Horatio Alger 
The Young Musician or, Fighting His Way 

‚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.“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, …