Free Jenny and Barnum by Roderick Thorp Page A

dozen stupid misunderstandings before the troupe reached its destination. What if Chang and Eng’s clothing disappeared? Their jackets, trousers, and coats were all different from clothes for ordinary people, and the original patterns were at their tailor in New York. The General, Lavinia, and Gallagher had irreplaceable equipment, from scaled-down props and musical instruments to cunningly constructed lightweight ladders and stools for use in their hotel rooms. And Anna Swan’s mattress was a full ten feet long, in case anyone wanted to challenge her height by surreptitiously measuring the length of her mattress.
    Tom Thumb ate his breakfast slowly, relishing his memories of last night. Whatever Jenny Lind had to say could continue to wait. Last night Lavinia had been willing to talk a little about what she had been going through since Joe Gallagher’s appearance in their lives. For the first time she had been able to say that she had taken a fancy to the slick, up-from-the-streets San Franciscan, with his stories of his scuffle for existence. Tom Thumb was not hurt or shocked, for the situation was one he had seen for himself months ago— that was when he had felt pain and anger. When Gallagher had disappeared from last night’s reception and Tom Thumb had seen his opportunity with Lavinia, he had promised himself not to press her or become demanding. He had been through that when Lavinia first started paying attention to Gallagher, driving her crazy and closer to Gallagher in the bargain.
    It wasn’t any wonder that Gallagher thought Tom Thumb a clown. For months he had behaved like one in spite of himself, and last night had been the first time he had been able to keep to his resolve to act the man he had been for Lavinia before Gallagher had come on the scene. Even so, she had been far too sensitive and wary, jumping to misunderstandings of his remarks two or three times. But they were lovers again, that was the important thing. He really loved her, as the Gallagher episode had taught him. And after last night, Tom Thumb was sure that Gallagher had never touched her.
    Now Tom Thumb read Jenny Lind’s letter.
    My dear General,
    Thank you so much for your promptness and consideration this afternoon. I enjoyed your company and admired your brief performance. It is easy to understand how you have become the most famous man in America. You deserve your fame!
    I have given Mr. Barnum’s proposal careful consideration and have weighed it against other opportunities I have been offered, here nearer Sweden, my native land, and England, my new home. I am sure you understand that business considerations must come before any other, under the circumstances .
    I would be grateful to you if you informed Mr. Barnum that the basic form of his proposal is acceptable; that is, a concert tour of 150 performances in the United States. I am sure he will be pleased with this acceptance .
    However, I am obliged to tell you, and ask you to tell Mr. Barnum, that my fee will have to be no less than $1,000 (American) for each performance, plus additional funds for my entourage, consisting of a conductor, a tenor, a traveling secretary, a maid for me, a valet for the men, all of my own choosing. Because of the problems we discussed during our meeting, it will be necessary for all such funds to be deposited with my guardian, Judge Munthe, prior to my embarkation for the United States. In addition, it must be understood that I do not sing any two nights in succession, as it is necessary for me to rest my voice, and that I require the best accommodations the various cities on the tour are able to provide .
    As I am eager for a quick resolution to these negotiations, I trust that you will communicate the above conditions of my agreement to Mr. Barnum as quickly as circumstances allow .
    Yours faithfully,
    (Miss) Jenny Lind
    Why, the moon-faced bitch! Not only had she deduced the highest price Barnum was willing to pay, she