True Grit

by

Charles Portis

A “stock trader” who buys and sells horses. On the day of Frank’s death, Stonehill sells him a group of ponies, letting them go for a low price because he’s having trouble finding buyers. When Mattie comes to Fort Smith in the aftermath of her father’s death, she asks Stonehill to buy back the ponies, since her family no longer needs them. At first, Stonehill refuses, thinking he’ll be able to stand his ground in a negotiation with a little girl. However, he soon sees that Mattie is clever and stubborn, driving a hard bargain and threatening to take him to court if he doesn’t cooperate. And though he doesn’t think she has a good case, he realizes that the courts would most likely favor “a widow and her three small children” over him, so he begrudgingly agrees to buy the ponies.

Stonehill Quotes in True Grit

The True Grit quotes below are all either spoken by Stonehill or refer to Stonehill. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Revenge Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

I said, “I have hopes that the marshals will get him soon. His name is Tom Chaney. He worked for us. I am trying to get action. I aim to see him shot or hanged.”

“Yes, yes, well might you labor to that end,” said Stonehill. “At the same time I will counsel patience. The brave marshals do their best but they are few in number. The lawbreakers are legion and they range over a vast country that offers many natural hiding places. The marshal travels about friendless and alone in that criminal nation. Every man’s hand is against him there save in large part for that of the Indian who has been cruelly imposed upon by felonious intruders from the States.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford)
Page Number: 34
Explanation and Analysis:

“I cannot make an agreement with a child. You are not accountable. You cannot be bound to a contract.”

“Lawyer Daggett will back up any decision I make. You may rest easy on that score. You can confirm any agreement by telegraph.”

“This is a damned nuisance!" he exclaimed. “How am I to get my work done? I have a sale tomorrow.”

“There can be no settlement after I leave this office,” said I. “It will go to law.”

He worried with his eyeglasses for a minute and then said, “I will pay two hundred dollars to your father’s estate when I have in my hand a letter from your lawyer absolving me of all liability from the beginning of the world to date. It must be signed by your lawyer and your mother and it must be notarized.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), Lawyer Daggett, Mattie’s Mother
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

“I want Chaney to pay for killing my father and not some Texas bird dog.”

“It will not be for the dog, it will be for the senator, and your father too. He will be just as dead that way, you see, and pay for all his crimes at once.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), LaBoeuf (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), Stonehill
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

Right around 9 o’clock I went to the stock barn and exchanged my release for three hundred and twenty-five dollars in greenbacks. I had held longer amounts in my hand but this money, I fancied, would be pleasing out of proportion to its face value. But no, it was only three hundred and twenty-five dollars in paper and the moment fell short of my expectations. I noted the mild disappointment and made no more of it than that.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill
Page Number: 81
Explanation and Analysis:

“Yes, a splendid inducement. Well, perhaps it will all work out to your satisfaction. I shall pray that you return safely, your efforts crowned with success. It may prove to be a hard journey.”

“The good Christian does not flinch from difficulties.”

“Neither does he rashly court them. The good Christian is not willful or presumptuous.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford)
Page Number: 92
Explanation and Analysis:
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Stonehill Quotes in True Grit

The True Grit quotes below are all either spoken by Stonehill or refer to Stonehill. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Revenge Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

I said, “I have hopes that the marshals will get him soon. His name is Tom Chaney. He worked for us. I am trying to get action. I aim to see him shot or hanged.”

“Yes, yes, well might you labor to that end,” said Stonehill. “At the same time I will counsel patience. The brave marshals do their best but they are few in number. The lawbreakers are legion and they range over a vast country that offers many natural hiding places. The marshal travels about friendless and alone in that criminal nation. Every man’s hand is against him there save in large part for that of the Indian who has been cruelly imposed upon by felonious intruders from the States.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford)
Page Number: 34
Explanation and Analysis:

“I cannot make an agreement with a child. You are not accountable. You cannot be bound to a contract.”

“Lawyer Daggett will back up any decision I make. You may rest easy on that score. You can confirm any agreement by telegraph.”

“This is a damned nuisance!" he exclaimed. “How am I to get my work done? I have a sale tomorrow.”

“There can be no settlement after I leave this office,” said I. “It will go to law.”

He worried with his eyeglasses for a minute and then said, “I will pay two hundred dollars to your father’s estate when I have in my hand a letter from your lawyer absolving me of all liability from the beginning of the world to date. It must be signed by your lawyer and your mother and it must be notarized.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), Lawyer Daggett, Mattie’s Mother
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

“I want Chaney to pay for killing my father and not some Texas bird dog.”

“It will not be for the dog, it will be for the senator, and your father too. He will be just as dead that way, you see, and pay for all his crimes at once.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), LaBoeuf (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), Stonehill
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

Right around 9 o’clock I went to the stock barn and exchanged my release for three hundred and twenty-five dollars in greenbacks. I had held longer amounts in my hand but this money, I fancied, would be pleasing out of proportion to its face value. But no, it was only three hundred and twenty-five dollars in paper and the moment fell short of my expectations. I noted the mild disappointment and made no more of it than that.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill
Page Number: 81
Explanation and Analysis:

“Yes, a splendid inducement. Well, perhaps it will all work out to your satisfaction. I shall pray that you return safely, your efforts crowned with success. It may prove to be a hard journey.”

“The good Christian does not flinch from difficulties.”

“Neither does he rashly court them. The good Christian is not willful or presumptuous.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford)
Page Number: 92
Explanation and Analysis: