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with the most grateful acknowledgments （at least for the present）； to decline yoursnot because a benefit； in itself； is an objectionable thing； but because I have ever made it a point to ask nothing of the public on personal grounds； and should prefer； while I can possibly avoid that contingency； to accept nothing from it without the honest conviction that I had individually given it in return a full equivalent。
While favored with health； I feel competent to earn an honest livelihood for myself and family。 More than this I shall certainly never attempt with such a load of debt suspended in terrorem over me。 While I earnestly thank you； therefore； for your generous consideration； gentlemen； I trust you will appreciate my desire to live unhumiliated by a sense of dependence； and believe me； sincerely yours； P。 T。 BARNUM。
To Messrs。 FREEMAN HUNT； E。 K。 COLLINS； and others。
And with other offers of assistance from far and near； came the following from a little gentleman who did not forget his old friend and benefactor in the time of trial：
JONES HOTEL； PHILADELPHIA； May 12th； 1856。
MY DEAR MR。 BARNUM： I understand your friends； and that means 〃all creation；〃 intend to get up some benefits for your family。 Now； my dear sir； just be good enough to remember that I belong to that mighty crowd； and I must have a finger （or at least a 〃thumb〃） in that pie。 I am bound to appear on all such occasions in some shape； from 〃Jack the Giant killer；〃 Up…stairs； to the door…keeper down； whichever may serve you best； and there are some feats that I can perform as well as any other man of my inches。 I have just started out on my Western tour； and have my carriage； ponies； and assistants all here； but I am ready to go on to New York； bag and baggage； and remain at Mrs。 Barnum's service as long as I； in a small way； can be useful。 Put me into any 〃heavy〃 work； if you like。 Perhaps I can not lift as much as some other folks； but just take your pencil in hand and you will see I can draw a tremendous load。 I drew two hundred tons at a single pull to…day； embracing two thousand persons； whom I hauled up safely and satisfactorily to all parties； at one exhibition。 Hoping that you will be able to fix up a lot of magnets that will attract all New York； and volunteering to sit on any part of the loadstone； I am； as ever； your little but sympathizing friend； GEN。 TOM THUMB。
All the prominent papers published editorials and paragraphs full of sympathy for the great man's misfortune； the Saturday Evening Gazette of Boston breaking out in the following poem。
BARNUM REDIVIVUS。
A WORD FOR BARNUM。
BARNUM； your hand！ Though you are 〃down；〃 And see full many a frigid shoulder； Be brave； my brick； and though they frown； Prove that misfortune makes you bolder。 There's many a man that sneers； my hero； And former praise converts to scorning； Would worshipwhen he fearsa Nero； And bend 〃where thrift may follow fawning。〃
You humbugged usthat we have seen； WE GOT OUR MONEY'S WORTH； old fellow； And though you thought our MINDS were GREEN； We never thought your HEART was YELLOW。 We knew you liberal； generous； warm； Quick to assist a falling brother； And； with such virtues； what's the harm All memories of your faults to smother？
We had not heard the peerless Lind； But for your spirit enterprising； You were the man to raise the wind； And make a coup confessed surprising。 You're reckoned in your native town A friend in need； a friend in danger； You ever keep the latch…string down； And greet with open hand the stranger。
Stiffen your upper lip。 You know Who are your friends and who your foes now； We pay for knowledge as we go； And though you get some sturdy blows now； You've a fair fieldno favors crave The storm once passed will find you braver In virtue's cause long may you wave； And on the right side； never waver。
The editor of the paper was Mr。 B。 P。 Shillaber； better known as 〃Mrs。 Partington；〃 and to him Barnum years later wrote to find out the author of this effusion。 Mr。 Shillaber replied as follows： CHELSEA； April 25th； 1868。
MY DEAR MR。 BARNUM： The poem in question was written by A。 Wallace Thaxter； associate editor with Mr。 Clapp and myself； on the Gazettesince deceased； a glorious fellowwho wrote th poem from a sincere feeling of admiration for yourself。 Mr。 Clapp （Hon。 W。 W。 Clapp） published it with his full approbation。 I heard of your new trouble； in my sick chamber； where I have been all winter； with regret； and wish you as ready a release from attending difficulty as your genius has hitherto achieved under like circumstances。 Yours； very truly B。 F。 SHILLABER。
The manifestations of sympathy from his fellow…citizens in Bridgeport gratified Barnum more than all the rest。 The Mayor headed and more than 300 leading citizens signed a call for a mass meeting of sympathy。
At the hour appointed for the meeting a large assemblage crowded Washington Hall； the principal hall of the city。 Many people thronged the door； unable to gain entrance。
Mr。 Charles B。 Hubbell； President of the Pequonnock Bank； was appointed President； Messrs。 Charles Foote； Cashier of the Connecticut Bank； Stephen Tomlinson； President of the Farmers' Bank； Samuel F。 Hurd； President of the Bridgeport City Bank； Hanford Lyon； Dwight Morris； E。 Ferris Bishop； A。 P。 Houston； and Wm。 H。 Noble； Vice…Presidents； and Messrs。 Samuel M。 Chesney and Julius L。 Hanover； Secretaries。
Mr。 Dwight Morris said that they had met for the purpose of expressing their sympathy with their former fellow…citizen； P。 T。 Barnum； in his pecuniary reverses。 It was well known how much Mr。 Barnum had done for Bridgeport。 He had expended large sums to build up their city； had accommodated many of them with the means of securing themselves homes； and it was principally to him that they owed their present beautiful resting…place for the dead。 ＇Applause。＇ The citizens of Bridgeport hoped that his misfortunes would soon pass away； and that he would ere long resume his position in Bridgeport； and among the citizens of Fairfield County。 ＇Prolonged applause。＇
Mr。 Wm。 H。 Noble read the following resolutions。
WHEREAS； Our late neighbor and friend； P。 T。 Barnum； has become involved in financial misfortune which seems likely to be irretrievable； and to prevent his again residing in our vicinityResolved； That we as citizens of Bridgeport deem it an act of justice no less than a slight return for the many acts of liberality； philanthropy； and public spirit in our midst； which have marked his prosperity； to offer him our tribute of respect and sympathy in this the hour of his trouble。
Resolved； That in his intercourse with us in the private and social relations of life； Mr。 Barnum is remembered as a man of upright dealings and honorable sentimentsa kind and genial neighbor； and exemplary character； a beneficent philanthropist； and a most generous friend。
Resolved； That in his more extended capacity as a citizen he has