按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
pointed hour； she saw him coming。 〃Ah； here he comes！ here he comes！〃 she exclaimed in delight； as she ran down stairs and opened the door to admit him。 A negro boy was bringing the small spinning…wheel； while Vivalla led the dog。 Handing the boy a silver coin； she motioned him away； and taking the wheel in her arms； she said； 〃This is very kind of you to come with your dog。 Follow me。 I will carry the wheel up stairs。〃 Her servant offered to take the wheel； but no； she would let no one carry it but herself。 She called the whole party to her parlor； and for one full hour did she devote herself to the happy Italian。 She went down on her knees to pet the dog and to ask Vivalla all sorts of questions about his performances； his former course of life； his friends in Italy； and his present hopes and determinations。 Then she sang and played for him； gave him some refreshments； finally insisted on carrying his wheel to the door； and her servant accompanied Vivalla to his boarding…house。
Poor Vivalla！ He was probably never so happy before； but his enjoyment did not exceed that of Miss Lind。 A few months later； however； the Havana correspondent of the New York Herald announced the death of Vivalla； and stated that the poor Italian's last words were about Jenny Lind and Mr。 Barnum。
In the party which accompanied Barnum to Havana was a man who had formerly kept the Peale Museum in New York； afterwards managing the establishment for Mr。 Barnum。 At present he was acting as ticket…taker。
He was a curious fellow； at times full of fun and gayety and at other times melancholy to the verge of insanity。 Madness ran in his family； and one of his brothers； in a moment of frenzy had blown his brains out。 Barnum knew of Bennett's tendency to melancholy and watched him constantly。 When they were on board the steamer 〃Falcon〃 on their way back to New Orleans； a thrilling incident occurred which Barnum afterwards related in this way：
Mr。 James Gordon Bennett； editor of the New York Herald； and his wife； were also passengers。 After permitting one favorable notice in his paper； Bennett had turned around； as usual； and had abused Jenny Lind and bitterly attacked me。 I was always glad to get such notices； for they served as inexpensive advertisements to my museum。
〃Ticket…taker Bennett； however； took much to heart the attacks of Editor Bennett upon Jenny Lind。 When Editor Bennett came on board the 'Falcon；' his violent name…sake said to a by…stander：
〃 'I would willingly be drowned if I could see that old scoundrel go to the bottom of the sea。'
〃Several of our party overheard the remark and I turned laughingly to Bennett and said： Nonsense； he can't harm any one； and there is an old proverb about the impossibility of drowning those who are born for another fate。'
〃That very night； however； as I stood near the cabin door； conversing with my treasurer and other members of my company； Henry Bennett came up to me with a wild air； and hoarsely whispered：
〃 'Old Bennett has gone forward alone in the darkand I am going to throw him overboard！'
〃We were all startled； for we knew the man； and he seemed terribly in earnest。 Knowing how most effectively to address him at such times； I exclaimed：
〃 'Ridiculous！ you would not do such a thing。'
〃 'I swear I will；' was his savage reply。 I expostulated with him； and several of our party joined me。
〃 'Nobody will know it；' muttered the maniac； 'and I shall be doing the world a favor。'
〃I endeavored to awaken him to a sense of the crime he contemplated； assuring him that it could not possibly benefit any one； and that from the fact of the relations existing between the editor and myself； I should be the first to be accused of his murder。 I implored him to go to his stateroom； and he finally did so； accompanied by some of the gentlemen of our party。 I took pains to see that he was carefully watched that night； and； indeed； for several days； till he became calm again。 He was a large； athletic man； quite able to pick up his name…sake and drop him overboard。 The matter was too serious for a joke； and we made little mention of it； but more than one of our party said then； and has said since； what I really believe to be true； that 'James Gordon Bennett would have been drowned that night had it not been for P。 T。 Barnum。' 〃
Bennett's end was tragic； as might be expected。 Sometime after the Havana journey Barnum sent him to London。 He conducted the business successfully； wrote up the accounts to a penny； then handing the papers to a mutual friend with directions to give them to Barnum when he should arrive； he went to his lodgings and committed suicide。
〃In New Orleans the wharf was crowded by a great concourse of persons； as the steamer 〃Falcon〃 approached。 Jenny Lind had enjoyed a month of quiet； and dreaded the excitement which she must now again encounter。
〃Mr Barnum； I am sure I can never get through that crowd；〃 she said in despair。
〃Leave that to me。 Remain quiet for ten minutes； and there shall be no crowd here；〃 replied Barnum。
Taking his daughter on his arm； she drew her vail over her face and they descended the gangway。
〃That's Barnum； I know him；〃 called out several persons at the top of their voices。
〃Open the way； if you please for Mr。 Barnum and Miss Lind！〃 cried Le Grand Smith over the railing of the ship； the deck of which he had just reached from the wharf。
〃Don't crowd her； if you please； gentlemen；〃 said Barnum； and so pushing and squeezing they reached the carriage and drove to Miss Lind's apartments。 A few minutes later Jenny and her companion came quietly in a carriage and were in the house before the ruse was discovered。 In answer to the calls of the crowd she appeared on the balcony； and bowed to the throng； which gave her three cheers and dispersed。
A very funny incident occurred in New Orleans。 Next to the theatre where the concerts were given； was an exhibition in the large open lots of mammoth hogs； grizzly bears and other animals。
A gentleman had a son about twelve years old； who had a wonderful ear for music。 He could whistle or sing any tune after hearing it once。 His father did not know nor care for a single note； but so anxious was he to please his son； that he paid thirty dollars for two tickets to the concert。
〃I liked the music better than I expected；〃 said he the next day； 〃but my son was in raptures。 He was so perfectly enchanted that he scarcely spoke the whole evening； and I would on no account disturb his delightful reveries。 When the concert was finished we came out of the theatre。 Not a word was spoken。 I knew that my musical prodigy was happy among the clouds； and I said nothing。 I could not help envying him his love of music； and considered my thirty dollars as nothing； compared to the bliss which it secured to him。 Indeed； I was seriously thinking of taking him to the next concert； when he spoke。 We were just passing the numerous shows upon the vacant lots。 One of the signs attracted him； and he said； 'Father； let us go in and see the big hog！' The little scamp！ I could have horse…whipped him！' said the father； who loving a joke； could not help laughing at the ludicrous incident。
The party took passage to Cairo；