General Grant — 552
When the North American General Grant was about twelve years old, his father sent him a few miles into the country to buy a horse from a man named Ralston. The old man told his son to offer Ralston 50 dollars at first; if he wouldn’t take that, to offer 55 dollars, and to go as high as 60 dollars, if no less would make the purchase. The embryotic major-general started off with these instructions fully impressed upon his mind. He called upon Mr. Ralston, and told him he wished to buy the horse. “How much did your father tell you to give for him?” was the very natural inquiry from the owner of the steed. “Why,” said young Grant, “he told me to offer you 50 dollars, and if that wouldn’t do to give you 55 dollars, and if you wouldn’t take less than 60 dollars to give you that.” Of course, 60 dollars was the lowest figure at which the horse could be parted with.
A tailor from Nantucket exclaimed, on first beholding the Falls of Niagara, “What an almighty fine place to sponge a coat in!”