six o’clock
Should he return too early , he would be punished for losing the possible gains of the hour he had lost , even if the sum he brought home were otherwise satisfactory . So , whatever may be his fatigue , or however inclement the weather , the poor Italian boy is compelled to stay out till near midnight , before he is permitted to return to the hard pallet on which only he can sleep off his fatigues . Again in the street , Phil felt that he must make up for lost time . Now six o'clock is not a very favorable time for street music ; citizens who do business downtown have mostly gone home to dinner . Those who have not started are in haste , and little disposed to heed the appeal of the young minstrel . Later the saloons will be well frequented , and not seldom the young fiddlers may pick up a few , sometimes a considerable number of pennies , by playing at the doors of these places , or within , if they should be invited to enter ; but at six there is not much to be done . After a little reflection , Phil determined to go down to Fulton Ferry and got on board the Brooklyn steamboat .