The Young Musician or, Fighting His Way

&quot;As for the boy,&quot; said Squire Pope, with his usual autocratic air, &quot;I shall place him in the poorhouse.&quot;<br><br>&quot;But, Benjamin,&quot; said gentle Mrs. Pope, who had a kindly and sympathetic heart, &quot;isn&#39;t that a little hard?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Hard, Almira?&quot; said the squire, arching his eyebrows. &quot;I fail to comprehend your meaning.&quot;<br><br>&quot;You know Philip has been tenderly reared, and has always had a comfortable home&mdash;&quot;<br><br>&quot;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.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I don&#39;t doubt it at all, husband,&quot; said Mrs. Pope gently. &quot;Of course you know all about it, being a public man.&quot;<br><br>Squire Pope smiled complacently. It pleased him to be spoken of as a public man.<br><br>&quot;Ahem! Well, yes, I believe I have no inconsiderable influence in town affairs,&quot; he responded. &quot;I am on the board of selectmen, and am chairman of the overseers of the poor, …