken of as a
public man.
"Ahem! Well, yes, I believe I have no inconsiderable influence in town
affairs," he responded. "I am on the board of selectmen, and am
chairman of the overseers of the poor, and in that capacity I shall
convey Philip Gray to the comfortable and well-ordered institution
which the town has set apart for the relief of paupers."
"I don't like to think of Philip as a pauper," said Mrs. Pope, in a
deprecating tone.
"What else is he?" urged her husband. "His father hasn't left a cent. He
never was a good manager."
"Won't the furniture sell for something, Benjamin?"
"It will sell for about enough to pay the funeral expenses and
outstanding debts-that is all."
"But it seems so hard for a boy well brought up to go to the
poorhouse."
"You mean well, Almira, but you let your feelings run away with you.
You may depend upon it, it is the best thing for the boy. But I must
write a letter in time for the mail."
Squire Pope rose from the breakfast-table and walked out of the room
with his usual air of importance. Not even in the privacy of the
domestic circle did he forget his social and official importance.
Who was Squire Pope?
We already know that he held two important offices in the town of
Norton. He was a portly man, and especially