It's a fairly common motif in folk humor from way back.

G

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Scott Holmes
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2018 9:34 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: “Says I” refrain

Doesn't Ben Gunn say that, repeatedly?

On Tue, 2018-01-23 at 03:24 -0800, Clay Shannon wrote:
> I=E2=80=99m reading Hamlin Garland=E2=80=99s =E2=80=9CMrs.
> Ripley=E2=80=99s T=
> rip=E2=80=9D in his =E2=80=9CMain-Travelled Roads=E2=80=9D
> collection.=20
> 
> There=E2=80=99s a woman in the story (the neighborhood gossip) who 
> repeatedl= y says, =E2=80=9CSays I.=E2=80=9D
> 
> There=E2=80=99s a Twain book with a similar lady - I think she appears 
> towar= d the end of =E2=80=9CHuck Finn,=E2=80=9D at the Phelps farm.
> 
> Does anybody know if Twain and Garland were aware of each using a 
> similar ch= aracter?
> 
> I think Twain=E2=80=99s predated Garland=E2=80=99s. Shades of 
> plagiarism?
> 
> -- B. Clay Shannon=
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