If you use an oldest first search for Says I on the California Digital Newspaper Collection you will see it in use in the 1846 and 1847. . On Tuesday, January 23, 2018 10:16 AM, Gregg Camfield <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 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: =93Says I=94 refrain Doesn't Ben Gunn say that, repeatedly? On Tue, 2018-01-23 at 03:24 -0800, Clay Shannon wrote: > I=3DE2=3D80=3D99m reading Hamlin Garland=3DE2=3D80=3D99s =3DE2=3D80=3D9CM= rs. > Ripley=3DE2=3D80=3D99s T=3D > rip=3DE2=3D80=3D9D in his =3DE2=3D80=3D9CMain-Travelled Roads=3DE2=3D80= =3D9D > collection.=3D20 >=20 > There=3DE2=3D80=3D99s a woman in the story (the neighborhood gossip) who= =20 > repeatedl=3D y says, =3DE2=3D80=3D9CSays I.=3DE2=3D80=3D9D >=20 > There=3DE2=3D80=3D99s a Twain book with a similar lady - I think she appe= ars=20 > towar=3D d the end of =3DE2=3D80=3D9CHuck Finn,=3DE2=3D80=3D9D at the Phe= lps farm. >=20 > Does anybody know if Twain and Garland were aware of each using a=20 > similar ch=3D aracter? >=20 > I think Twain=3DE2=3D80=3D99s predated Garland=3DE2=3D80=3D99s. Shades of= =20 > plagiarism? >=20 > -- B. Clay Shannon=3D -- There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. http://bscottholmes.com