as expected that New York would be attacked by
British ships, all the boatmen except Cornelius put in bids to convey
provisions to the military posts around New York, naming extremely low
rates, as the contractor would be exempted from military duty. "Why
don't you send in a bid?" asked his father. "Of what use?" replied
young Vanderbilt; "they are offering to do the work at half price. It
can't be done at such rates." "Well," said his father, "it can do no
harm to try for it." So, to please his father, but with no hope of
success, Cornelius made an offer fair to both sides, but did not go to
hear the award. When his companions had all returned with long faces,
he went to the commissary's office and asked if the contract had been
given. "Oh, yes," was the reply; "that business is settled. Cornelius
Vanderbilt is the man. What?" he asked, seeing that the youth was
apparently thunderstruck, "is it you?" "My name is Cornelius
Vanderbilt," said the boatman. "Well," said the commissary, "don't you
know why we have given the contract to you?" "No." "Why, it is
because we want this business _done_, and we know you'll do it."
Character gives confidence.

In 1818 he owned two or three of the finest coasting schooners in New
York harbor, and had a capital of nine thousand dollars. Seeing that
steam-vessels would soon win supremacy over those carrying sails only,
he gave up his fine business to become the captain of a steamboat at
one thousand dollars a year. For twelve years he ran between New York
city and New Brunswick, N. J. In 1829 he began business as a steamboat
owner, in the face of opposition so bitter that he lost his last
dollar. But the tide turned, and he prospered so rapidly that he at
length owned over one hundred steamboats. He early identified himself
with the growing railroad interests of the country, and became the
richest man of his day in America.

Barnum began the race of business life barefoot, for at the age of
fifteen he was obliged to buy on credit the shoes he wore at his
father's funeral. He was a remarkable example of success under
difficulties. There was no keeping him down; no opposition daunted
him, no obstacles were too great for him to overcome. Think of a man
being ruined at fifty years of age; yes, worse than ruined, for he was
heavily in debt besides. Yet on the very day of his downfall he begins
to rise again, wringing victory from defeat by his indomitable
persistence.