Free Curiosity by Gary Blackwood Page B

history! Mrs. Heth was the very nursemaid who coddled and swaddled the Father of Our Country!”
    â€œGeneral Washington?”
    â€œAh, he knows his history, this one!” said Mr. Barnum sarcastically. “Of course, General Washington!”
    I’m sure you’re thinking the very same thing I was thinking: George Washington was born in 1732, and this was 1835. “But—but she would have to be well over a hundred years old.”
    â€œAnd a good command of mathematics as well! Yes, my boy, Mrs. Heth has attained the almost Biblical age of eight score and one! And yet her memory is as that of the proverbial elephant!” Mr. Barnum seemed to be speaking not to me, but to some imaginary crowd of curiosity-seekers. “Not only can she can relate in astonishing detail events from the earliest years of the life of our first president, she can sing several traditional hymns!”
    Right on cue, the old woman opened her toothless mouth and began to sing, in a throaty and tremulous but surprisingly melodious voice:
    â€œWelcome, sweet day of rest
    That saw the Lord arise.
    Welcome to this reviving breast
    And these rejoicing eyes.”
    Mr. Barnum gently patted her shriveled shoulder and shouted into her ear, “Not now, dear! Save your strength for the paying customers!” He turned to Maelzel. “I actually came in here for a reason, but I’ve forgotten what it was! I believe Mrs. Heth’s memory is better than mine! Oh, yes! I meant to ask whether you plan to open your exhibition in the evenings!”
    â€œNo, I am afraid the attendance does not warrant it. As I said, the Turk’s return will change that.”
    â€œAnd when will that be, do you think?”
    â€œTwo weeks. Perhaps three.”
    â€œI haven’t seen the machine at work yet, but I understand it’s quite astounding!” Mr. Barnum leaned in closer and said in a voice that anyone else would have considered loud, but that I suppose he considered subdued, “I hear its movements are controlled by magnetic force. Is that true?”
    Maelzel gave him a rather peevish smile. “Is it true that Mrs. Heth is one hundred and sixty-one years old?”
    Barnum let out another hearty laugh. “Ah, I take your meaning, sir! We all have our trade secrets, eh? Be careful of that boy, though!”
    Maelzel frowned. “Why do you say that?”
    â€œWell, it’s obvious that he is possessed of a keen and inquiring mind! If you let him hang about for long, he’ll ferret out all your secrets! Rufus, my lad, we’ll be doing an evening performance! Why don’t you come and watch? Tell them Phineas T. Barnum said to let you in at no charge whatsoever!”
    When he was gone, Maelzel shook his head. “I am certain he will make a great success in this business. The public must surely realize that Mrs. Heth is a hoax, yet they still pay money to see her.”
    â€œI’d like to see her. He said I wouldn’t have to pay.”
    Maelzel snorted scornfully. “ Ach! You don’t suppose he offered out of the kindness of his heart, do you? He wants to interrogate you, to see whether he may learn anything.”
    â€œWhy would he think I know anything? You told him I was a street urchin.”
    â€œYes, and he told you that woman was George Washington’s nurse. Nein . We cannot take any chances. For the time being, you will remain well out of sight.”
    And so I returned to my hidey-hole. As we passed through Maelzel’s office, I eyed the half-dozen books that were strewn about. If I was to be confined to a cell, like my father, a book would be welcome company. I was not exactly bored; I could always play chess inside my mind or inside the Turk. But I did long for a little variety. I spotted a volume titled Elements of Phrenology. “May I borrow that book?”
    Maelzel’s plucked eyebrows rose. “You have an interest in