“When the procession commenced its march amidst the roar of cannon, three cheers were given by several hundred citizens who did not join in the procession. The band of music continued to play a variety of national airs until their arrival in Bethel, a distance of three miles, when they struck up the beautiful and appropriate tune of ‘Home, Sweet Home!’ After giving three hearty cheers, the procession returned to Danbury. The utmost harmony and unanimity of feeling prevailed throughout the day, and we are happy to add that no accident occurred to mar the festivities of the occasion.” While he was indulging in political and religious controversy, Barnum was also buying recklessly for his country store. In order to do business faster than the ordinary country store, he extended credit and soon had an accumulation of bad debts. Many of these accounts are balanced in his old ledger: “By death, to balance;” “By running away, in full;” “By cheating me out of my dues, to balance;” “By failing in full;” “By swearing he would not pay me, in full.” Barnum became disgusted and sold his interest in the store. And that year lotteries were prohibited in Connecticut by law. _The Herald of Freedom_ was not making money, and No. 160 of that paper was the last issue published under Barnum’s name. He was compelled to seek new and more profitable enterprises, and he decided to enlarge his horizon. In the winter of 1834–1835, when he was twenty-four years old, Barnum removed his wife and daughter to New York City. Thus ends the early Yankee influence that shaped Barnum’s character. It made of him a creature that in its development was to become the apotheosis of the Yankee, with all the distinguishing characteristics of that type and some very distinctive qualities all his own. Mrs. Trollope in her _Domestic Manners of the Americans_ characterizes the Yankee with traits that are appropriate to Barnum’s personality as it was bred by his early environment. “In acuteness, cautiousness, industry, and perseverance,” wrote Mrs. Trollope of the Yankee, “he resembles the Scotch; in habits of frugal neatness, he resembles the Dutch; in love of lucre he doth greatly resemble the sons of Abraham; but in frank admission and superlative admiration of all his own peculiarities, he is like nothing on earth but himself.” The Connecticut Yankee with his wife, Charity, and their daughter, Caroline, left Bethel with nothing but the crafty, bold and thrifty Yankee heritage and the practical education that were calculated to make him preëminent if the proper outlet and channel were offered for his energies. CHAPTER II GROWING PAINS I