Part 5 (1/2)

”Anticipating a fine time on this noble 'plantation,' we started at four o'clock in thethe heat of the afternoon Towards noon we came to a small river where some men, e afterwards discovered to be down-east Yankees, fro plank had been taken up, and it was ie 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 o so far as that; we are under engageht, and we e and ill pay you handsoive theht do soladly consented, and in fifteenrascals had seen our posters and kneere coe 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-tirandbut little huts we quietly pursued our journey At one o'clock--the time e should have arrived at our destination--I beca up to a poverty-stricken hovel and seeing a ragged, bare-footed old woman, with her sleeves rolled up to her shoulders, ashi+ng clothes in front of the door, I inquired--” 'hello! can you tell me where Lady Hayes lives?'

”The old woled locks and matted hair, and exclaimed--” 'Hey?'

” 'No, Hayes, Lady Hayes; where is her plantation?'

” 'This is the place,' she answered; 'I'ht'

”We could not believe our ears or eyes; but after putting the dirty old woh a severe cross-exaned by our advertiser, agreeing for board and lodging for the coht 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 iinations in anticipation of the luxuries we should find in the rue, and Signor Vivalla laughed He had travelled with his an in Italy and could put up with any fare that offered I took the disappoint that we must make the best of it and compensate ourselves e 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 froed to cross a thinly-settled, desolate tract, known as the 'Indian Nation,' and as several persons had been erous to travel the road without an escort Only the day before we started, the ersWe ell armed, however, and trusted that our numbers would present too forh we dreaded to incur the risk Vivalla alone was fearless and was ready to encounter fifty Indians and drive thely, e had safely passed over the entire route to within fourteen er, Joe Pentland determined to test Vivalla's bravery He had secretly purchased at Mt Megs, on the way, an old Indian dress with a fringed hunting shi+rt andhis face with Spanish brown Then shouldering hisstealthily leaped into their midst with a tremendous whoop

”Vivalla's companions were in the secret, and they instantly fled in all directions Vivalla hiun in hand and yelling horribly After running a full htened nearly to death, dropped on his knees and begged for his life The 'Indian' leveled his gun at his victinified that Vivalla should turn his pockets inside out--which he did, producing and handing over a purse containing eleven dollars The savage then marched Vivalla to an oak, and with a handkerchief tied hi hiht

”Pentland then joined us, and washi+ng his face and changing his dress, we all went to the relief of Vivalla He was overjoyed to see us, and when he was released his courage returned; he swore that after his companions left him, the Indian had been re-inforced by six un or other means to defend himself, Vivalla had been compelled to surrender

We pretended to believe his story for a week, and then told him the joke, which he refused to credit, and also declined to take the money which Pentland offered to return, as it could not possibly be his since seven Indians had taken his e, but the ed to drop it altogether From that time forward, however, Vivalla never boasted of his prowess”

At the end of February, 1837, they reached Montgomery, and there Barnuht-of-hand performer He was a very clever fellow and was never known to be non-plussed or embarrassed in his tricks, except upon one occasion This hen he was perforreat success, taking egg after egg froenuine ”Now,” said he ”I will show you the old hen that laid thero boy to who ”properties,” had ht mistake The result was that Hawley trius,” but a most palpable and evident rooster The audience roared with laughter, and Hawley, co roo furious maledictions upon the boy as the author of his woe

The show visited various places in Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky, and finally disbanded at Nashville in May, 1837

Vivalla went to New York and gave so for Cuba Hawley remained in Tennessee, and Barnum went home to his family Early in July, however, he formed a new company and went back to rejoin Hawley But they were not successful, and in August they parted again, Barnu a new partnershi+p with one Z Graves He then went to Tiffin, Ohio, where he re-engaged Joe Pentland and got together the nucleus of a new coot into a discussion with various gentleious subjects, and in response to their invitation lectured, or preached, in the school-house on Sunday afternoon and evening He also went to the neighboring town of Republic and delivered two lectures

On his way back to Kentucky, just before he reached Cincinnati, he s One of the drivers ons interfered with the driving of the hogs, and Barnurily Thereupon the fellow jumped from his horse, pointed a pistol at Barnuize Barnuon, after which, he said, he would give the man full satisfaction The ”friend” proved to be a loaded double barrelled gun, which Barnu:

”Now, sir, you ize, or have your brains blown out You dreeapon upon me for a careless remark You seem to hold human life at a cheap price Now you have the choice between a load of shot and an apology”

The ized promptly, a pleasant conversation ensued, and they parted excellent friends

On this tour they exhibited at Nashville, where Barnue; at Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Vicksburg and various other places, generally doing well At Vicksburg they bought a stea at every i to exhibit At Natchez their cook deserted them, and Barnum set out to find another He found a white woo, only she expected to marry a painter in that town, and did not want to leave him Barnum went to see the painter and found that he had not fully made up his mind whether toshowman told the painter that if he wouldhe would hire hies as cook, give them both their board and add a cash bonus of 50 There was a wedding on the boat the next day, and they had a good cook and a good dinner

During one evening performance at Francisville, Louisiana, athat he had paid for adhtly intoxicated, he struck Barnu what phrenologists call ”the organ of caution” He went away and soon returned with a gang of armed and half-drunken companions, who ordered the showet on board their stea tent speedily came down No one was permitted to help, but the company worked with a will, and within five minutes of the expiration of the hour they were on board and ready to leave The scamps who had caused their departure escorted the pine torches, and saluted the into the stream

The New Orleans papers of March 19th, 1838, announced the arrival of the ”Steamer Ceres, Captain Barnum, with a theatrical company” After a week's performance, they started for the Attakapas country At Opelousas they exchanged the steaar and molasses; the co in New York June 4th, 1838

CHAPTER VII HARD TIMES

ADVERTISING FOR A PARTNER--”QUAKER OATS”--DIAMOND THE DANCER--A DISHONEST MANAGER--RETURN TO NEW YORK--FROM HAND TO MOUTH--THE AMERICAN MUSEUM