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nd Fish； who had expressed a wish to do him any service in his power； and requested him to go to Paris； and； by actual measurement； find out the exact height of the giant。 He inclosed an offer； arranging the prices on a sliding scale； commencing at eight feet； and descending to seven feet two inches； for if he were not taller than that he was not to be desired。
Mr。 Fish put a two…foot rule in his pocket； and started for Paris； where； after several days' delay and much trouble beside； he finally succeeded in gaining an interview。 The giant was shown Barnum's letter； and read the tempting offers made for his services； provided he measured eight feet； or within six inches of that height。
〃Oh； I measure over eight feet；〃 said he。
〃Very likely；〃 responded Mr。 Fish； 〃but you see my orders are to measure you。〃
〃There's no need of that； you can see for yourself；〃 stretching himself up a few inches by aid of a peculiar knack which giants and dwarfs possess to increase or diminish their apparent stature。
〃No doubt you are right；〃 persisted Mr。 Fish； 〃but you see I must obey orders； and if I am not permitted to measure you I shall not engage you。〃
〃Well；〃 said the giant； 〃if you can't take my word for it； look at that door。 You see my head is more than two feet above the top （giving his neck a severe stretch）； just measure the door。〃
But Mr。 Fish refused。 The giant was now desperate； and； stretching himself up to his full height； exclaimed： 〃Well； be quick！ Put your rule to my feet and measure me； but hurry up； please！〃
Mr。 Fish regarded him coolly。 〃Look here！〃 said he； 〃this sort of thing won't do； you know。 I don't understand this contrivance around the soles of your boots； but it seems to me you've got a set of springs there which aids your height when you desire it。 Now I will not stand any more nonsense。 If I engage you at all； you must first take off your boots； and lie flat upon your back in the middle of the floor。〃
The giant protested； but Mr。 Fish was firm； and at last he slowly took off his coat and lay down on the floor。 Mr。 Fish applied his rule； and to his own astonishment and the giant's indignation the latter proved to be barely seven feet one and one…half inches。 So he was not engaged at all。
Some time afterwards Barnum wrote to his friend and asked his permission to put him into a new book then in course of preparation。 He wrote in return the following characteristic letter：
Had I made a fortune of L100；000 I should have been proud of a place in your Autobiography； but as I have only been able to make （here he named a sum which in this country would be considered almost a fortune）； I feel I should be out of place in your pages； at all events； if you mention me at all； draw it mildly； if you please。
The American war has made sad havoc in our trade； and it is only by close attention to business that I have lately been at all successful。 I have built a place for one thousand looms； and have； as you know； put in a pair of engines； which I have named 〃Barnum〃 and 〃Charity。〃 Each engine has its name engraved on two large brass plates at either end of the cylinder； which has often caused much mirth when I have explained the circumstances to visitors。 I started and christened 〃Charity〃 on the 14th of January last； and she has saved me L12 per month in coals ever since。 The steam from the boiler goes first to 〃Charity〃 （she is high pressure）； and 〃Barnum〃 only gets the steam after she has done with it。 He has to work at low pressure （a condensing engine）； and the result is a saving。 Barnum was extravagant when he took steam direct； but since I fixed Charity betwixt him and the boiler； he can only get what she gives him。 This reminds me that you state in your 〃Life〃 you could always make money； but formerly did not save it。 Perhaps you never took care of it till Charity became Chancellor of Exchequer。 When I visited you at the Bull Hotel； in Blackburn； you pointed to General Tom Thumb； and said： 〃That is my piece of goods； I have sold it hundreds of thousands of times； and have never yet delivered it！〃 That was ten years ago； in 1858。 If I had been doing the same with my pieces of calico； I must have been wealthy by this time； but I have been hammering at one （cotton） nail several months； and； as it did not offer to clinch； I was almost tempted to doubt one of your 〃rules；〃 and thought I would drive at some other nail； but； on reflection； I knew I understood cotton better than anything else； and so I back up your rule and stick to cotton； not doubting it will be all right and successful。
Mr。 Fish was one of the large class of English manufacturers who suffered seriously from the effects of the rebellion in the United States。 As an Englishman； he could not have a patriot's interest in the progress of that terrible struggle； but he made a practical exhibition of sympathy for the suffering soldiers； in a pleasant and characteristic manner。
At the great Sanitary Fair in New York； during the war； Mr。 Fish sent two monster 〃Simuel cakes；〃 covered with miniature forts； cannon； armies； and all the panoply of war； which attracted great attention from every one present。
CHAPTER XXXI。 AT HOME AGAIN。
THE CLOCK DEBTS PAIDTHE MUSEUM ONCE MORE UNDER BARNUM'S MANAGEMENTENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTIONHIS SPEECHTWO POEMS。
In 1859； Barnum returned to the United States。 During his trip abroad he had secured many novelties for the Museum； the Albino Family； Thiodon's Mechanical Theatre； and others。
These afforded him a liberal commission； and he had beside made considerable money from the Tom Thumb exhibitions and his lectures。
All this； his wife's income； as well as a large sum derived from the sale of some of her property； was faithfully devoted to the one object of their livespaying off the clock debts。
Mrs。 Barnum and her daughter； Pauline； had either boarded in Bridgeport or lived in a small house in the suburbs during the entire four years of struggle。 The land purchased by Mrs。 Barnum at the assignee's sale in East Bridgeport had increased in value meanwhile； and they felt justified in borrowing on it； some of the single lots were sold； and all this money went toward the discharge of the debts。
At last； in March； 1860； all the clock indebtedness was extinguished； except 20；000； which Barnum bound himself to take up within a certain time； his friend James D。 Johnson guaranteeing his bond to that effect。
On the seventeenth day of March； Messrs。 Butler and Greenwood signed an agreement to sell and deliver to Barnum on the following Saturday their entire good…will and interest in the Museum collection。 This fact was thoroughly circulated； and blazing posters； placards； and advertisements announced that 〃Barnum is on his feet again。〃 It was furthermore stated that the Museum would be closed for one week； opening March 31st； under the management and proprietorship of its original owner。 It was also promised that Barnum would address the audience on the night of closing。
The Museum； decked in its holiday dress of flags and banners； was crowded to its utmost capacity when Barnum made his appearance。 His reception was an enthusiastic one； cheers and shouts rent the air； and tears filled the