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n of living and dying a loafer and a vagabond； to the single fact that I was never addicted to strong drink。 To be sure； I have in times past drank liquor； but I have generally wholly abstained from intoxicating beverages； and for many years； I am glad to say； I have been a strict 'teetotaller。' 〃
At Camden； Barnum also lost one of his musicians； a Scotchman named Cochran。 This man was arrested and； in spite of Barnum's efforts to save him； imprisoned for many months for advising a negro barber who was shaving him to run away to the Free States or to Canada。 To fill up his ranks Barnum now hired Bob White； a negro singer； and Joe Pentland； a clown； ventriloquist； comic singer； juggler； and sleight…of…hand performer； and also bought four horses and two wagons。 He called this enlarged show 〃Barnum's Grand Scientific and Musical Theatre。〃
At Raleigh； North Carolina； Barnum had sold a half interest in his show to a man called Henry；not his real name。 The latter now acted as treasurer and ticket taker。 When they reached Augusta； Georgia； the Sheriff served a writ upon Henry for a debt of 500。 As Henry had 600 of the Company's money in his pockets； Barnum at once secured a bill of sale of all his property in the exhibition。 Armed with this he met Henry's creditor and his lawyer； who demanded the key of the stable； so that they might levy on the horses and wagons。 Barnum asked them to wait a little while until he could see Henry； to which they agreed。 Henry was anxious to cheat his creditor； and accordingly was glad to sign the bill of sale。 Then Barnum returned and told the creditor and his lawyer that Henry would neither pay nor compromise the claim。 The Sheriff thereupon demanded the stable key； so that he might attach Henry's share of the property。 〃Not yet；〃 said Barnum； pulling out the bill of sale； 〃I am in possession as entire owner of this property。 I have already purchased it； and you have not yet levied on it。 You will touch my property at your peril。〃
The creditor and the sheriff were thus baffled； but they immediately arrested Henry and took him to prison。 The next day Barnum learned that Henry really owed 1；300； and that he had promised his creditor that he would pay him 500 of the company's money and a bill of sale of his interest in the show at the end of the Saturday night performance； in consideration of which the creditor was to allow him to take one of the horses and run away； leaving Barnum in the lurch。 Learning this； Barnum was not disposed to help Henry any further。 Finding that Henry had intrusted the 500 to Vivalla； to keep it from the sheriff； Barnum secured it from Vivalla on Henry's order； under pretense of securing bail for the prisoner。 Then he paid the creditor the full amount obtained from Henry as the price of his half…interest and received in return an assignment of 500 of the creditor's claim and a guarantee that he should not be troubled by Henry for it。 Thus his own promptness rescued Barnum from one of the most unpleasant situations in which he was ever placed。
After this they got into one of the most desolate parts of Georgia。 One night their advance agent； finding it impossible to reach the next town； arranged for the whole show to spend the night at a miserable and solitary hovel owned by an old woman named Hayes。 The horses were to be picketed in a field； and the company were to sleep in the tent and the out houses。 Posters were scattered over the country； announcing that a performance would be given there the next day； the agent thinking that； as a show was a rarity in that region； a considerable number of small farmers would be glad to attend。
〃Meanwhile；〃 says Barnum； 〃our advertiser； who was quite a wag； wrote back informing us of the difficulty of reaching a town on that part of our route； and stating that he had made arrangements for us to stay over night on the plantation of 'Lady Hayes；' and that although the country was sparsely settled； we could doubtless give a profitable performance to a fair audience。
〃Anticipating a fine time on this noble 'plantation；' we started at four o'clock in the morning so as to arrive at one o'clock； thus avoiding the heat of the afternoon。 Towards noon we came to a small river where some men； whom we afterwards discovered to be down…east Yankees； from Maine； were repairing a bridge。 Every flooring plank had been taken up； and it was impossible for our teams to cross。 'Could the bridge be fixed so that we could go over？' I inquired。 'No； it would take half a day； and meantime； if we must cross； there was a place about sixteen miles down the river where we could get over。 'But we can't go so far as that； we are under engagement to perform on Lady Hayes's place to…night； and we must cross here。 Fix the bridge and we will pay you handsomely。'
〃They wanted no money； but if we would give them some tickets to our show they thought they might do something for us。 I gladly consented； and in fifteen minutes we crossed that bridge。 The cunning rascals had seen our posters and knew we were coming； so they had taken up the planks of the bridge and had hidden them till they had levied upon us for tickets； when the floor was re…laid in a quarter of an hour。
〃Towards dinner…time we began to look out for the grand mansion of 'Lady Hayes；' and seeing nothing but little huts we quietly pursued our journey。 At one o'clockthe time when we should have arrived at our destinationI became impatient； and riding up to a poverty…stricken hovel and seeing a ragged； bare…footed old woman； with her sleeves rolled up to her shoulders； who was washing clothes in front of the door； I inquired〃 'Hello！ can you tell me where Lady Hayes lives？'
〃The old woman raised her head； which was covered with tangled locks and matted hair； and exclaimed〃 'Hey？'
〃 'No； Hayes； Lady Hayes； where is her plantation？'
〃 'This is the place；' she answered； 'I'm Widder Hayes； and you are all to stay here to…night。'
〃We could not believe our ears or eyes； but after putting the dirty old woman through a severe cross…examination she finally produced a contract； signed by our advertiser； agreeing for board and lodging for the company； and we found ourselves booked for the night。 It appeared that our advertiser could find no better quarters in that forlorn section； and he had indulged in a joke at our expense by exciting our appetites and imaginations in anticipation of the luxuries we should find in the magnificent mansion of 'Lady Hayes。'
〃Joe Pentland grumbled； Bob White indulged in some very strong language； and Signor Vivalla laughed。 He had travelled with his monkey and organ in Italy and could put up with any fare that offered。 I took the disappointment philosophically； simply remarking that we must make the best of it and compensate ourselves when we reached a town next day。
〃The next forenoon we arrived at Macon； and congratulated ourselves that we had reached the regions of civilization。
〃In going from Columbus； Ga。； to Montgomery； Ala。； we were obliged to cross a thinly…settled； desolate tract； known as the 'Indian Nation；' and as several persons had been murdered by hostile Indians in that region； it was deemed dangerous to travel the road without an esc