Linda--

You might find useful Henry Nash Smith's discussion of "vernacular values"
in _Mark Twain:  The Development of an Writer_.  It's an old book now
(1962), but still valuable.

Charles Crow
Department of English
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403
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Charles L. Crow                         [log in to unmask]
Department of English                   Voice mail:  (419) 372-7556
Bowling Green State University          Fax:  (419) 372-0333
Bowling Green OH 43403