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a swarm of hornets attacked me。 Attaining the altitude of another bog I was cheered by the assurance that there was only a quarter of a mile of this kind of travel to the edge of my property。 I waded on。 In about fifteen minutes more； after floundering through the morass； I found myself half…drowned； hornet…stung； mud covered； and out of breath； on comparatively dry land。
〃 'Never mind； my boy；' said Edmund； 'we have only to cross this little creek； and ye'll be upon your own valuable property。'
〃We were on the margin of a stream； the banks of which were thickly covered with alders。 I now discovered the use of Edmund's axe； for he felled a small oak to form a temporary bridge to my 'Island' property。 Crossing over； I proceeded to the centre of my domain。 I saw nothing but a few stunted ivies and straggling trees。 The truth flashed upon me。 I had been the laughing…stock of the family and neighborhood for years。 My valuable 'Ivy Island' was an almost inaccessible； worthless bit of barren land； and while I stood deploring my sudden downfall； a huge black snake （one of my tenants） approached me with upraised head。 I gave one shriek and rushed for the bridge。
〃This was my first and last visit to 'Ivy Island。' My father asked me 'how I liked my property？' and I responded that I would sell it pretty cheap。〃
The year 1822 was a memorable one in his childhood's history。 He was then about twelve years old。 One evening； late in January； Daniel Brown； a cattle…drover； of Southbury； Connecticut； arrived at Bethel and stopped for the night at Philo Barnum's tavern。 He had with him some fat cattle； which he was driving to the New York markets； and he wanted both to add to his drove of cattle and to get a boy to help him drive them。 Our juvenile hero heard him say this； and forthwith made application for the job。 His father and mother gave their consent； and a bargain was quickly closed with the drover。
〃At daylight next morning；〃 Barnum himself has related； 〃I started on foot in the midst of a heavy snow…storm to help drive the cattle。 Before reaching Ridgefield I was sent on horseback after a stray ox； and； in galloping； the horse fell and my ankle was sprained。 I suffered severely； but did not complain lest my employer should send me back。 We arrived at New York in three or four days； and put up at the Bull's Head Tavern； where we were to stay a week while the drover disposed of his cattle。 It was an eventful week for me。 Before I left home my mother had given me a dollar； which I supposed would supply every want that heart could wish。〃
His first outlay was for oranges。 〃I was told；〃 he says； 〃that they were four pence apiece； and as four pence in Connecticut was six cents； I offered ten cents for two oranges； which was of course readily taken； and thus； instead of saving two cents； as I thought； I actually paid two cents more than the price demanded。 I then bought two more oranges； reducing my capital to eighty cents。 Thirty…one cents was the charge for a small gun which would 'go off' and send a stick some little distance； and this gun I bought。 Amusing myself with this toy in the bar…room of the Bull's Head； the arrow happened to hit the bar…keeper； who forthwith came from behind the counter and shook me； and soundly boxed my ears； telling me to put that gun out of the way or he would put it into the fire。 I sneaked to my room； put my treasure under the pillow； and went out for another visit to the toy shop。
〃There I invested six cents in 'torpedoes；' with which I intended to astonish my schoolmates in Bethel。 I could not refrain； however； from experimenting upon the guests of the hotel； which I did when they were going in to dinner。 I threw two of the torpedoes against the wall of the hall through which the guests were passing； and the immediate results were as follows： two loud reportsastonished guestsirate landlorddiscovery of the culprit； and summary punishmentfor the landlord immediately floored me with a single blow with his open hand； and said：
〃 'There； you little greenhorn； see if that will teach you better than to explode your infernal fire…crackers in my house again。'
〃The lesson was sufficient if not entirely satisfactory。 I deposited the balance of the torpedoes with my gun； and as a solace for my wounded feelings I again visited the toy shop； where I bought a watch； breastpin and top； leaving but eleven cents of my original dollar。
〃The following morning found me again at the fascinating toy shop； where I saw a beautiful knife with two blades； a gimlet； and a corkscrewa whole carpenter shop in miniature； and all for thirty…one cents。 But； alas！ I had only eleven cents。 Have that knife I must； however； and so I proposed to the shop…woman to take back the top and breastpin at a slight deduction； and with my eleven cents to let me have the knife。 The kind creature consented； and this makes memorable my first 'swap。' Some fine and nearly white molasses candy then caught my eye； and I proposed to trade the watch for its equivalent in candy。 The transaction was made； and the candy was so delicious that before night my gun was absorbed in the same way。 The next morning the torpedoes 'went off' in the same direction； and before night even my beloved knife was similarly exchanged。 My money and my goods all gone； I traded two pocket…handkerchiefs and an extra pair of stockings I was sure I should not want for nine more rolls of molasses candy； and then wandered about the city disconsolate； sighing because there was no more molasses candy to conquer。〃
During that first visit to the metropolis the boy doubtless many times passed the corner of Ann street and Broadway； where； in after years； his famous museum stood。 After a week in town he returned to Bethel； riding with Brown in his sleigh； and found himself a social lion among his young friends。 He was plied with a thousand questions about the great city which he had visited； and no doubt told many wondrous tales。 But at home his reception was not altogether glorious。 His brothers and sisters were disappointed because he brought them nothing； and his mother； discovering that during his journey he had lost two handkerchiefs and a pair of stockings； gave him a spanking and put him to bed。
A settled aversion to manual labor was strongly developed in the boy as he grew older； which his father considered simple laziness。 Instead of trying to cure him of his laziness； however； the father decided to give up the farm； and open a store； hoping that the boy would take more kindly to mercantile duties。 So he put up a building in Bethel； and in partnership with one Hiram Weed opened a 〃general store；〃 of dry goods； hardware； groceries； etc。； and installed young Phineas as clerk。 They did a 〃cash； credit and barter〃 business； and the boy soon learned to drive sharp bargains with women who brought butter； eggs； beeswax and feathers to exchange for dry goods； and with men who wanted to trade oats； corn； buckwheat； axehelves； hats and other commodities for ten…penny nails； molasses or New England rum。 It was a drawback upon his dignity that he was obliged to take down the shutters； sweep the store and make the fire。 He received a small salary for his services and the p