Horatio Alger

“ There was one very fine clothing store in Riverside, but Joe did not deem it best, with his limited capital, to go there for a suit. Instead he sought out a modest establishment on one of the side streets.
Just ahead of him was an Irish couple who had evidently not been in this country many years. The man entered the store awkwardly, as if he did not feel at home. Not so his wife, who walked a little in advance of her husband.
"Have you got any men's coats?" said she to the clerk who came forward to wait on the pair. "If I can get one cheap for me husband here I'll buy one." ”

“ It was made for a gentleman of this town, but did not exactly fit him, and so we'll sell it cheap."
"And what is the price?"
"Three dollars."
"Three dollars!" exclaimed the Irish lady, lifting up her hands in extreme astonishment.
"Three dollars! You'll be afther thinkin' we're made of money, sure! I'll give you a dollar and a half."
"No, ma'am, we don't trade in that way. We don't very often take half what we ask for an article."
"Mike," said she, "pull off yer coat an' thry it on. Three dollars, and it looks as if it was all cotton." ”

“ But the clerk understood her game and coolly proceeded to put the coat back on the pile. Then the woman very opportunely found another five-cent piece stored away in the corner of her pocket.
"It's robbin' me, ye are," said she as she paid it over. ”