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nder if folks never do business in these parts； that you think a man is crazy if he attempts such a thing？〃
〃Business！ poor man！〃 said Mary soothingly； approaching the door。
〃I am not a poor man； madam；〃 replied the hatter。 〃My name is Walter Dibble； I carry on hatting extensively in Danbury； I came to Grassy Plain to buy fur； and have purchased some 'beaver' and 'cony；' and now it seems I am to be called 'crazy' and a 'poor man；' because I want to buy a little 'Russia' to make up my assortment。〃
The ladies began to open their eyes； they saw that Mr。 Dibble was quite in earnest； and his explanation threw considerable light upon the subject。
〃Who sent you here？〃 asked sister Mary。
〃The clerk at the opposite store；〃 was the reply。
〃He is a wicked young fellow for making all this trouble；〃 said the old lady； 〃he has been doing this for a joke。〃
〃A joke！〃 exclaimed Dibble； in surprise； 〃have you no Russia； then？〃
〃My name is Jerusha； and so is my daughter's；〃 said Mrs。 Wheeler； 〃and that； I suppose； is what he meant by telling you of old and young Rushia。〃
Mr。 Dibble； without more words； left the house and made for the store。 〃You young villain！〃 he cried； as he entered； 〃what did you mean by sending me over there to buy Russia？〃
〃I didn't；〃 answered the young villain； with a perfectly solemn face； 〃I thought you were a widower or a bachelor who wanted to marry Rushia。〃
〃You lie；〃 said the discomfited Dibble； laughing in spite of himself； 〃but never mind； I'll pay you off some day。〃 And gathering up his furs he departed。
On another occasion this sense of humor and love of joking was turned to very practical account。 Among the customers at the store were a half a dozen old Revolutionary pensioners； who were permitted to buy on credit； leaving their pension papers as security。 One of these pensioners was a romancing old fellow named Bevansmore commonly known as 〃Uncle Bibbins。〃 He was very fond of his glass； and fonder still of relating anecdotes of the Revolution； in which his own prowess and daring were always the conspicuous features。 His pension papers were in the possession of Keeler & Whitlock； but it was three months before the money was due； and they grew very weary of having him for a customer。 They tried delicately suggesting a visit to his relatives in Guilford； but Uncle Bibbins steadily refused to take the hint。 Finally young Barnum enlisted the services of a journeyman hatter named Benton； and together they hit on a plan。 The hatter was inspired to call Uncle Bibbins a coward； and to declare his belief that if the old gentleman was wounded anywhere it must have been in the back。 Barnum pretended to sympathize with the veteran's just indignation； and finally fired him up to the pitch of challenging the hatter to mortal combat。 The challenge was promptly accepted； and the weapons chosen were muskets and ball； at a distance of twenty feet。 Uncle Bibbins took his second （Barnum； of course） aside； and begged him to see that the guns were loaded only with blank cartridges。 He was assured that it would be so； and that no one would be injured in the encounter。
The ground was measured back of the store； the principals and seconds took their places； and the word of command was given。 They fired； Uncle Bibbins； of course； being unhurt； but the hatter； with a fearful yell； fell to the ground as if dead。 Barnum rushed up to the frightened Bevans and begged him to fly； promising to let him know when it was safe for him to return。 The old fellow started out of town on a run； and for the next three months remained very quietly at Guilford。 At the end of that time his faithful second sent for him； with the assurance that his late adversary had not only recovered from his wound but had freely forgiven all。 Uncle Bibbins then returned and paid up his debts。 Meeting Benton on the street some days later； the two foes shook hands； Benton apologizing for his insult。 Uncle Bibbins accepted the apology； 〃but；〃 he added； 〃you must be careful after this how you insult a dead…shot。〃
CHAPTER III。 BUSINESS LIFE。
REMOVAL TO BROOKLYNSMALLPOXGOES HOME TO RECOVER HIS HEALTHRENEWED ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE PRETTY TAILORESS； FIRST INDEPENDENT BUSINESS VENTURERESIDENCE IN NEW YORK RETURN TO BETHELANECDOTES。
In the fall of 1826； Oliver Taylor； who had removed from Danbury to Brooklyn； induced Barnum to leave Grassy Plain； offering him a clerkship in his grocery store； which offer was accepted； and before long the young man was intrusted with the purchasing of all goods for the store。 He bought for cash； going into lower New York in search of the cheapest market； frequenting auction sales of merchandise； and often entering into combines with other grocers to bid off large lots； which were afterward divided between them。 Thus they were enabled to buy at a much lower rate than if the goods had passed through the hands of wholesale dealers； and Barnum's reputation for business tact and shrewdness increased。
The following summer he was taken ill with smallpox； and during his long confinement to the house his stock of ready money became sadly di…minished。 As soon as he was able to travel he went home to recover his strength； and while there had the happiness of renewing the acquaintance； so pleasantly begun； with the pretty tailoress； Charity Hallett。
His health fully restored he returned to Brooklyn； but not to his old position。 Pleasant as that had been； it no longer contented the restless； ambitious Barnum。 He opened a 〃porter…home；〃 but sold out a few months later； at a good profit； and took another clerkship； this time at 29 Peck Slip； New York； in the store of a certain David Thorp。 He lived in his employer's family； with which he was a great favorite； and where he had frequent opportunities of meeting old friends； for Mr。 Thorp's place was a great resort for Bethel and Danbury hatters and combmakers。
At this time Barnum formed his first taste for the theatre。 He went to the play regularly and soon set up for a critic。 It was his one dissipation； however。 A more moral young fellow never existed； he read his Bible and went to church as regularly as ever； and to the day of his death was wont to declare that he owed all that was good in his character to his early observance of Sunday。
In the winter of 1898 his grandfather offered to him； rent free； his carriage…house； which was situated on the main street； if he would come back to Bethel。 The young man's capital was one hundred and twenty dollars； fifty of this was spent in fixing up his store； and the remainder he invested in a stock of fruit and confectionery。 Having arranged with fruit dealers of his acquaintance in New York to receive his orders； he opened his store on the first of Mayin those times known as 〃training day。〃 The first day was so successful that long before noon the proprietor was obliged to call in one of his old schoolmates to assist in waiting on customers。 The total receipts were sixty…three dollars； which sum was promptly invested in a stock of fancy goods pocket…books； combs； knives； rings； beads； etc。 Business was good all summer； and in the fall oysters were added to the list of attractions。 The old grandfather was delighted