elstaffe’s Reviews > What They Say in New England and Other American Folklore > Status Update

"'...he tell Christ about the road he had come, an' how lonesome it was, and he ask Christ if that was really the road to heaven. "Hit was all grass-grown," he say. "Hit mus' be ve'y few ever go to heaven if that the road," he say. And Christ say, "Yes, that the road to heaven, but that not the only road. That jus' the road from East Tennessee."'" (257)

"All Mr. Rabbit's frien's come excep' Mr. Fox, an' bimeby he come too, but he was all limpy an' rasslefrassled." (247) RASSLEFRASSLED

"'I mighty glad he gone, too,' Mrs. Houston commented. 'De way he done trick Emline give me de worst scare I had since freedom.'" (223) saved by this having been collected in the late 19th century

"Another interesting freak is the supplementing the short sentences of the book with comments in this fashion:
The mason puts a layer of mortar between bricks. they dont [sic]
Intemperance is the grievious sin of our country. so it is
Boys like a warm fire in a wintery day. so do girles [sic]" (204)

"A ditty which was considered a fitting characterization to inscribe in the school histories was this:
If there should be another flood,
Then to this book I'd fly;
If all the earth should be submerged
This book would still be dry." (201)

"Sometimes a series of jingles was so arranged as to lead the reader on a wild goose chase. At the top of one of the early pages would be written:

If my name you wish to see look on page 103.

Turn to that page and you have:
If my name you cannot find look on page 109.

Again do as you are bidden, and you are rewarded with:
If my name you cannot find
Shut up the book and never mind." (201)

"The longest and most impressive of these incantations against possible purloiners was the following:
Whosoever steals this
Book away may
Think on that great
judgement day when
Jesus Christ shall
come and say
Where is that book
you stole away.
Then you will say
I do not know
and Christ will say
go down below." (199-200)

"Steal not this book my honest friend For fear the gallos [sic] will be your end
The gallos is high, the rope is strong, To steal this book you know is wrong." (199)

"Frequently the names were accompanied by verses such as:
Steal not this Book
For fear of Shame
For hear [sic] you read
The owners name
Asa Stebbins Book

If this book should chance to roam
Box its ears and send it home.

Steal not this book, for if you do,
Tom Harris will be after you.
Steal not this book for fear of strife
For the owner carries a big jackknife." (198) that last one would make a hell of a bookplate

"'Never carry a cat across running water if you want to have good luck. It will ruin your luck. You might just as well take a dose of deadly poison and be done with it.'" (188) that last sentence honestly applies to a lot of interactions with cats. especially if by luck you mean "not getting horribly scratched and bitten".