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ion； the famous Jullien concerts； etc。； here stored a semblance of prosperity。 But it was uphill work； and after a time he resigned the presidency and abandoned the institution to its fate。
A little incident which occurred at Iranistan； in the winter of 1852； was observed by a lady from Philadelphia who was visiting there at the time。 She afterward made it the subject of a poem； which Mr。 Barnum prized highly。 It was as follows：
WINTER BOUQUETS。
AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN。
The poor man's garden lifeless lay Beneath a fall of snow； But Art in costly greenhouses； Keeps Summer in full glow。 And Taste paid gold for bright bouquets； The parlor vase that drest； That scented Fashion's gray boudoir； Or bloomed on Beauty's breast。
A rich man sat beside the fire； Within his sculptured halls； Brave heart； clear head； and busy hand Had reared those stately walls。 He to his gardener spake； and said In tone of quiet glee 〃I want a hundred fine bouquets Canst make them； John； for me？
John's eyes became exceeding round； This question when he heard； He gazed upon his master； And he answered not a word。 〃Well； John；〃 the rich man laughing said； 〃If these too many be； What sayest to half the number； man？ Canst fifty make for me？〃
Now John prized every flower； as 'twere A daughter or a son； And thought； like Regan〃What the need Of fifty； or of one？〃 But； keeping back the thought； he said； 〃I think； sir； that I might； But it would leave my lady's flowers In very ragged plight。〃
〃Well； John； thy vegetable pets Must needs respected be； We'll halve the number once again Make twenty…five for me。 And hark ye； John； when they are made Come up and let me know； And I'll give thee a list of those To whom the flowers must go；〃
The twenty…five bouquets were made； And round the village sent； And to whom thinkest thou； my friend； These floral jewels went？ Not to the beautiful and proud Not to the rich and gay Who； Dives…like； at Luxury's feast Are seated every day。
An aged Pastor； on his desk Saw those fair preachers stand； A Widow wept upon the gift； And blessed the giver's hand。 Where Poverty bent o'er her task； They cheered the lonely room； And round the bed where sickness lay； They breathed Health's fresh perfume
Oh！ kindly heart and open hand Those flowers in dust are trod； But they bloom to weave a wreath for thee； In the Paradise of God。 Sweet is the Minstrel's task； whose song Of deeds like these may tell； And long may he have power to give； Who wields that Dower so well！
CHAPTER XXIV。 THE JEROME CLOCK COMPANY。
FOUNDING EAST BRIDGEPORTGROWTH OF THE CITYTHE JEROME CLOCK BUBBLEA RUINED MANPAYING HONEST DEBTSDOWN IN THE DEPTHS。
In the year 1851 Mr。 Barnum had purchased from William H。 Noble； of Bridgeport； Conn。； the undivided half of his late father's homesteadfifty acres of land on the east side of the river； opposite the city of Bridgeport。 Together they bought the one hundred and seventy…four acres adjoining； and laid out the entire property in regular streets； and lined them with trees。 A beautiful grove of eight acres was reserved for a park。 This they intended for a nucleus of a new city； to be known as East Bridgeport。
They then commenced selling alternate lots； at the same price as the land had cost them by the acre； always on condition that a suitable dwelling…house； store or manufactory should be erected on the ground within a year； that every building should be placed at a certain distance from the street； that the style of architecture should be approved by the sellers； that the grounds be inclosed with suitable fences； and that in all respects the locality should be kept desirable for respectable residents。
A new foot…bridge was built across the river； connecting the new town with the city of Bridgeport； and a public toll…bridge； which belonged to Barnum and Noble； was thrown open to the public free。 They also erected a covered drawbridge at a cost of 16；000； which was made free to the public for several years。
They built and leased to a union company of young coach…makers a large manufactory； which was one of the first buildings erected in the town； and which went into operation on the first day of the year 1852。
In addition to the inducements of low prices for the lots； the owners advanced one…half； two…thirds； and sometimes all the funds to erect buildings； permitting the purchasers to repay them in small sums at their own convenience。 The town； under such favorable auspices； began to develop and to grow with great rapidity。
No one of Barnum's schemes had ever interested him as this one did。 He was willing to listen to any one who thought they had a project favorable to the advancement of the new city。 It was the man's weak spot； and it was this weak spot which was destined to be touched once too often。
There was a small clock factory in the town of Litchfield； in which Barnum was a stockholder。 Thinking always of his beloved enterprise； it occurred to him at length that if the Litchfield clock company could be transferred to East Bridgeport； it would necessarily bring with it numerous families to swell the population。 A new stock company was formed； under the name of the 〃Terry and Barnum Manufacturing Company；〃 and in 1852 a factory was built in East Bridgeport。
It will be seen how recklessly the owners of the site were spending money。 They looked for their profits wholly from the sale of the reserved lots； which they felt sure would bring high values。
In 1855 Mr。 Barnum was visited by the President of the Jerome Clock Company； Mr。 Chauncey Jerome； with a proposition that the concern； which was reputed to be very wealthy； should be removed to East Bridgeport。 Negotiations were opened； and at last Barnum was offered a transfer of the great manufactory with its seven hundred to one thousand employees； if he would lend his name as security for 110；000 in aid of the company。
He was shown an official report of the directors of the company； exhibiting a capital of 400；000 with a surplus of 187；000。 They were in need of money to tide over a dull season and a market glutted with goods。 The company also was represented as being extremely loth to dismiss any of their employees； who would suffer greatly if their means of livelihood were taken from them。 The company was reputed to be rich； the President； Mr。 Chauncey Jerome； had built a church in New Haven； at a cost of 40；000； and proposed to present it to a congregation； he had given a clock to a church in Bridgeport； and these things showed that he； at least； thought he was wealthy。 The Jerome clocks were for sale all over the world； even in China； where the Celestials were said to take out the 〃movements；〃 and use the cases for little temples for their idols； 〃Thus proving that faith was possible without 'works；' 〃 as Mr。 Barnum said。
Further testimony came in the form of a letter from the cashier of one of the New Haven banks； expressing the highest confidence in the financial strength of the company。 Ba