Page:Clifton Johnson - What They Say in New England.pdf/174

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172  Tricks and Catches

Boy: For stealin’ your grandpa’s toenails.

innuendo

When two boys in school go for a drink to the waterpail at the same time, number one hands the glass to number two and says, “Age before beauty.” Number two takes it, and says, Men before monkeys.” Number one finishes the dialogue and keeps up his end by responding, “The dirt before the broom.”

the monkey at school

First child: Do you want to see a monkey?

Second child: Yes.

Then number one holds up a mirror before number two, or goes outside and holds a dark shawl up against the window-pane for number two to look into.

a foreign language

Hog Latin: “Igry knowgry somegry thinggry yougry don’tgry knowgry.”

Translation: “I know something you don’t know.”

A conversation carried on in this language between two children is as blind to their uninitiated mates as real Latin.