Struggles and Triumphs by P.T. Barnum — Read

Friends to the Rescue -- Money Offers Refused -- Benefits Declined -- Magnificent Offer of Prominent New York Citizens -- William E. Burton -- Laura Keene -- William Niblo -- General Tom Thumb -- Editorial Sympathy -- "A Word for Barnum" in Boston -- Letter from "Mrs. Partington" -- Citizens' Meeting in Bridgeport -- Resolutions of Respect and Condolence -- My Letter on the Situation -- Tender of Fifty Thousand Dollars -- Magnitude of the Deception Practised Upon Me -- Proposition of Compromise with My Creditors -- A Trap Laid for Me in Philadelphia -- The Silver Lining to the Cloud -- The Blow a Benefit to My Family -- The Rev. Dr. E. H. Chapin -- My Daughter Helen -- A Letter Worth Ten Thousand Dollars -- Our New Home in New York.

Happily, there is always more wheat than there is chaff. While my enemies and a few envious persons and misguided moralists were abusing and traducing me, my very misfortunes revealed to me hosts of hitherto unknown friends who tendered to me something more than mere sympathy. Funds were offered to me in unbounded quantity for the support of my family and to reestablish me in business. I declined these tenders because, on principle, I never accepted a money favor, unless I except the single receipt of a small sum which came to me by mail at this time and anonymously so that I could not return it. Even this small sum I at once devoted to charity towards one who needed the money far more than I did.