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y of the case seemed to require it； we concluded to manufacture a verse or two； which we did； as follows：＇
＇1＇ These were the euphonious names of localities in the vicinity of Bethel。
Lucretia； dear； what have I done； That you should use me thus and so； To take the arm of Tom Beers' son； And let your dearest true love go？
Miserable fate； to lose you now； And tear this bleeding heart asunder！ Will you forget your tender vow？ I can't believe itno； by thunder。
＇Mallett did not like the word 〃thunder；〃 but being informed that no other word could be substituted without destroying both rhyme and reason； he consented that it should remain； provided we added two more stanzas of a softer nature； something； he said； that would make the tears come； if possible； We then ground out the following：＇
Lucretia； dear； do write to Jack； And say with Beers you are not smitten； And thus to me in love come back； And give all other boys the mitten。
Do this； Lucretia； and till death I'll love you to intense distraction； I'll spend for you my every breath； And we will live in satisfaction。
＇〃That will do very well；〃 said Mallett。 〃Now I guess you had better blow her up a little more。〃 We obeyed orders as follows：＇ It makes me mad to think what a fool I was to give you that finger…ring and bosom…pin； and spend so much time in your company； just to be flirted and bamboozled as I was on Sunday night last。 If you continue this course of conduct； we part forever； and I will thank you to send back that jewelry。 I would sooner see it crushed under my feet than worn by a person who abused me as you have done。 I shall despise you forever if you don't change your conduct towards me； and send me a letter of apology on Monday next。 I shall not go to meeting to…morrow； for I would scorn to sit in the same meeting…house with you until I have an explanation of your conduct。 If you allow any young man to go home with you to…morrow night； I shall know it； for you will be watched； ＇〃There；〃 said Mallett； 〃that is pretty strong。 Now； I guess； you had better touch her feelings once more； and wind up the letter。〃 We proceeded as follows：＇ My sweet girl； if you only knew the sleepless nights which I have spent during the present week； the torments and sufferings which I endure on your account； if you could but realize that I regard the world as less than nothing without you； I am certain you would pity me。 A homely cot and a crust of bread with my adorable Lucretia would be a paradise； where a palace without you would be a hades。 ＇〃What in thunder is hades？〃 inquired Jack。 We explained。 He considered the figure rather bold； and requested us to close as soon as possible。＇ Now； dearest； in bidding you adieu； I implore you to reflect on our past enjoyments； look forward with pleasure to our future happy meetings； and rely upon your affectionate Jack in storm or calm； in sickness； distress or want； for all these will be powerless to change my love。 I hope to hear from you on Monday next； and； if favorable； I shall be happy to call on you the same evening； when in ecstatic joy we will laugh at the past； hope for the future； and draw consolation from the fact that 〃the course of true love never did run smooth。〃 This from your disconsolate but still hoping lover and admirer； 〃JACK MALLETT。
〃P。 S。On reflection I have concluded to go to meeting to…morrow。 If all is well； hold your pocket…handkerchief in your left hand as you stand up to sing with the choirin which case I shall expect the pleasure of giving you my arm to…morrow night。 〃J。 M。〃
The effect of this letter upon Lucretia was not as favorable as could have been desired。 She declined to remove her handkerchief from her right hand； and she returned the 〃ring and bosom…pin〃 to her disconsolate admirer； while； not many months after； Mallett's rival led Lucretia to the altar。 As for Mallett's agreement to pay Shepherd and Barnum five pounds of carpet…rags and twelve yards of broadcloth 〃lists〃 for their services； owing to his ill success； they compromised for one…half the amount。
CHAPTER IV。 TRYING MANY VENTURES。
VISIT TO PITTSBURGSUCCESSFUL LOTTERY BUSINESSMARRIAGEFIRST EDITORIAL VENTURELIBEL SUIT； IMPRISONMENT AND LIBERATIONREMOVAL TO NEW YORKHARD TIMESKEEPING A BOARDING…HOUSE。
About this time Barnum； with a Mr。 Samuel Sherwood； of Bridgeport； started for Pittsburg； where they proposed to open a lottery office。 On reaching New York； however； and talking over the scheme with friends； the venture was abandoned and the two men took； instead； a pleasure trip to Philadelphia。 They stayed a week； at the end of which time they returned to New York； with exactly twenty…seven cents between them。 Sherwood managed to borrow two dollarsenough to take him to Newark； where he had a cousin； who obligingly loaned him fifty dollars。 The two friends remained in New York on the strength of their newly acquired wealth for several days； and then went home considerably richer in experience at least。
Barnum now went into the lottery business exclusively； taking his uncle； Alanson Taylor； into partnership。 They established a number of agencies throughout the country； and made good profits from the sale of tickets。 Several of the tickets sold by them took prizes and their office came to be considered 〃lucky。〃
The young man was prospering also in another direction。 The fair tailoress smiled on him as sweetly as ever； and in the summer of 1827 they became formally engaged。 In the fall Miss Hallett went 〃on a visit〃 to her uncle； Nathan Beers； in New York。 A month later her lover followed； 〃to buy goods；〃 and on the 8th of November； 1829； there was a wedding in the comfortable house at No。 3 Allen street。 Having married at the age of nineteen； Barnum always expressed his disapproval of early marriages； although his own was a very happy one。
Returning to Bethel； Mr。 and Mrs。 Barnum； after boarding for a few months； moved into their own house； which was built on a three acre plat purchased from the grandfather。
The lottery business still prospered； but it was mostly in the hands of agents； in Danbury； Norwalk； Stamford and Middletown； and Barnum began to look around for some field for his individual energies。 He tried travelling as a book auctioneer； but found it uncongenial and quit the business。 In July； 1831； with his uncle Alanson Taylor； he opened a grocery and general store； but the venture was not particularly successful； and in the fall the partnership was dissolved； Barnum buying his uncle's interest。
The next enterprise was an important one； it being the real beginning of Phineas T。 Barnum's public career。
In a period of strong political excitement； he wrote several communications for the Danbury weekly paper； setting forth what he conceived to be the dangers of a sectarian interference which was then apparent in political affairs。 The publication of these communications was refused； and he accordingly purchased a press and types； and October 19； 1831； issued the first number of his own paper； The Herald of Freedom。
〃I entered upon the editorship of this journal；〃 says Mr。 Barnum； 〃with all the vigor and vehemence o