midnight
He would like to have gone to his lodging , but knew that it would not be permitted . In this respect the Italian fiddler is not as well off as those who ply other street trades . Newsboys and bootblacks are their own masters , and , whether their earnings are little or great , reap the benefit of them themselves . They can stop work at six if they like , or earlier ; but the little Italian musician must remain in the street till near midnight , and then , after a long and fatiguing day , he is liable to be beaten and sent to bed without his supper , unless he brings home a satisfactory sum of money . Phil walked about here and there in the lower part of the city . As he was passing a barroom he was called in by the barkeeper . `` Give us a tune , boy , '' he said .