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= -- There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. http://bscottholmes.com